Across 27 permits filed since 2025-04-16, the median is $2,500; half of projects fall between $1,500 and $5,000. Figures are permit valuations reported to building departments. National cost guides answer this question with averages from other markets; these numbers are what homeowners in Monroe County, NY actually reported when they pulled permits.
Recent filings
- LEGALIZE PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED WORK, ADD GFCI/AFCI PROTECTION IN BASEMENT BY 500 SQAURE FEET. INCLUDES WORK WITHOUT A PERMIT FEERochester · 2026-10-06$1,000
- RENOVATIONS TO EXISTING BUILDING, HOT WATER HEATER ELECTRICAL INSTALL IN BASEMENT BY 200 SQ FT.Rochester · 2026-10-02$1,000
- Interior Renovation: Legalize finishing of non-habitable basement of 2-story frame single family home. Includes deconversion of illegal separate dwelling unit and removal of oven.Rochester · 2026-09-28$3,500
How to read these numbers
Permit valuations are the project cost the applicant reports to the building department. They skew slightly low — nobody rounds up for the permit fee — and scope varies, so the middle-half range is the honest picture: half of all basement finishing permits in Monroe County, NY came in between $1,500 and $5,000. We exclude permits under $1,000, jobs filed as whole-house construction, and counties whose building departments don't reliably report valuations.
Same project, other places
Basement finishing in New YorkBasement finishing in ConnecticutBasement finishing on Long Island