Research by DoINeedAPermit Research Team · Updated May 2026
The Short Answer
If you're creating a bedroom, bathroom, or family room in your basement, you need permits — building, electrical, and plumbing. Storage-only or utility finishing does not. Murray enforces IRC R310 egress window rules strictly; without one, you cannot legally call a basement room a bedroom.
Murray Building Department applies state-adopted 2021 IBC code with Wasatch Front amendments, and they've tightened enforcement on basement habitable-space egress windows in the past two code cycles — inspectors regularly cite IRC R310.1 violations on finish inspections. Unlike some neighboring jurisdictions (Sandy, South Jordan) that allow certain owner-builder exemptions for minor interior work, Murray requires full building permits for any basement conversion creating habitable square footage, even if the homeowner is pulling as principal on an owner-occupied home. The city also requires radon-mitigation-ready framing (passive stack roughed in) on all new habitable basements per Utah Admin Code; this is standard across the Wasatch but Murray's plan-review team explicitly checks for it, and missing it will delay your approval 2–3 weeks. Seismic design is less stringent in Murray's foothill zone than in Salt Lake City proper, but the city still requires standard foundation anchorage per IBC, and expansive clay soils in the south Murray area trigger perimeter-drain documentation on plan review. The online permit portal (accessible via the City of Murray website) allows you to upload plans and track reviews in real time — this is faster than paper filing and gives you visibility into examiners' comments before you're scheduled for inspections.

What happens if you skip the permit (and you needed one)

Murray basement finishing permits — the key details

The single largest code driver for basement finishing in Murray is IRC R310.1: egress windows. Any basement bedroom — whether you call it a bedroom or a guest room or a den — must have at least one emergency exit, a window or door that opens to daylight and meets minimum size requirements: 5.7 sq ft of net open area for windows, a 24-inch-wide, 36-inch-tall minimum opening. The window must be within 44 inches of the finished floor, and the well beneath it must have no barriers. Murray's building examiners verify this on the rough-frame inspection and again on final; they measure the opening dimensions and document well clearance. If your basement is below grade on all sides (classic Wasatch Front layout), you will need an egress window. If the window well is too shallow or the opening is undersized, the room cannot legally be designated as a bedroom. This is non-negotiable and is the #1 reason basement-finish permits get rejected or require re-work. Cost to install a compliant egress window: $2,500–$5,000 installed (window + well + gravel + perimeter drain tie-in).

Ceiling height is the second critical item. IRC R305.1 requires a minimum 7 feet of clear floor-to-ceiling height in habitable rooms, measured from the finished floor to the lowest structural member or ductwork. If you have beams or ducts, they must be 6 feet 8 inches minimum. Many older Wasatch Front basements (built in the 1970s–1990s) have 7-foot poured concrete ceilings, which leaves little room for finish ceiling, HVAC, and framing. You must verify your existing ceiling height before you design any layout. If the existing slab-to-joist is only 7 feet 2 inches, and you frame a soffit and drop a ceiling for lights, you'll lose 8–10 inches and drop below the 6'8" minimum. The plan review will reject this. If your ceiling is too low, your only options are: (1) remove or relocate ductwork, (2) use flush-mount or recessed lights, (3) do not finish that area. This is a common surprise cost driver in Murray basements.

Electrical code in basements is governed by NEC 210.11 and IRC E3902. All basement outlets must be GFCI-protected (ground-fault circuit interrupter) if they are within 6 feet of a sink, washing machine, or water-supply line. All new circuits must have AFCI protection (arc-fault circuit interrupter) per NEC 210.12, which means you likely need new subpanels or add-on AFCI breakers in the main panel. If your basement has an existing panel, the electrician can add a small sub-panel closer to the finished space to reduce wire runs. The electrical permit (part of the building permit package) requires a licensed electrician in Utah; owner-pulls are allowed only for the building shell, not electrical. Plan for 3–4 weeks for electrical plan review and 2 inspections (rough-in and final). Cost: $1,500–$3,000 depending on circuit count and whether new sub-panels are needed.

Plumbing in finished basements triggers code Section P3103 on below-grade drainage. If you are adding a bathroom (even a half-bath with a toilet and sink), you must address the fact that the fixtures are below the main sewer line. Utah Building Code requires either a gravity drain (if the basement is above the municipal sewer, rare in Murray) or an ejector pump with a check valve and a 2-inch vent terminating above the highest fixture in the house. Many Murray inspectors also require a separate ejector-pump circuit (dedicated 20-amp breaker) and a basin pit below the bathroom floor with a perforated sump lid. The ejector pump adds $2,500–$4,000 and requires a separate plumbing permit. If you are adding a bedroom without any plumbing, you do not need an ejector pump, but you must still have a vent if you add any fixtures downstream in future (plan accordingly). Plumbing-permit timeline is 2–3 weeks; inspections include rough-in (before walls close) and final (after fixtures are set).

Moisture and radon mitigation are Utah-specific and very relevant in Murray. The city requires all new habitable basements to be radon-mitigation-ready: this means the framing sub-contractor must rough in a vent stack (3-inch PVC) from below the slab to above the roof line, capped for now but installed and inspected. This rough-in is verified during the framing inspection and costs about $400–$800 labor. If you do not rough in the radon pipe, you will fail the framing inspection and lose 1–2 weeks re-doing it. Additionally, if there is any history of water intrusion or dampness in your basement (which is common in Murray's lake-sediment and expansive-clay soils), you must document existing perimeter drains, sump-pump status, and vapor-barrier condition. If the basement is currently damp or has efflorescence on the walls, the examiner may require a moisture-mitigation plan (new perimeter drain, interior/exterior waterproofing, or sump pump upgrade) before permits are issued. This can add $3,000–$8,000 and 2–3 weeks to the project. Get a moisture assessment before you submit your plan.

Three Murray basement finishing scenarios

Scenario A
Bedroom + bathroom, new egress well, no prior water issues — south Murray near Fashion Place
You have a 600-sq-ft basement with 7-foot 4-inch slab-to-joist ceiling. You want to frame a master bedroom (12x16), a 3/4 bath (5x8), and a hallway/exercise space. The south wall is mostly below grade; you plan to install an egress window on the west wall (above grade due to sloped topography). No history of water or dampness. Ceiling height is adequate; you can drop a 6-inch soffit for lights and HVAC without falling below code. You'll need a building permit (includes framing, drywall, insulation), electrical permit (new AFCI circuits, 4–5 circuits for bedroom, bath, hallway; GFCI for bath sink and toilet), and plumbing permit (ejector pump, 2-inch vent, toilet, sink, vanity, drain tie-in to main line). Plan review timeline: 3–4 weeks for each permit (they run in parallel, so total is ~4 weeks if you submit simultaneously). Inspections: framing (day 3 after rough framing), electrical rough-in (day 5), plumbing rough-in (day 6), radon-vent rough-in verification (day 3 framing inspection), insulation/drywall (day 10), electrical final (day 14), plumbing final (day 15), building final (day 16). Egress window cost: $3,500 installed. Ejector pump: $3,000. New electrical circuits + sub-panel: $2,000. Plumbing fixtures + roughing: $2,500. Framing/insulation/drywall: $8,000. Total soft costs (permits, inspections): ~$800 (permits) + ~$200 (inspections, covered in permit). Total project cost: ~$19,500–$21,000. No permit fees are required from the city beyond the initial building permit.
Permit required (habitable space + egress + bathroom) | Egress window mandatory (IRC R310.1) | Ejector pump required (below-grade toilet) | Radon-vent rough-in required (Utah Admin Code) | Building permit ~$400 | Electrical permit ~$200 | Plumbing permit ~$200 | 4-week plan review timeline | 6 inspections (framing, electrical rough/final, plumbing rough/final, building final)
Scenario B
Bedroom, no bathroom, low ceiling (6'10" slab-to-joist), above-grade window on north wall — mid-Murray residential zone
Your basement has a 7-foot 2-inch slab-to-joist height on the south half but only 6 feet 10 inches on the north half (due to beam lowering). You want to frame a guest bedroom (10x14) on the north side and leave the rest as unfinished storage. The north wall has a small above-grade window (egress potential if enlarged). Ceiling height is problematic: 6'10" is only 2 inches below the minimum for beams (6'8" + 2" clearance). If you drop any ceiling, insulate, or run ducts, you'll fall short. Your options: (1) Use flush-mount or LED recessed lights (no soffit), run ductwork across ceiling beams without lowering, accept that this zone is tight; (2) Do not finish the north zone; designate the bedroom on the south half where 7'4" allows a proper soffit. If you choose option 1 and can prove 6'8" minimum clearance to the plan examiner, the permit will be issued, but you have zero margin for error. The egress window on the north wall is above grade and large enough (likely 4x3 feet minimum), so it will pass R310.1 inspection. Since there's no bathroom, no ejector pump is needed. You'll need a building permit and electrical permit (3–4 new circuits, no GFCI outside the bathroom). Plumbing permit is not required. Plan review time: 2–3 weeks (simpler due to no plumbing). Inspections: 4 total (framing, electrical rough/final, building final). The ceiling-height issue is the gating factor; if the examiner measures and finds less than 6'8" clear, you'll be asked to re-design. Total project cost: $8,000–$12,000 (no ejector pump saves $3,000). Permit fees: ~$350 total. If you cannot meet ceiling height, the space must remain unfinished storage, and no building permit is required.
Permit required if you can meet 6'8" ceiling minimum | Egress window present and adequate (already above-grade) | No bathroom = no ejector pump needed | Ceiling height is the gating factor — verify before plan submission | Building permit ~$300 | Electrical permit ~$150 | 2-3 week plan review | 4 inspections (framing, electrical rough/final, building final) | Risk: if you cannot document 6'8" minimum, space remains unfinished storage
Scenario C
Storage/utility finishing (no bedroom, no bathroom, concrete stain + shelving + utility sink) — east Murray flood zone overlay
Your basement is currently bare concrete slab with exposed pony-wall and joist above. You want to stain the concrete, install wood shelving (2,000 sq ft of storage), add a utility sink (laundry area), and run some LED track lights on the existing circuits. You are not creating a bedroom or bathroom. The city of Murray's flood-zone overlay (east side, near Jordan River) does restrict below-grade improvements, but finished storage in existing basements is typically allowed as long as you do not increase the building footprint or add mechanical/HVAC to a new conditioned zone. A utility sink (utility-grade, not a kitchen sink) with a floor drain is considered a minor plumbing fixture and does not require a below-grade ejector pump if the drain can gravity-flow to the main sewer (rare in basements, but possible if it's above the main line). If the sink drain is below the main line, you must have an ejector pump, which triggers a plumbing permit and ejects the scenario into 'depends' or 'yes'. Assuming the sink drain can gravity-flow or you route it to an existing sump pump, then you have only lighting and storage, neither of which require permits in Murray. LED track lights on existing circuits do not require new permits. Shelving and concrete stain are not structural and do not require framing, electrical, or building permits. Therefore: NO permit required if (1) you use the utility sink on an existing drain line above the main sewer, or (2) you abandon the utility sink and use the space as dry storage only. Estimated cost: $3,000–$5,000 (shelving, stain, lights, basic plumbing fixtures). Permit fees: $0 if no new utilities are added. If you add the utility sink and it requires an ejector pump, the cost jumps to $5,500–$7,500 and you need a plumbing permit (~$150) and a 2–3 week review. Decision point: consult with the city about the utility sink drain before you finalize the design.
No permit required for storage/shelving/stain/track lighting | Utility sink OK if drain is above main sewer (rare — verify with city) | If utility sink requires ejector pump, plumbing permit required (~$150) and timeline extends 2-3 weeks | Finished storage below the flood-zone overlay is allowed; no footprint increase | Total cost without sink: ~$4,000 | Total cost with sink + ejector: ~$7,000

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Egress windows in Murray basements: the IRC R310 code and why it matters

IRC Section R310.1 is the gating code for any bedroom in a basement anywhere in the US, and Murray enforces it rigorously. The rule is simple: every bedroom must have at least one emergency exit that is a door, a window, or a combination that opens to the outside. A basement bedroom is not exempt from this. For a basement bedroom, the exit is almost always a window because doors are expensive and structural. The window must meet minimum size: 5.7 square feet of net-open area (the actual opening after you subtract the frame). A typical 32-inch-wide by 54-inch-tall single-hung window has about 6 sq ft of net-open area when fully opened, so it barely meets code. Many homeowners think they can use a small basement window (like a 16x24-inch hopper), but these are almost always too small and will fail inspection.

The window must also be reachable without crawling over obstacles. It must be within 44 inches of the finished floor (the measurement is from the sill to the floor). Below the window, there must be a well or opening to daylight with no grates, bars, or barriers. This is where the egress well comes in: a preformed plastic or concrete pit sunk into the ground outside the basement wall, sized to fit the window opening. The well must be large enough that a person can climb out; codes typically say no more than 36 inches deep, and the bottom must have a solid surface or gravel so you don't sink. If the well is sunken into expansive clay (common in south Murray), you must ensure drainage around the well pit to prevent water pooling and saturation, which puts stress on the foundation. Murray's examiners will measure the window opening on rough framing and again after the egress well is installed; they will also verify that the well has proper gravel, drainage tie-in, and clearance. If you try to save money and put in an undersized window or a shallow well, the rough-frame inspection will fail, and you'll be forced to tear it out and re-do it.

One more critical detail: the egress window well and sill must be kept clear of snow in winter and debris in summer. Utah's Uniform Codes do not explicitly require an egress-well cover, but many insurers and some lenders require one (a clear polycarbonate cover) to prevent leaves and snow from blocking the window. If your policy requires a cover, it adds another $400–$600. The bottom line: do not cheap out on the egress window. Budget $2,500–$5,000 installed and verify dimensions with the window supplier and your framing contractor before you buy.

Radon mitigation and moisture: Utah-specific basement code in Murray

Utah Administrative Code (UAC) R317-7 requires all new habitable basements to be radon-mitigation-ready, and Murray building examiners enforce this on every basement-finishing project. What does radon-mitigation-ready mean? It means that during framing, the sub-contractor must install a 3-inch-diameter PVC vent pipe from a location under the slab (or in the crawl space, if applicable) to above the roofline of the house. The vent is capped at the roof for now; it's not operational, but it's roughed in so that if the homeowner later tests the basement and finds elevated radon levels, a radon-mitigation contractor can activate the system by connecting a fan to the pipe and venting radon outdoors. The cost to rough in the radon pipe is about $400–$800 in labor and materials, and it's a line item on the framing contract. If you forget to include it, the framing inspection will fail, and the city will not issue a permit-to-occupy until the pipe is installed. This is a hidden cost many homeowners forget to budget; add $600 to your estimate.

Moisture and dampness in Murray basements are a second major concern. The Wasatch Front, including Murray, is built on lake-sediment soils (ancient Lake Bonneville) and expansive clay, both of which hold water. Basements in areas with a history of high water tables or internal seepage (which is common in south and east Murray) are at risk. If your basement currently has any signs of moisture — efflorescence (white powder on concrete), damp patches, musty smells, visible seepage, or a previous sump pump — the building examiner will require you to address it before the permit is issued. This means either installing or upgrading a perimeter drain system (a gravel and pipe trench around the inside or outside of the foundation), ensuring the sump pump is operational and discharges to daylight (not back into the lot), and installing a proper vapor barrier (4-mil or 6-mil polyethylene) under any new flooring. If the examiner determines that the basement is too wet to safely finish, they can require exterior waterproofing or subsurface drainage before permits are issued. This work can add 6–8 weeks and $3,000–$8,000 to the project. Get a moisture assessment from a licensed inspector or a waterproofing contractor before you design your basement finish; it will save you heartbreak and re-work later.

City of Murray Building Department
Murray City Hall, 5025 South State Street, Murray, UT 84107
Phone: (801) 270-2700 (main line; ask for Building/Planning) | https://www.murrayutah.gov/biz/permits
Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM (closed holidays)

Common questions

Do I need a permit to finish a basement bedroom in Murray?

Yes. Any basement room designated as a bedroom requires a building permit, electrical permit, and often a plumbing permit (if you add a bathroom). The most critical code requirement is an egress window per IRC R310.1; without one, the room cannot legally be called a bedroom. Plan for 4–6 weeks from permit submission to final inspection. Total soft costs (permits, inspections): ~$800.

What if my basement ceiling is lower than 7 feet?

You must have a minimum of 7 feet of clear floor-to-ceiling height, or 6 feet 8 inches if there are beams. If your slab-to-joist is only 6 feet 10 inches, you cannot drop a soffit or run ductwork below the joists without violating code. Your options are: use flush-mount lights and route ducts along the ceiling, or do not finish that section. If you cannot meet the minimum, the space remains unfinished storage and no building permit is required.

What's the cost of an egress window in Murray?

A compliant egress window (including the well, gravel, drainage, and installation) costs $2,500–$5,000. This is a non-negotiable code requirement for basement bedrooms. Do not skip it or try to use an undersized window; the framing inspector will fail the rough-frame and require a re-do.

Do I need an ejector pump for a basement bathroom in Murray?

Yes, if the bathroom is below the main sewer line (which is true for nearly all Murray basements). You need a 2-inch ejector pump with a check valve and a vent stack terminating above the roofline. An ejector pump costs $2,500–$4,000 installed and requires a separate plumbing permit. If there is no bathroom, no ejector pump is needed.

What is a radon-mitigation-ready basement?

Utah Code requires all new habitable basements to have a 3-inch PVC vent pipe roughed in from below the slab to above the roofline. This is capped for now but allows a future radon-mitigation contractor to activate it if testing shows high radon. Cost: $400–$800. If you skip it, the framing inspection will fail. It is a mandatory line item in Murray.

Can I finish my basement as storage without a permit?

Yes, if you do not add habitable space. Staining concrete, installing shelving, running lights on existing circuits, and adding a utility sink (if the drain gravity-flows to the main sewer) do not require permits. However, if the utility sink drain is below the main line and requires an ejector pump, a plumbing permit is required.

How long does a basement finish permit take in Murray?

Plan-review time is 3–4 weeks for full permits (building + electrical + plumbing). Inspections happen in parallel and take 2–3 weeks once rough framing begins. Total timeline from permit submission to final approval: 6–8 weeks. If there are ceiling-height issues or moisture concerns, add 2–3 weeks.

What happens if I find water seepage in my basement during the permit process?

The building examiner may require you to address it before permits are issued. This might include installing a perimeter drain, sump pump, or exterior waterproofing. Get a moisture assessment before you submit your plans; this will reveal issues upfront and prevent permit delays. Cost to address: $3,000–$8,000.

Do I need a licensed contractor for basement finishing in Murray?

Owner-builds are allowed for the building shell (framing, drywall, insulation) if the home is owner-occupied. However, all electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician, and all plumbing work by a licensed plumber. Mechanical (HVAC) work also requires a license. Plan to hire licensed trades for these.

What if my basement is in the flood-zone overlay on the east side of Murray?

Finished storage in existing basements is typically allowed in flood zones, but you cannot increase the building footprint or add mechanical conditioning to a new habitable zone. Verify with the city's Planning Division before you design; flood-zone rules can restrict habitable improvements (bedrooms, bathrooms). Storage-only finishing is usually permitted.

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Disclaimer: This guide is based on research conducted in May 2026 using publicly available sources. Always verify current basement finishing permit requirements with the City of Murray Building Department before starting your project.

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