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Answers (19)

- Robert Stiles, "captrim99"
- Contributions:19
A closet.

- JoEllen Ufner - ABR,GRI,SFR, "jufner"
- Contributions:397
In colorado a bedroom is conforming if it has a window, closet, carpet, ceiling and drywall......if it is in the basemet it must meet all of these requirements however it should have an egress window fro escape or entrance in case of a fire. The egress window is not required if th eroom was and is a bedroom prior to the code however after the requirement for egrss any new bedroom must have an egress window if it is in th ebasement in Colordao...best of luck

- Joshua Stein, "JSteinHomes"
- Contributions:140
I disagree on the closet. I've been in many Victorian-era homes that don't hhave closets. Armoires were all the rage back then.

- Nina Harris, "NinaHarris"
- Contributions:258
To be considered a bedroom, it would need to have a closet in the room.

- Margaret Seme, "bikeragent"
- Contributions:23
A window is required in NJ, PA and GA and all FHA and VA Financing there has to be 2 ways to egress in case of fire

- Shawn Ryan Rosa, "sryan1980"
- Contributions:493
only a closet is required, but nobody wants a room without a window. also, many people will consider anything smaller than 9x9 to be a closet instead of a bedroom

- SoCal_Engr
- Contributions:5684
The specifics for a "bedroom" are determined by your local building code.
In general, to qualify as a bedroom a room requires...
- A closet
- An exterior window that can be used as egress
Typically, the window also has minimum dimensions and height from the floor (to support it's use as egress).
However, the long-and-short is that you need to check your local building codes. Most of the REAs I have talked to do not know what their local building code says about this (i.e., can't specify where to find the info), and are simply parroting what they've heard. Doesn't mean they're not right, just means that they're not authoritative.
In general, to qualify as a bedroom a room requires...
- A closet
- An exterior window that can be used as egress
Typically, the window also has minimum dimensions and height from the floor (to support it's use as egress).
However, the long-and-short is that you need to check your local building codes. Most of the REAs I have talked to do not know what their local building code says about this (i.e., can't specify where to find the info), and are simply parroting what they've heard. Doesn't mean they're not right, just means that they're not authoritative.

- Yvonne Bernard, "YvonneBernard"
- Contributions:51
A closet, a door and a window. Sometimes the size of the window is influenced by the square footage of the room. An attic space and a basement is not always a considered a bedroom unless it meets the code for your area.

- CulverCityRealtor
- Contributions:459
Dear Jmar,
A room that is designated as a bedroom must have a closet,a window and meet the ceiling height requirements of your city.
A room that is designated as a bedroom must have a closet,a window and meet the ceiling height requirements of your city.

- Margaret Seme, "bikeragent"
- Contributions:23
There is a minium height, a closet, window and not a walk thru-bedroom to bedroom or bedroom to bathroom--unless there is another bathroom in the house

- Maria Morton, "MariaMorton"
- Contributions:716
In Kansas City, to be considered a bedroom, a room must have a door and a closet. It also must have access to a bathroom without going outside and be above grade or in a walk-out basement or have egress according to code.

- Lisa Jonsson, "lisajrealtor"
- Contributions:142
If a room doesn't have a closet, I would consider it an office or a den. If it has a closet it is a bedroom. However, on the MLS here in Sacramento, agents often mark a den of office as a bedroom.

- Vince Curtis, "SoCal Appraiser"
- Contributions:4707
A bed

- Terry Bishop, "Terry Bishop"
- Contributions:24
I am in Tucson Arizona and in order to be considered a bedroom, a room must have a closet.

- Hamp Yonce, "Zilluminati"
- Contributions:3463
A bed helps tremendously. A nightstand is a plus. A lamp is a nice touch..

- Ann Ryan, "Ann Ryan of Keyes"
- Contributions:21
I work in Miami, which has a phenomena of people building bedrooms in the garages. My best guess is that 90% (or maybe 100%?) of these "bedrooms" didn't get the proper permits from the city, and create a long-term issue for the house. Go to your county assessor's office and see what they have listed for your house in terms of bedrooms. If that doesn't match the number you think you have, there's a disconnect... it may simply be that you have a smallish room that hasn't been characterized as a bedroom, or it may mean that someone needed to take out permits to construct additional improvements to the property.

- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26945
In some states (but not all) a closet is required. A closet alone does not make a bedroom -otherwise my front hallway might be considered a bedroom. (Old houses often don't have closets).
In most states there is a minimum size.
In all states a second means of egress is required (e.g a window, a door).
It also cannot be a pass through to another room, for example, once I saw a house with three claimed bedrooms in a row but it required passing through the first one to get to the second and the second to get to the third.
In most states there is a minimum size.
In all states a second means of egress is required (e.g a window, a door).
It also cannot be a pass through to another room, for example, once I saw a house with three claimed bedrooms in a row but it required passing through the first one to get to the second and the second to get to the third.

- Penny Boyles, "englerboyles"
- Contributions:67
There must be a minimun ceiling height, a window for egress in case of a fire and have a closet. If the property is on a septic system, the system must be approved for the number of bedrooms in the home.

- Angie Diaz & Mike Stastka, "Mike and Angie"
- Contributions:43
If it has a closet, it can be considered a bedroom



What should a room have to be considered a bedroom?
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