Your best bet is to contact your local inspector while you're still in the planning stage. The inspector is likely to be more sympathetic when he gets consulted early in the process. Once height requirements are met, there is still the question of doors and windows for emergency escape, or egress. If you turn a basement into a family room or a home theater, you probably won't need the same number of emergency exits that would be required for a couple of bedrooms. Although products are available for just this situation, the builder may have to cut through concrete walls to create a larger opening.
Stairways also can be a problem.
Older stairways may not meet these requirements and might have to be replaced, adding to the cost of the project. Some contractors recommend new staircases anyway to make a remodeled basement more inviting. Eldrenkamp says inspectors in his area will accept a lower riser on the first step, but that's also a point to check with the building inspector's office. Click here for books about room decoration. Privacy policy .