Kitchen Remodeling in Orem, UT

Why Orem homes are good candidates for kitchen remodeling

Orem is full of houses built with a full basement the builder never finished. Between the age of the housing stock and the steady rental demand from Utah Valley University, finishing a basement here does double duty — it adds usable family space, and for many owners it opens the door to a legal basement apartment with real monthly income.

The housing stock here is a deep inventory of 1960s–1990s ramblers, split-entries, and two-story homes, most built with full basements that the original builder left unfinished. That shapes what a project actually involves — which is why we scope work in Orem differently than we would two cities over.

Neighborhoods we work in

We take kitchen remodeling projects throughout Orem, including Sharon, Cascade, Northridge, Hillcrest, Windsor, Cherry Hill, Geneva Heights, Suncrest, and Lakeridge. Landmarks nearby include Utah Valley University, University Place, Scera Park.

What's included

• Layout design and material selection guidance
• Demolition and disposal
• Structural work including load-bearing wall removal and beam installation
• Electrical updates, dedicated circuits, and GFCI protection
• Plumbing relocation for sinks and appliances
• Cabinet installation
• Countertop templating and installation
• Backsplash, tile, and flooring
• Lighting design — task, ambient, and under-cabinet
• Paint, trim, and final finish work

Permits and inspections in Orem

Basement finishing permits in Orem run through the city's Development Services division, and finished basement bedrooms must meet egress requirements. Orem also has specific standards for accessory apartments, so if a rental unit is the goal it's worth confirming zoning for your parcel before framing starts.

Permits here go through the Orem Development Services, Building Safety Division. Orem takes basement finish applications through its online permit portal, and the application asks for your contractor's Utah license number alongside the owner information — which is a quiet advantage of hiring a licensed contractor rather than a handyman working off the books. Plans need to be drawn to scale with square footage by floor and walls labeled with materials and stud spacing. The city publishes a Residential Basement Finish Plan Checklist that spells out exactly what the plan set has to show, so there's no guessing about whether a submittal is complete.

Inspections are scheduled ahead of time through Orem's building permit portal or by phone at (801) 229-7198. We schedule them, meet the inspector, and handle any corrections — you don't need to be home or take time off work.

Orem's basement finish permits use a fee structure of a $40 base plus 1.5% of the ICC valuation, plus the applicable trade fees for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. That means the permit cost scales with the size of the project rather than being a flat number, and it's a line item we put in the written estimate instead of surprising you with it later.

We handle this part; it isn't something you deal with.

For the full walkthrough of how a project runs stage by stage, what drives the price, and what to watch out for, see our kitchen remodeling page.

Orem permit details above were checked against the city's published information on August 19, 2026. Cities revise fees and ordinances, so confirm current requirements with Orem Residential Basement Finish Plan Checklist and Orem Development Services — what needs a permit — or let us confirm it for your address as part of the estimate.