Across 69 permits filed since 2025-03-09, the median is $26,000; half of projects fall between $12,000 and $198,324. 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 Orange County, NY actually reported when they pulled permits.
Recent filings
- FINISHED BASEMENT TO INCLUDE: RECREATION ROOM, OFFICE, MUSIC ROOM & FULL BATHROOM FOR A TOTAL OF 1425 SQ FT *NYS ENGINEER WILL NEED CERTIFY IF THE SYSTEM IS GRAVITY FED OR A PUMP UP.Town of Warwick · 2026-08-25$15,000
- Finished BasementTown of Wawayanda · 2026-08-19$13,000
- EXISITNG: FINISHED BASEMENT (REC ROOM) TOTAL 800SQ FT, SHED 11' X 20', ABOVE GROUND SWIMMING POOL 30' ROUND, REAR DECK 20' X 10' AND REAR AND SIDE YARD CHAIN LINK 4' FENCE.Town of Warwick · 2026-08-17$5,000
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 Orange County, NY came in between $12,000 and $198,324. 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