To begin, let’s talk about why it even matters whether a room in your house is officially a bedroom or not. Bedrooms are a major selling point for homes – an additional bedroom can add thousands of dollars of value to a house. That said, if you’re buying a three-bedroom home, you would probably be very disappointed to find that one of the bedrooms was actually just a closet under the staircase.
There are national and local building codes in place to make sure homes aren’t being sold with falsely advertised bedrooms – and also to make sure that the bedrooms that do exist are safe to live and sleep in. Let’s look at a few of the specific requirements a room might need to meet in order to be considered a “real” bedroom.
The International Residential Code (IRC) includes requirements for room size that bedrooms must adhere to. Room codes and regulations may vary a little from state to state, but for the most part, bedrooms follow these guidelines.
For a room to count as a true bedroom, it must have at least 70 square feet of floor space with a minimum of 7 feet in one direction. If a room is intended for multiple occupants, there should be a minimum of 50 square feet per person.
Besides the entrance to the room in the house, a bedroom must also contain at least one method of egress – which is an emergency exit. If a bedroom does not contain a door that opens to outside the house, it must contain a window that is at least 24 inches tall and 20 inches wide and has a minimum opening area of 5.7 square feet. This window must also be no more than 44 inches from the room’s floor unless there is a step or other permanent installation that allows easy access to the window. Windows also must typically open at least halfway.
Ceiling Height
A low ceiling may also disqualify a room from being considered a true bedroom. Some states require that at least half of the ceiling in a bedroom must be a minimum of 7 feet tall.
Closet Space
Most states actually do not require bedrooms to have built-in closets. Some local markets may not consider a room a bedroom without a closet, however, so it’s important to know the local code in your area. Technically by national standards, however, a room does not need a closet to be a bedroom.
Doors
A bedroom must be accessible from at least one common point in the house such as a hallway or living room. In most cases, a room cannot be considered a bedroom if it is only accessible through another bedroom in the home.
Fire Alarms
Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of a home, including the basem*nt, and should also be installed near and within each sleeping area or bedroom in a home, according to the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. The absence of a smoke alarm in a bedroom won’t disqualify it from being a true bedroom, especially if the room is in an older home, but it is a good thing to install in a room for safety reasons as soon as possible.
According to the NCRBC, a room can be considered a bedroom if it meets the following criteria: it has an area of at least 100 square feet, has a window or door leading outside, and at least 50% of the room has a ceiling height greater than 7 feet.
Legal Requirements for a Bedroom in CA. According to the California Building Code, a room needs to be at least 70 square feet, have an entrance, and have an escape to be considered a legal bedroom.
Most states actually do not require bedrooms to have built-in closets. Some local markets may not consider a room a bedroom without a closet, however, so it's important to know the local code in your area. Technically by national standards, however, a room does not need a closet to be a bedroom.
Although sizes can vary from state to state, 70 to 80 square feet in size is generally the acceptable minimum. “Sellers in urban markets such as New York City and Chicago would love rooms of 5 by 7 square feet to qualify as a bedroom, but no go,” says Anders.
To abide by the codes, a bedroom needs to have a minimum of one window. The glass surface area of the window needs to be a minimum of 8% of the floor area. This is called the 8% rule. Additionally, the windows open access space needs to be a minimum of 4% of the floor area of the room.
According to Section R310 of the International Building Code (and most other building codes), every bedroom needs an operable window that can act as a second means of egress during an emergency—so landlords can't count windowless rooms as bedrooms.
A bonus room is not a bedroom for tax purposes and appraisals. Although the added square footage is considered, it is not a 'usable' room. This means that you can have more space with lower property taxes.
Clothes racks are inexpensive closet alternatives, whether you make one yourself or buy one. It allows you to organize and store your clothes in a stylish way and turn your makeshift closet ideas into a beautiful display or statement piece in your room.
Using a sizable closet as an additional sleeping space is a budget-friendly way to squeeze more life out of your existing space, even if it's small. Take a look at these ideas to help you to eke out a bit more room, and create cozy sleeping nooks in the process.
A bedroom contains a bed, and it's primary purpose is for sleeping.A guest room also has a bed and it's primary purpose is to house an overnight guest. A spare room may or may not have a bed, or a pull out couch, and its primary purpose is usually not sleeping, but working on a hobby, or storage, or as a home office.
In some municipalities, the room must be above grade, be equipped with an AFCI or smoke alarm to be considered a conforming bedroom, for instance. Ceiling height and natural lighting might also be factors. The issue can be extremely complex, so it's best to learn the code requirements for your area.
A non-conforming bedroom, quite simply, is a room that doesn't meet certain legal criteria to be classified as a bedroom. It might be missing a window of a certain size, lack a closet, or have a ceiling that's just too low. These might seem like minor details, but they can have significant implications!
Bedroom requirements according to the International Residential Code. Minimum square footage requirements. A bedroom must be no less than 70 square feet and have no less than 7 feet in any horizontal direction. Minimum ceiling height requirements. The minimum ceiling height for a bedroom is 7 feet.
Hobby: Reading, Ice skating, Foraging, BASE jumping, Hiking, Skateboarding, Kayaking
Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
