Overview There is a significant gap between a finished basement and a legal Internal Accessory Dwelling Unit (IADU) in Utah. A finished basement can have a bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchenette and still not qualify as a legal rental unit. The gap is filled by a specific set of compliance requirements: a 1-hour…
Overview Utah adopted the 2021 International Residential Code in July 2023. HB 65 updates took effect July 1, 2026, tightening energy envelope standards statewide. For a homeowner in Lehi or Draper planning a basement finish in 2026, that means inspectors in both cities are now enforcing a more demanding standard than projects permitted before…
Overview Finishing a basement in Traverse Mountain or on Lehi’s East Bench is a different project from finishing a basement on the valley floor. The bench sits on a mix of hard rock outcroppings and expansive clay soils that require specific slab prep, floating wall framing, and subfloor systems before any finish work begins. Newer…
Overview Utah adopted the 2021 International Residential Code effective July 1, 2023, and HB 65 energy amendments took effect July 1, 2026. Together those two changes mean that a basement finish that passed inspection five years ago would fail several specific items today. This guide covers exactly what changed, what inspectors are now looking for…