Milwaukee Basement Finishing is a referral service for basement finishing and remodeling in the Milwaukee area. You describe your basement and what you want, and we pass the request to an independent contractor. A referral is not an endorsement, so check any contractor yourself before you sign.
The steps
- Send a request. Use the contact form. Include your town, the basement's rough size and what you want to build.
- We pass it on. Your request goes to an independent contractor, who can contact you.
- You get a quote. Compare it with the cost guide and the rules below.
- You decide. There's no obligation to hire anyone.
What helps a contractor quote it
- Your town and whether the house was built before or after June 1, 1980, since the state code treats older homes differently [1]
- The basement's rough size and its ceiling height under the ducts and beams
- The rooms you want, especially a bedroom, bathroom or bar
- Photos of the space, the electrical panel and the furnace area, if you have them
Wisconsin rules for every basement job
- Contractor credentials. DSPS lets a contractor get a building permit on a house or duplex only with a DC (Dwelling Contractor) certification and a DCQ (Dwelling Contractor Qualifier). Owner-occupants applying for their own permit are exempt [2]. Ask for both numbers.
- Exits. A basement used for sleeping needs two exits, and an egress window in each bedroom can be the second [3].
- Ceiling height. Habitable rooms need 7 feet, with listed exceptions [4].
- Older homes. The state code doesn't cover homes started before June 1, 1980, or their alterations, unless the municipality adopts it [1].
- Local permits. Each city or village decides its own permit list and fees. See the permits guide and service areas.
We're a referral service, not a contractor, and independent contractors may pay us for referrals.
Sources
- Wis. Admin. Code SPS 320.05, Exemptions, and SPS 320.03, Effective date (same page; fetched Nov 11, 2026) https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/sps/safety_and_buildings_and_environment/320_325/320/i/05
- Wisconsin DSPS, Dwelling Contractor Qualifier (DCQ), Building Permit Requirements (fetched Nov 11, 2026) https://dsps.wi.gov/a-z-professions-list/dwelling-contractor-qualifier-dcq/
- Wis. Admin. Code SPS 321.03, Exits (Register November 2024 No. 827; fetched Nov 11, 2026) https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/sps/safety_and_buildings_and_environment/320_325/321/ii/03
- Wis. Admin. Code SPS 321.06, Ceiling height (fetched Nov 11, 2026) https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/sps/safety_and_buildings_and_environment/320_325/321/ii/06