Does a West Jordan basement apartment need its own outside entrance?

Not always. Some accessory dwellings share the main entrance, while others have a separate exterior door, often a stairwell cut into the yard. The answer depends on West Jordan’s current rules and how you plan to use the unit. A separate entrance adds cost and excavation but gives more privacy. We cover both options during the consultation.

Can my parents live in our West Jordan basement without a full kitchen?

Yes. Many families build a suite with a bedroom, full bath, sitting area and a kitchenette with a sink, small fridge and microwave, sharing the main kitchen upstairs. That usually costs less than a full apartment. For aging parents, we can add wider doors, a curbless shower and grab-bar blocking in the walls.

How do you keep noise down between floors in a shared West Jordan home?

We insulate the ceiling cavity with sound-absorbing batts, can add resilient channel before drywall, and use solid-core doors at the stairway. Sealing gaps around ducts and outlets helps too. It will not be as quiet as a separate house, but it makes a noticeable difference for families living on two levels.

My West Jordan basement near the Jordan River gets damp. Can it still be finished?

Often, yes, once the source is fixed. We start by checking grading, gutters, downspouts and window wells, and we look for efflorescence or leaks on the concrete. Persistent water may need drainage work first. Then we finish with moisture-tolerant materials like rigid foam and LVP, so a small future issue does not ruin the space.

Will a basement rental unit pay off in West Jordan?

We cannot tell you what a unit will rent for or what it will return; that depends on your market, financing and plans. What we can do is give you a firm, itemized cost so you can run the numbers with confidence. Many families also value the flexibility of housing relatives later.

How does payment work on a West Jordan basement project?

A 50% deposit secures your place on the schedule and locks material pricing. You pay the second half only after the walkthrough, when every punch-list item is done and you sign off. There are no surprise bills in between; the itemized estimate is what you pay. See our process for details.

Basement Remodeling in West Jordan, Utah

Room for more family under one roof

DreamBuilt Renovations builds basement apartments, finishes raw basements and remodels dated ones in West Jordan, Utah, in Salt Lake County, and also takes on whole-home remodels. In West Jordan, many basement projects are about making room for more people: grandparents moving in, adult children saving for a house, or a rental unit that helps with the mortgage. We design the space, handle the permit and keep you updated every day of the build.

Basement apartments and in-law suites: A separate living unit with a kitchen, bath, bedroom and its own entrance, designed around West Jordan’s accessory dwelling requirements. See home additions and ADUs.

Full kitchens downstairs: From a compact kitchenette to a full cooking setup for a second household. See basement kitchens.

Bathrooms: A second full bath is often what makes a shared house work, especially on busy weekday mornings before the commute up Bangerter or I-15. See basement bathrooms.

Code-compliant bedrooms: Every sleeping room gets a proper escape window and well, which also matters if you ever rent the space or sell the home.

Finishing raw basements: Newer homes west of Bangerter Highway and near the Mountain View Corridor often have bare basements ready to go. See basement finishing.

Updating older finishes: Homes near the Jordan River and Gardner Village frequently have basements finished in the 1970s or 1980s. Our remodeling work strips and rebuilds them.

Sound control between floors: Insulated ceilings and solid-core doors so two households can share a house and still sleep well.

Laundry and storage: A second laundry hookup or a shared laundry room with lockable storage keeps an apartment and main home running smoothly.

Planning a West Jordan Basement Around the People Living in It

Can I build a legal basement apartment in my West Jordan home?

In many cases, yes. Utah’s HB 82 (2021) requires most Utah cities to allow internal accessory dwelling units, such as basement apartments, in single-family homes. Cities can still set some limits, such as owner occupancy, parking and restrictions in certain zones, so West Jordan’s current rules for your address decide the details. We check them before we draw anything.

A rentable basement apartment typically needs:

Egress windows in every bedroom that meet IRC R310 (5.7 sq ft net clear opening, sill no higher than 44 inches)
A bathroom and cooking area within the unit
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, plus fire separation as required
An entrance that works for the tenant or family member, either shared or separate
Adequate parking on the property if the city requires it

How are West Jordan basements different from other parts of the valley?

West Jordan stretches from the Jordan River all the way west toward the Oquirrh Mountains, and the housing changes as you go:

Near the river and Redwood Road: Older ranch and split-level homes, many from the 1960s through 1980s, with basements finished long ago. Ground near the Jordan River can carry more moisture, so we look closely for efflorescence, staining and past leaks.

Central West Jordan around Jordan Landing: Homes from the 1980s and 1990s, often with partially finished basements that need a better layout.

West of Bangerter toward the Mountain View Corridor: Newer homes from the 2000s onward, many with unfinished basements and builder plumbing rough-ins.

Many west-side lots also have clay-rich soil that holds water against foundations, so correct grading, working gutters and clean window wells come first. Inside, we use rigid foam against the concrete and LVP flooring rather than carpet on the slab.

What does a basement project cost in West Jordan?

Typical Utah basement finishing in 2026 runs about $40 to $100+ per square foot, based on published ranges from several Utah contractors, and a 1,000 sq ft basement commonly falls between $45,000 and $85,000. Here is roughly how that breaks down:

Basic finish: $45–$65 per sq ft
Upgraded finishes: $60–$85 per sq ft
Kitchen or bath with high-end finishes: $75–$110+ per sq ft

A full basement apartment sits in the upper band because it includes both a kitchen and a bathroom. These are typical Utah numbers, not our price; you receive an itemized estimate after the consultation.

Can a West Jordan basement be split between family and a future rental?

Yes, and it is a smart way to plan. We often design a suite for a parent or adult child today with the plumbing, egress and fire separation that a full apartment would need later. Adding a full kitchen down the road then becomes a smaller project instead of a teardown.

Who pulls the permit for a West Jordan basement?

We do, through West Jordan City’s building department. We prepare plans, submit the application and coordinate inspections through the final. If the project creates an accessory dwelling, there may be additional city requirements, and we walk you through them.

Do you do whole-home remodeling in West Jordan?

Yes. In older West Jordan homes, a basement apartment project often goes hand in hand with an upstairs update so both households get a comfortable space. With whole-home remodels, you get one project lead from demolition to final walkthrough, and structural changes are engineered and coordinated in-house.

West Jordan areas we serve

Neighborhoods around Gardner Village and 7800 South
Homes near the Jordan River Parkway and Redwood Road
The Jordan Landing area and 7000 South
Neighborhoods near Veterans Memorial Park
Copper Hills and the newer subdivisions toward the Oquirrhs
Streets along 9000 South and the Mountain View Corridor

Neighboring cities we serve include South Jordan, Taylorsville, Kearns and Riverton. See the Salt Lake County basement remodeling page for the full list, or contact DreamBuilt to schedule a free consultation in West Jordan.

Reviews

Words From our clients.

We had a big remodel done, but our previous contractor left us hanging. DreamBuilt came in, finished everything, and the work was excellent. They've since built us a garage extension too.

John P.

Sandy, UT · Garage Addition

Quick to respond, honest about the process, transparent about changes. We'll keep hiring them. Highly recommend for any basement or bathroom you've been dreaming about.

Jaden M.

Layton, UT · Basement & Bath

What sold us was the timeline — they said twelve weeks and they meant twelve weeks. Our kitchen was done on the exact day they promised at the very first meeting.

The Reyes Family

Holladay, UT · Kitchen

FAQ

West Jordan Basement Remodeling FAQs

Does a West Jordan basement apartment need its own outside entrance?
Not always. Some accessory dwellings share the main entrance, while others have a separate exterior door, often a stairwell cut into the yard. The answer depends on West Jordan’s current rules and how you plan to use the unit. A separate entrance adds cost and excavation but gives more privacy. We cover both options during the consultation.
Can my parents live in our West Jordan basement without a full kitchen?
Yes. Many families build a suite with a bedroom, full bath, sitting area and a kitchenette with a sink, small fridge and microwave, sharing the main kitchen upstairs. That usually costs less than a full apartment. For aging parents, we can add wider doors, a curbless shower and grab-bar blocking in the walls.
How do you keep noise down between floors in a shared West Jordan home?
We insulate the ceiling cavity with sound-absorbing batts, can add resilient channel before drywall, and use solid-core doors at the stairway. Sealing gaps around ducts and outlets helps too. It will not be as quiet as a separate house, but it makes a noticeable difference for families living on two levels.
My West Jordan basement near the Jordan River gets damp. Can it still be finished?
Often, yes, once the source is fixed. We start by checking grading, gutters, downspouts and window wells, and we look for efflorescence or leaks on the concrete. Persistent water may need drainage work first. Then we finish with moisture-tolerant materials like rigid foam and LVP, so a small future issue does not ruin the space.
Will a basement rental unit pay off in West Jordan?
We cannot tell you what a unit will rent for or what it will return; that depends on your market, financing and plans. What we can do is give you a firm, itemized cost so you can run the numbers with confidence. Many families also value the flexibility of housing relatives later.
How does payment work on a West Jordan basement project?
A 50% deposit secures your place on the schedule and locks material pricing. You pay the second half only after the walkthrough, when every punch-list item is done and you sign off. There are no surprise bills in between; the itemized estimate is what you pay. See our process for details.