𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐦?

In our line of work, we get asked this question often.

Unfortunately, it is a common belief that a bedroom is required to have a closet in order to be considered a bedroom. Let’s dive into what constitutes a bedroom.

While this is typically market specific, a general list of the requirements for a room to be considered a bedroom are as follows:

• The room must have a minimum ceiling height of seven feet

• The size of the room – Room codes and regulations vary by state, but for the most part, bedrooms tend to follow the guidelines found in the International Residential Code (IRC). This states the room must have at least 70 square feet of floor space with a minimum of seven feet in one direction.

• Two methods of egress (for life safety reasons), such as a door and a window

• The window must also be at least 24 inches tall and 20 inches wide with a minimum opening area of 5.7 square feet (large enough for an adult to fit through in case of an emergency).

• Heat and cooling

• Accessibility from a common point in the house such as a hallway or living room. Usually, the room is not able to be counted as a bedroom if you can only access it through another bedroom.

  
  

While a closet may not be necessary to be considered a bedroom, many market participants (buyers) still expect to see one. This closet requirement misbelief causes a good amount of confusion amongst the parties involved with the sales of single-family residences.

Sometimes houses are listed as having three bedrooms and then once the inspection or the appraisal occurs, it is discovered it’s actually a two bedroom with a third questionable “bedroom” being included.

The bottom line is whether you are buying a home, selling it, or listing it, it is 𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 to know what counts as a true bedroom in order to avoid confusion. If you’re considering adding a bedroom to your home, be sure to research the bedroom requirements in your state to make sure your addition complies with national and local codes or reach out to a local appraiser who is familiar with the area’s requirements to assist you.