Basement finishing in Rigby
Basement finishing in Jefferson County's seat and the farm country and acreages around it.
Rigby is the seat of Jefferson County, north of Idaho Falls. It had 5,038 people in 2020, up nearly 28 percent from 2010, and many residents commute to Idaho Falls or Rexburg. Around town are irrigated fields, small acreages and newer homes on larger lots, many with full basements.
City or county?
Rigby is outside Bonneville County, so Idaho Falls permits don't apply. Addresses inside Rigby city limits follow the city's rules. Rural addresses go through Jefferson County, whose basement finish and remodel permit help sheet says all construction must comply with the 2018 IRC, plan review takes a minimum of 15 business days, inspections need at least a day's notice, and mechanical systems are permitted and inspected by the State of Idaho. Properties in a flood plain also need a flood plain development permit and an elevation certificate.
Rural basements
Homes on acreage often have a septic system, and the county's application asks for the septic permit. Adding bedrooms can affect septic sizing, so ask about that before you plan a four-bedroom basement. Rural lots also have private lines, such as wells, sprinklers and power to outbuildings, that utility locates won't mark, so window well digging needs care.
Common Rigby projects
- Bedrooms and a bath for growing families
- Family rooms and theaters for long winters
- Remodels of older finished basements in town
Common questions
Does Jefferson County require a permit to finish a basement?
Yes. The county has a basement finish and residential remodel permit application submitted through its online portal, with a minimum 15-business-day plan review.
Will adding basement bedrooms affect my septic system?
It can. The county asks for the septic permit with the application. Ask the contractor and the health district before adding bedrooms on a septic system.
Services in Rigby
- Complete basement finishingFraming, insulation, wiring, heat, drywall and floors that turn bare concrete into finished rooms.
- Basement remodelsReworking an older finished basement: new layout, updated wiring and insulation, fresh surfaces.
- Basement bathroom additionsA new bath downstairs, from slab trenching or a builder rough-in to the final plumbing inspection.
- Legal basement bedroomsEgress windows, wells, alarms and permits so a basement room counts as a real bedroom.
- Home theaters and wet barsMedia rooms, game rooms and bars with wiring, plumbing, lighting and sound control built in.
Nearby areas
Need more room without moving?
Call and a local basement finishing contractor will walk the basement and the permit with you.