Using Basement as Separate Apartment?

[Vincent Pirrone]

Hello everyone,

I am about to close on my first house ever! It has a finished basement that I want to rent out as a separate apartment and the entrance to the home can easily be configured to allow for separate entry. It needs a kitchen, but other than that it's ready to go. I am in Colorado Springs and need some help on figuring out if this is even legal? 

I emailed the building department to ask about what kind of permits would be required to add the kitchen and if I was able to use my basement as a separate dwelling, but haven't hear back yet. I was wondering if anyone has done this in my area before or has more information on this situation?

Thanks!

[Nancy Allen]

Hi Vincent,

I gutted and remodeled my basement for rental purposes in 2017.  My first renters came in March 2018.  PPRBD's people are super helpful so I would definitely go down and talk to them.  They will walk you through what they want.  It was very informal.  By code, I believe you can rent to 5 people that are not family members in your SFD.  As for adding a kitchen: Colorado Springs uses a stove (220) to decide if you are a SFD or a multi.  Depending on where you are located, you may be able to get a variance and add a stove.  I have supplied a toaster oven, microwave, and two induction plates with pots and pans.  As for the ceiling heights: since my basement had been finished in the 90's, they had already given a variance for the low ceiling height under the furnace venting so I would think you would be fine but always good to ask.  No extra fireproof material was required.  As for the stairwell entrance: you may want to give me a call.  I was surprised at how much had to be considered, because of the downpours that we get here.  My contractor told me that a walkout would be starting at $10,000, and it would go up from there depending on what they would find during the digging.  I decided not to do it.  

Bedrooms will definitely need certain size windows and window well depths along with ladders.  One of my window-wells did not have the required depth, but they did allow it.  

The movie room, which had no windows, had an attached unfinished store room.  Because of the store room, they would not allow me to put doors on that room.  I wanted doors to contain the sound, but it really hasn't been an issue.

Here is another consideration that I haven't heard mentioned yet...HVAC.  Is your basement warmer or colder than your main level and upstairs?  My basement was probably 10 degrees colder than my main level.  When I talked to Regional, they informed me that most basements only have a couple of ceiling vents.  That is all they need to meet code and to keep from freezing.  However, that does not create a warm, comfortable space for full time renters.  I added three more vents.  Now it is wonderful and cozy!  The renters are able to open and close the vents to their liking, and I am comfortable as well.  Of course, my ceiling was opened up during the gut so it wasn't an issue to add vents.

One other consideration is getting furniture into the basement.  Since I created a very nice living space, I didn't want my walls all scratched up, I decided to furnish the space.