Basement Apartments · Tooele County

Basement apartments & ADUs in Tooele County, Utah

5-star rated by Tooele County homeowners. Locally owned by Danny & Trayson.

★★★★★“Finished on time and within budget.”Garrett M.
★★★★★“Top notch work and a quality finish.”Stan G.
★★★★★“Ten out of ten. Stayed on timeline.”Tori M.

We build the space under your Tooele County home into a legal rental or an in-law suite, with its own kitchen and its own entrance. Egress windows and permits included, with one honest price in writing.

20+ years of experience Free written estimates Financing available
A finished basement apartment by Upterra Builders Tooele County, Utah
20+
Years of experience
157+
Projects completed in the area
5
Star-rated by homeowners
Free
Written estimates, no pressure

We know what you are really worried about

The fears we hear most before a basement apartment in Tooele County

After doing this out here for 20 years, we can almost guess what is on your mind before you say it. The people in Tooele County who call us are nervous about the same handful of things. Here is what we hear, and exactly how we handle each one.

“It is going to cost way more than the estimate”

That fear is earned. Most of the horror stories out here start with a low bid and a pile of change orders. We put one honest, itemized price in writing before we start, and it does not move unless you change the plan.

“It will not be legal to rent and I will get in trouble”

An apartment that is not permitted is a problem when you rent it or sell the house. We build it to code and pull the permit, so you end up with a legal unit, not a liability.

“The egress window and separate entrance will be done wrong”

A legal apartment needs a real egress window and its own safe entrance. We size and build both correctly, so it passes inspection and it is safe.

“It will feel like a dark, cold basement instead of a real apartment”

Nobody wants to rent a cave. We plan the light, the layout, the ceiling height, and the finishes so it lives like a real apartment people actually want.

“I will never be able to get anyone on the phone”

You deal with the owners here, not a salesman who sells the job and hands you off. One point of contact, calls and texts get answered, and you always know what is happening this week and next.

What a basement apartment includes

Everything a legal apartment needs, in one build

A rental has to stand on its own. One crew builds all of it, from the private door to the last inspection, so it can be rented the right way.

Private entrance

A separate door so your renter or family comes and goes without walking through your house. Their space stays their own.

Egress windows

A code-legal egress window and well in every bedroom, so it is a real, safe place to sleep that passes inspection.

Full kitchen

Real cabinets, counters, a sink, and hookups for a stove and fridge. A full kitchen is what makes it a true apartment.

Bathroom & plumbing

A full bathroom with a tub or shower, plus the plumbing run to the kitchen and laundry, all built to code.

Laundry hookups

Washer and dryer hookups in the unit, so your renter does not have to share your laundry room upstairs.

Permits & legal

We pull the Tooele County permit and build it to code, so it is a legal apartment you can rent with peace of mind.

Our specialty

Let your basement help pay the mortgage

You already own the space under your house. Turn it into a legal apartment and it can bring in rent every month, or give your family a place to live close by. Same square footage you already have, now working for you.

  • Help cover the mortgage. Rent from a legal apartment can go straight toward your house payment each month.
  • Keep family close. A private in-law suite for parents or grown kids, with their own kitchen and entrance.
  • Space you already own. No addition, no bigger lot. We build inside the footprint your home already has.
  • Built to rent legally. Egress, a separate entrance, and the Tooele County permit are all part of the job.
A finished basement apartment with a white kitchen and a charcoal accent wall

Why a basement apartment

A basement apartment vs. an addition vs. buying a rental

If you want rental income or a place for family, you have three ways to get there. Here is the honest comparison.

  A basement apartment Build an addition Buy a rental property
Upfront costLowestHighHighest
Uses space you already ownYesPartlyNo
Earns rental incomeYesSometimesYes
Adds to your mortgage or debtNo new mortgageOftenA second mortgage
Disruption to your lifeLow, it stays downstairsHighA separate property to manage

Every basement is different. The fastest way to a real number is a free walkthrough.

Free, no pressure

Ready to see what a basement apartment would cost?

How much will my basement apartment cost?

Recent work

Basement apartments we have built in Tooele County

Every photo here is a finished Upterra Builders project. Tap any photo to see it larger.

Basement apartment kitchen with white cabinets and a charcoal accent wall
Basement apartment kitchenFull kitchen downstairs
Basement apartment bedroom with fresh white walls and plush carpet
Apartment bedroomEgress and comfort
Basement apartment living space with recessed lighting and luxury vinyl plank flooring
Apartment living roomRecessed lighting
Finished basement apartment living area with clean paint and new flooring
Apartment living areaBright and finished
Finished basement apartment room with fresh drywall, trim, and carpet
Apartment roomFramed, wired, finished
Basement apartment kitchenette open to a home theater room
Kitchenette and theater roomLiving space built in
Finished basement apartment room with clean trim and carpet
Apartment roomClean lines and trim
Finished basement apartment space with fresh drywall, trim, and carpet
Apartment finishMove-in ready

Start here

Get a real written price for your basement apartment.

How much will my basement apartment cost?

Local apartment experts

We know what makes a Tooele County rental work

Tooele County keeps growing, and a lot of people who work down in the Salt Lake valley want to live out here where homes cost less. That means real demand for a good rental. We build basement apartments all over Tooele, Stansbury Park, and Grantsville, and out on the bigger lots in Erda, where an apartment for family or for rent makes a lot of sense.

We know what the Tooele County Building Department looks for. A legal rental has to be built to code and permitted, with a real egress window and its own separate entrance. We handle all of that for you. If you want to spread the cost out, financing is available for approved buyers through our lending partner. And you are not handed off to a salesman here. You get Danny and Trayson, the two people who are actually on your job.

Why Upterra

You work with the owners, start to finish

Upterra Builders is not a big company with a sales office. Danny and Trayson run the jobs themselves, so the people who quote your project are the same people who finish it.

Owner-run

Danny and Trayson quote the work and stay on the job. No handoff to a project manager you have never met.

One honest price

You get a real written estimate before the work starts. If the budget and the plan do not match, we tell you up front.

Local to Tooele County

We work in Tooele, Stansbury Park, Grantsville, Erda, Stockton, and nearby. We know the local permit process.

Finished right

Clean framing, straight tile, and a crew that treats your home like it is theirs. Homeowners tell us so.

Reviews

Trusted by homeowners across Tooele County

★★★★★ Aug 2025
Danny and Trayson were outstanding to work with. Very professional, and they provided top notch work and a quality finish.
SG Stan GaillardHomeowner, Tooele County
★★★★★ Jun 2025
First time we have ever had a general contractor finish on time and within budget. Would highly recommend to anybody in the area.
GM Garrett McClintockHomeowner, Tooele County
★★★★★ Apr 2025
I am very pleased with the final product on finishing my basement. I am happy with the final outcome. Thank you Upterra Builders.
LA Lesieli AfuBasement finishing
★★★★★ Mar 2025
Rare to find a contractor who actually takes the time to find the right solution instead of just pushing a sale.
CE Casey EwingHomeowner, Tooele County
★★★★★ Dec 2024
Really easy to work with. We came in with ideas and they gave us suggestions, put together a plan, and helped us make it our own.
CH Cameron HarperKitchen remodel
★★★★★ Sep 2025
The team at Upterra was amazing to work with. They stayed with the projected timeline. Ten out of ten.
TM Tori MapuHomeowner, Tooele County

Swipe to read more reviews →

Where we work

Serving Tooele County and nearby

Upterra Builders is based in Tooele County and finishes basements and remodels homes across the whole valley.

Not sure if you are in our area? Ask anyway. We travel across the county.

Questions

The things people ask first

How much does a basement apartment cost?
It depends on the size of the space and what goes in it, like a full kitchen, a bathroom, a separate entrance, and egress windows. Nobody can give you a real number from a web page. What we can do fast is walk your basement and put an honest written price in front of you, for free.
Is it legal to rent out a basement apartment?
It can be, as long as it is built to code and permitted through Tooele County. That is exactly how we build them. We pull the permit and build the apartment to code, so it can be rented the right way. If you want, check your own zoning and HOA rules too, and we will build to whatever the county requires.
Do I need a separate entrance and egress windows?
Yes. A legal apartment needs its own private entrance so your renter is not walking through your home, and every bedroom needs a code-legal egress window and well for a safe way out. Both are part of the job when we build a basement apartment.
How much rent could a basement apartment bring in?
That depends on the size of the unit and what rents are doing in your part of Tooele County. We cannot promise a number, but a lot of homeowners here use the rent from a legal apartment to help cover their mortgage. A local property manager or real estate agent can give you a good idea of current rents.
How long does it take to build?
Most basement apartments come together over several weeks, depending on the size and the permit and inspection schedule. When we walk your basement we will give you a real timeline along with the written price, so you know what to expect.
Is the estimate really free, and do you offer financing?
The estimate is free, with no pressure. Financing is available for approved buyers through our lending partner, so you can spread the cost of the project out over time instead of paying it all at once.

Tell us what you want to build

Maybe it is an unfinished basement, a basement apartment, a new kitchen, or a bathroom that is past its time. Start with one free estimate.

Or call or text us any time
Call or text (435) 248-0339 Free estimate