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…