Basement finishing in Colorado Springs
In Colorado Springs and the rest of the Pikes Peak region, basement finishes go through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD), which publishes a four-page checklist for exactly this project.1 Colorado Springs housing is young by Front Range standards, with a median build year of 1986, so many homes have unfinished basements built for exactly this.2
Plan review
Most basement finish plans are reviewed and permitted the same day.1
Who pulls it
The homeowner doing the work or a licensed general contractor. Rentals require a licensed GC.1
Permit fee
PPRBD lists a flat $300 building permit fee for a basement finish, plus trade permits.3
Basement finishing cost
What does basement finishing cost in Colorado Springs?
What it costs to finish a basement in Colorado Springs: PPRBD's flat $300 building permit fee, trade permits, national per-square-foot ranges and more.
Read the guide →Egress windows
Egress windows in Colorado Springs
Basement egress windows in Colorado Springs: PPRBD's size rules, window-well depth and ladder rule, when you need one, and national installed costs.
Read the guide →How the PPRBD process works
A basement finish needs plan review and a permit before work starts. The homeowner, a designer or an architect draws a floor plan at 1/4" = 1' scale with the property address on it. Once the plan is approved, PPRBD issues separate construction, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits for each kind of work being done.1
A homeowner may pull the permits and do all the work, or hire licensed subcontractors for the electrical, mechanical or plumbing. If the home is a rental, a licensed general contractor must pull the permit and is responsible for all of it.1
The code checklist
- Ceiling height: 7'0" finished; 6'8" in bathrooms, toilet rooms and laundry; 6'4" under beams, ducts and pipes.1
- What counts as a bedroom: any room over 70 sq ft with a closet deeper than 16 inches.1
- Exits: two exits, including access to a 36" door and one egress window or door; every bedroom needs its own egress window.1
- Floating walls: non-bearing walls must be built as floating walls.1
- Gas appliances: a furnace or water heater can't be in, or draw combustion air from, a bedroom, bathroom or closet.1
- Alarms: smoke alarms on each level, in bedrooms and hallways to bedrooms, interlinked and hardwired where possible; CO alarms outside all bedrooms.1
- Bath fan: at least 50 CFM, ducted outside and ending at least 3 feet from any opening.1
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Get my free quoteTakes under a minuteSeptic, second kitchens and unpermitted finishes
- Septic homes adding bedrooms need Health Department documentation that the system is sized for them.1
- A second kitchen with a permanent 220-volt or gas cooktop or range needs approval from the zoning authority, and may be prohibited depending on zoning.1
- Already finished without a permit? PPRBD will want a plan, and inspections may require removing finishes so inspectors can see the work. Inspections of finished basements cover only the exposed areas.1
Choosing a basement finishing company in Colorado Springs
Ask whether the contractor will draw the plan, who pulls each trade permit, and how they handle the floating-wall detail PPRBD requires. If you're adding a bedroom, check ceiling heights and egress first: see egress windows in Colorado Springs and costs.
Areas we serve
We match homeowners across the Colorado Springs area, including these communities and ZIP codes:
- Colorado Springs80903 · 80904 · 80905 · 80906 · 80907 · 80909 · 80910 · 80914 · 80915 · 80916 · 80917 · 80918 · 80919 · 80920 · 80922 · 80923 · 80924 · 80925 · 80927 · 80929 · 80938 · 80951
- Security-Widefield80911
- Fountain80817
- Cimarron Hills80915 · 80922
- Manitou Springs80829
- Monument80132
- Woodland Park80863
ZIP codes are 2020 Census ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, which closely approximate USPS ZIP codes. We list ZIPs that make up a substantial share of each community, so edge ZIPs that barely touch a town are left out, and some ZIPs span two towns.4 Not on the list? Send the form anyway, and we'll tell you if we can help.
Common questions
Do I need a permit to finish a basement in Colorado Springs?
Yes. PPRBD requires plan review and a permit before work starts, plus separate electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits for that work.
How long does PPRBD plan review take for a basement?
PPRBD says most basement finish plans can be reviewed and permitted the same day.
What ceiling height does a finished basement need in Colorado Springs?
PPRBD lists 7'0" finished, 6'8" in bathrooms and laundry, and 6'4" under beams, ducts and pipes.
Can I rent out a finished basement apartment?
A second kitchen with a permanent 220-volt or gas range needs zoning approval and may be prohibited. For rental homes, a licensed general contractor must pull the permit.
General information summarized from the public sources listed below. It isn't professional, engineering or legal advice. Codes and programs change; confirm current requirements with your local building department or utility before you start.
Sources
- Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, "Basement Finish Plan Review" handout (rev. Aug. 14, 2024, PDF)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25035 (median year built), B25034 (year built), B25003 (tenure), B25077 (median value)
- Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, "Fee Schedule" (Table A.1 and Table A)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA-to-place relationship files