Basement finishing in Denver, CO
Denver treats a basement finish as a residential interior remodel, and its permit page is specific about what triggers a permit and what doesn't.1 With a median home value of $616,000, nearly twice the national median, finished square footage matters a lot in this market.2
Permit trigger
New walls, new or moved electrical or plumbing fixtures, new ductwork and new egress windows all need permits.1
No permit
Like-for-like replacement of cabinets, flooring or fixtures, and drywall repairs smaller than one 4×8 sheet.1
Housing stock
Denver's median home was built in 1975; 55.5% of homes predate 1980.2
Basement finishing cost
What does basement finishing cost in Denver?
What it costs to finish a basement in Denver: national per-square-foot ranges, Denver's building permit fee table worked through, and what moves a quote.
Read the guide →Egress windows
Egress windows in Denver
Adding an egress window in Denver: why it needs a permit, landmark review in historic districts, the standard size rules, and national installed costs.
Read the guide →What needs a permit in Denver
Denver's Community Planning and Development (CPD) lists basement finishes alongside attic conversions and pop-tops on its residential interior remodel page. Permits are required when a project includes:1
- changes to the existing floor plan, such as new walls or rooms,
- structural changes that affect load-bearing walls,
- adding, resizing or removing doorways, windows or egress windows,
- new or rerouted ductwork, and
- new or relocated electrical or plumbing fixtures.
Trade permits for electrical, plumbing and mechanical work are separate and are usually issued online as "quick permits." Homeowners can pull building permits without a contractor if they meet the city's homeowner-permit criteria.1
Applying through e-permits
Applications go through Denver's e-permits system as a "building log." CPD asks for a scaled site plan with a north arrow, a floor plan with every existing and proposed room labeled, building elevations, and energy code compliance information. Uploading everything needed for zoning, building and sewer permits at the start allows a simultaneous review.1
Denver-specific extras
- Historic districts and landmarks. Any exterior work, including a new egress window, needs a certificate of appropriateness from Landmark Preservation. The city recommends getting it before applying for building permits.13
- Floodplains and sewer lines. If the property is in a floodplain, or you're digging within two feet of the sewer line, a sewer use and drainage permit (SUDP) may be required.1
- Big remodels and recycling. Interior remodels with more than 2,500 square feet of modified floor area fall under Denver's construction and demolition recycling rules, which require a waste diversion plan and a refundable deposit before permits are issued.1
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- Ask who pulls the permits, and get the permit numbers in writing. Trade work should be on its own permits.1
- Ask about egress up front if you want a bedroom. A new egress window is the most expensive single line in many basement bids, and in a historic district it adds landmark review. See egress windows in Denver.3
- Compare scopes, not totals. Two bids can differ by thousands because one includes a bathroom rough-in, ductwork or a ceiling type the other leaves out. The Denver cost guide breaks down the line items.
Areas we serve
We match homeowners across the Denver area, including these communities and ZIP codes:
- Denver80202 · 80203 · 80204 · 80205 · 80206 · 80207 · 80209 · 80210 · 80211 · 80212 · 80216 · 80218 · 80219 · 80220 · 80222 · 80223 · 80224 · 80230 · 80231 · 80235 · 80236 · 80237 · 80238 · 80239 · 80246 · 80247 · 80249 · 80264 · 80266 · 80290 · 80293 · 80294
- Aurora80010 · 80011 · 80012 · 80013 · 80014 · 80016 · 80017 · 80018 · 80019 · 80045
- Lakewood80214 · 80215 · 80226 · 80227 · 80228 · 80232
- Arvada80002 · 80003 · 80004 · 80005 · 80007
- Westminster80021 · 80030 · 80031 · 80234
- Thornton80229 · 80233 · 80241 · 80260 · 80602
- Broomfield80020 · 80021 · 80023
- Centennial80015 · 80112 · 80121 · 80122
- Littleton80120
- Englewood80110 · 80113
- Highlands Ranch80126 · 80129 · 80130
- Parker80134 · 80138
- Castle Rock80104 · 80109
- Golden80401 · 80419
- Wheat Ridge80033
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 Denver?
Yes, if the project changes the floor plan, adds or moves electrical or plumbing fixtures, adds ductwork, or adds windows or egress windows. Like-for-like replacements and small drywall repairs don't need one.
Can a homeowner pull a basement permit in Denver?
Yes, if you meet Denver's homeowner permit eligibility criteria. Otherwise a contractor applies.
Does a basement finish in a Denver historic district need extra approval?
Only for exterior work, but a new egress window counts. It needs a certificate of appropriateness from Landmark Preservation.
What is an SUDP?
A sewer use and drainage permit. Denver may require one if the property is in a floodplain or the work digs within two feet of the sewer line.
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
- City and County of Denver, Community Planning and Development, "Residential Interior Remodel"
- 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)
- City and County of Denver, Landmark Preservation, "Egress Windows" design review
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA-to-place relationship files