When you need more living space, an apartment or suite can provide it without building a separate home. We plan each one around the property, the existing structure and how the space will be used.
An apartment or suite has to work with the existing home: the available space, the structure, the utilities and how people will get in and out. We begin by understanding the property and how you want to use the space, before getting far into design.
The requirements that decide what can be built are set out under Planning & Permitting below.
The requirements for an apartment or suite depend on the property and where it is. They differ between Wasatch County, Heber City, Midway, Park City, Summit County and other jurisdictions, and they change over time. We identify what applies to your property early, and make clear where a determination has to come from the local planning or building authority.
Local zoning can determine whether an apartment or suite is allowed on the property, how it can be used and how much parking it needs.
Doors, stairs, windows and emergency escape openings depend on the layout and the building code that applies. A separate living unit may also need fire separation from the rest of the home.
A kitchen, bathroom or laundry adds demand on plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling. Checking existing capacity at the start means any upgrades are planned, not discovered mid-build.
Drawings, permits and inspections vary with the scope of work and the jurisdiction. We build them into the plan and schedule before work begins.
An unfinished or underused basement can become a comfortable apartment or private suite without expanding the home’s footprint. Depending on the space, the project may include insulation, windows, doors, flooring, walls, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, a kitchen and a bathroom.
A basement apartment is a separate dwelling, not a finished basement with a kitchen, so it comes with its own planning, permitting and code requirements. In a basement, that planning also covers ceiling height, moisture and access to mechanical equipment that serves the rest of the house.
For finished basements that stay part of the main home, see:
Possibly. It depends on the home’s layout and structure, and on the zoning and building requirements that apply to the property.
It can be. Whether it works depends on the basement’s existing conditions and the requirements that apply to the property, and we assess both before design begins.
Yes, when the property and applicable requirements allow it. Kitchens and bathrooms also need ventilation, which is planned alongside the plumbing and electrical work.
It depends on the scope of work, the property, the proposed use and the jurisdiction. Converting space into a separate dwelling can involve more review than adding a suite that stays part of the home.
It can be. The garage structure has to be able to support a finished living space, and the plan has to work out how the apartment will be reached and how utilities will be extended to it.
There is no single cost that applies to every project. Pricing depends on the size, existing conditions, structural work, plumbing, electrical, finishes, systems, design, and other project-specific requirements.
