Quick answer: In Salt Lake County, the permit office for a basement finish depends on where you live. Salt Lake City, West Jordan, Sandy, Draper and the county’s other cities each run their own building departments. The Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District (MSD) issues permits for Magna, Kearns, White City, Emigration Canyon, Copperton, Brighton and unincorporated Salt Lake County. Beyond permits, plan the finish with earthquake risk, radon and local groundwater in mind, since the Salt Lake Valley sits along the Wasatch fault.
Key takeaways
- Salt Lake City applications go through the city’s Citizen Access portal, with plans reviewed in ProjectDox. MSD uses its own online portal and explicitly requires a permit to finish previously unfinished basements.
- The state’s earthquake program puts the chance of at least one magnitude 6.75 or larger earthquake on the Wasatch Front at 43% over the next 50 years. The chance of a magnitude 6.0 or larger is 57%.
- The March 18, 2020 magnitude 5.7 Magna earthquake caused damage across the valley, with the most severe damage in Magna.
- Liquefaction, where water-saturated sandy soils lose strength during shaking, is a risk in parts of the valley. A basement finish is a good time to address the seismic weak spots you can reach.
- Salt Lake City offers pre-approved ADU plans, but its standard plans focus on detached units. Basement ADUs still need individual zoning and building review.
- Test for radon in the lowest lived-in level with windows closed for 48 to 72 hours, following Utah DEQ’s instructions, before you frame.
Which permit office covers your Salt Lake County address?
Building permits in Salt Lake County are split among many offices. The first step is matching your address to the right one.
| Where you live | Permit office | How it works (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Lake City | Salt Lake City Building Services | You apply online through the Citizen Access portal and submit plans in ProjectDox with a Residential Login Checklist. The office is at City Hall, 451 South State Street. Permit processing is (801) 535-7968 and general code questions are (801) 535-7155. |
| Magna, Kearns, White City, Emigration Canyon, Copperton, Brighton, unincorporated county | Greater Salt Lake MSD Building Services | A permit is required to finish “rooms or areas previously unfinished (including basements),” change a room’s use, or add or alter interior walls. You apply, schedule inspections and get your Certificate of Occupancy through the MSD portal. The office is at 860 W Levoy Drive, Taylorsville, phone (385) 910-7138. |
| West Jordan | West Jordan Building and Safety | West Jordan posts a Basement Finish Guide, owner/builder forms, ADU application documents and an online public portal. The Building Department line is 801-569-5050. |
| Sandy, Draper and the county’s other cities | Your city’s building department | Each city has its own submittal checklist, fees and inspection scheduling. Ask whether the city publishes a basement finish handout before you draw plans. |
Pay attention near city boundaries. Mailing addresses and city names don’t always match the jurisdiction that controls your parcel, so confirm with the office before you submit.
What inspectors look for in a basement finish
Every jurisdiction differs in details, but basement reviews in Salt Lake County focus on the same core items. Bedrooms need code-compliant emergency escape openings. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms must be in the required locations. Ceiling heights must work for habitable rooms. The furnace and water heater area needs proper combustion air and service clearances. Stairs, guards and handrails must meet code. And framing, insulation, wiring and plumbing are inspected before drywall goes up.
Earthquake considerations for a Salt Lake Valley basement
A basement finish won’t make a house earthquake-proof. It does open up walls, ceilings and mechanical areas you won’t see again for decades, which makes it the cheapest moment to fix several known weak points.
What the risk looks like
According to the state’s earthquake program at earthquakes.utah.gov, the Wasatch Front faces:
- A 93% chance of at least one magnitude 5.0 or larger earthquake in the next 50 years
- A 57% chance of at least one magnitude 6.0 or larger
- A 43% chance of at least one magnitude 6.75 or larger
The 2020 Magna earthquake was a real-world reminder. It was a magnitude 5.7 event centered north of Magna, and the University of Utah Seismograph Stations recorded more than 2,500 aftershocks through February 2021. The state’s earthquake site notes that buildings constructed in Utah after about 1975 were designed with seismic provisions. Homes built before then, especially unreinforced brick homes, carry more risk.
Liquefaction and soft valley soils
The Utah Geological Survey’s liquefaction page explains that water-saturated sandy soils can lose strength in strong shaking and behave like a liquid. That can cause buildings to sink or tilt, ground to crack and nearly level ground to shift sideways. The UGS hazard maps show where liquefaction potential is mapped. Liquefaction risk isn’t something a basement finish can fix, but it is a reason to know your lot’s conditions, keep your homeowner’s coverage in mind, and take seriously the steps you can control.
Seismic steps to build into a basement finish
- Strap the water heater to wall studs, as the state program recommends. The water heater usually sits in the basement mechanical room you are about to enclose.
- Use flexible gas connectors on gas appliances. The state program recommends them, and a finish is a natural time to have the gas piping checked.
- Anchor tall built-ins and shelving to studs. Home theater cabinets, bookcases and wet-bar uppers are common basement additions.
- Keep heavy items low. Put heavy décor and mirrors where they can’t fall onto beds or seating, and keep sharp or heavy objects away from bedroom walls.
- Look at the structure while it’s exposed. If you see a cracked foundation, an older home with no visible anchor bolts at the sill plate, or unreinforced brick, have an engineer evaluate it before you cover it.
- Keep egress clear. Code-compliant escape windows and window wells serve as exits in any emergency, not just fires.
For broader household preparedness, such as a 14-day supply of food and water and family plans, see Be Ready Utah.
Radon testing before you close the walls
Utah DEQ reports that 1 in 3 Utah homes has elevated radon. In Salt Lake County, as everywhere in Utah, the only way to know your home’s level is to test. DEQ’s home testing instructions lay out a test you can trust:
- Close windows and exterior doors at least 12 hours before the test and keep them closed throughout.
- Place the kit in the lowest level you regularly use. For a basement you are finishing, that will be the basement. Keep it about 20 inches off the floor, at least 3 feet from exterior walls, and out of kitchens and bathrooms.
- Leave a short-term kit in place for 48 to 72 hours. Starting on a Friday morning and mailing it Monday helps avoid invalid results.
- For a year-round picture, use a long-term test of more than 90 days.
DEQ also says you should retest whenever your living patterns change, such as moving bedrooms into the basement. That means a radon test belongs both before and after the finish. DEQ notes that Green and Healthy Homes has funding for qualifying Salt Lake County families who need mitigation. If a test comes back high, route the mitigation pipe through a closet or mechanical chase before framing.
Groundwater and moisture across the valley
Conditions vary across Salt Lake County, from bench neighborhoods near the mountains to lower ground closer to the Jordan River and the Great Salt Lake. The Utah Geological Survey identifies shallow groundwater as a hazard that can flood basements, and it collects homeowner reports of groundwater flooding to improve its maps. Water also matters for earthquakes, since saturated soils are the ones prone to liquefaction.
Before you finish, look for:
- Water staining, efflorescence or peeling paint on foundation walls
- A sump pump that runs during spring runoff or irrigation season
- Grading or window wells that collect water against the house
- Musty smells, which often show up before visible mold
Fix the source first, then choose finish materials that tolerate occasional moisture, such as inorganic insulation against concrete, moisture-resistant drywall and flooring that isn’t harmed by dampness.
Basement apartments in Salt Lake County
Utah’s 2021 HB 82 made internal ADUs, meaning apartments built inside owner-occupied single-family homes, a permitted use in most residential zones statewide. Cities kept some room to set conditions. In Salt Lake City, the city council adopted an updated ADU ordinance in October 2018, and Building Services offers pre-approved ADU standard plans. Those plans are aimed at detached units and garage conversions. A basement unit still goes through the city’s normal steps: review the Planning Division’s ADU Handbook, complete the required site review, then apply for a building permit online. West Jordan publishes its own ADU application documents, and MSD communities follow MSD’s land use rules.
For an ADU basement in the county, plan for a separate entrance where possible, sound control between floors, independent heating and cooling where practical, and egress for every bedroom. Our ADU design and construction page explains how we approach these projects.
Where we work in Salt Lake County
Lift Construction works across the valley. See our pages for Salt Lake City, Sandy, West Jordan and Draper, and our Salt Lake City home restoration project for an example of work inside the city.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues basement finishing permits in Magna, Kearns and unincorporated Salt Lake County?
The Greater Salt Lake Municipal Services District. MSD Building Services serves Magna, Kearns, White City, Emigration Canyon, Copperton, Brighton and unincorporated Salt Lake County, and it states that finishing previously unfinished basements requires a permit. You apply and schedule inspections through MSD’s online portal.
How do I apply for a basement permit in Salt Lake City?
Salt Lake City requires all permit applications to be submitted electronically through its Citizen Access portal. Plans are then uploaded to ProjectDox with a Residential Login Checklist. For zoning questions, Planning is at (801) 535-7700, and permit processing is at (801) 535-7968.
How likely is a major earthquake in the Salt Lake Valley?
According to the state’s earthquake program, the Wasatch Front has a 43% chance of at least one magnitude 6.75 or larger earthquake and a 57% chance of a magnitude 6.0 or larger in the next 50 years. The 2020 magnitude 5.7 Magna earthquake damaged homes across the valley.
What earthquake upgrades make sense during a basement finish?
Strap the water heater to studs, use flexible gas connectors, anchor tall built-ins and shelving to studs, and have an engineer look at any foundation cracks or older unreinforced brick while walls are open. These steps are cheapest before drywall goes up.
Where should I put a radon test in my Salt Lake County home?
Utah DEQ says to test in the lowest level you regularly use, about 20 inches off the floor and at least 3 feet from exterior walls, with windows closed for 12 hours before and during the test. Retest after finishing if bedrooms or living space move into the basement.
Can I build a basement apartment in Salt Lake City?
Often, yes. Utah’s 2021 internal ADU law and Salt Lake City’s ADU ordinance allow accessory units, subject to conditions. The city requires a site review before a building permit is issued and points applicants to its ADU Handbook. Contact Salt Lake City Planning with zoning questions for your property.
Start your Salt Lake County basement with Lift Construction
Lift Construction finishes basements throughout Salt Lake County, coordinating with Salt Lake City, MSD and each city’s building department. Owner and general contractor David Carter’s team plans for permits, radon, moisture and seismic details from the start. Learn about our basement finishing services, then contact us or call 801-683-6803.
Written by the Lift Construction team, led by owner and general contractor David Carter. Code and program details were checked against the official sources linked above as of October 2026 — always confirm current requirements with your city before you build.