– Electricity: A room must have a source of energy. As a salesperson, you can`t just explain that a room is a bedroom. There is a legal definition of a bedroom in your state. Surprisingly, there are a total of six standards that a room needs to meet the legal definition of a bedroom. While exact codes vary from state to state, it must have all the room requirements to be listed as a bedroom in your property listing. Although it varies, a window should have at least 8% of the glass floor area. If there are several windows in the room, one of them must be 5.7 square feet and at least 44 inches above the ground. This reduces to a window size of 24 inches high and 20 inches wide. With a height of 24-44 inches above the floor, most children and adults can successfully exit the bedroom through the window. A window is essential in the bedroom as it provides ventilation and natural light and ensures the room`s habitability. Many house descriptions are inaccurate when it comes to specifying how many rooms are in the house.
Some houses make a list that they have three bedrooms, when in reality they only have two bedrooms and a den or bonus room. But what is the legal definition of a bedroom? Temperature. In most states, rooms must have a source of heating or cooling. In warmer states like Arizona, regulations focus on indoor or rental cooling units. On the other hand, colder states like New York or Minnesota require heating in the bedroom. Auxiliary heaters are not considered to be heaters. The same goes for fans in homes with warmer climates. This is an important factor in the legal definition of a bedroom. Yes! In California, the housing code does not require a bedroom to have a closet. In newer homes, buyers expect you to have a closet in spaces like a master bedroom. If a room doesn`t have a closet, the potential buyer may not want to invest time and money in the renovation.
Number of square meters. A room must meet a certain minimum requirement for square meters to be legally designated as bedrooms. The room should be big enough to accommodate a bed. The most common measure for a bedroom is a minimum of 70 square feet of floor space. This means a space measuring 7 feet by 10 feet. Horizontal measures. If the square footage was not sufficient, a room must have a standard horizontal measurement to be considered a bedroom. In most cities, homes require rooms to have a horizontal measurement of 7 feet in each direction. This ensures that something like a hallway cannot be illegally classified as a bedroom, as no one could live there. Does someone who is not on the other side of the galaxy really need to ask, “What is the definition of a bedroom?” Actually, yes. Welcome to the nuances of real estate language, where not everything is as it seems. You can`t just place a bed in a medium size and call it a master bedroom.
Although you have a home with an exceptional basement, do not assume that one of these rooms can be defined as a bedroom. According to the American National Standards Institute, all rooms that are below the level do not count towards the finished square footage of the home and must be measured separately. So the finished room in the basement can`t really count. Many of these regulations affect residents` living quarters. In a nursing home room in Pennsylvania, certain requirements must be met to ensure the safety of elderly patients. First, nursing homes must not exceed the number of rooms indicated on the license issued by the State of Pennsylvania. In addition, according to Section 205.20 of the Pennsylvania Code, each chamber must be approved by the state. Yes, another requirement for a bedroom is that there must be a way to control the temperature by heating or cooling. Well, that doesn`t mean the room has to be air-conditioned. But if it doesn`t have air conditioning, it needs to have a window that opens to let in some fresh air.
– Ceiling height: The ceiling of a bedroom must be at least 7 feet high. It doesn`t matter if parts of the ceiling are below this level, but at least 50% of the ceiling must be at least 7 feet high. If you`re looking for a new home, you`ve undoubtedly been inundated with offers and wondered why certain rooms are labeled as “bonus” bedrooms or offices. Why not call them bedrooms? In today`s market, bedrooms are a great selling feature, so it makes sense. Finally, in terms of size, to be considered a bedroom, a room must be at least seven feet in each horizontal direction. This means that any room of long and narrow shape, such as a hallway, cannot be called a bedroom. No, if the “bedroom” does not have a window, unfortunately it cannot be considered a bedroom. Well, technically, a bedroom should have at least two exit methods, which means it must have a very large window or a second door to the outside in addition to the interior door. “Since a home and/or master bedroom can undergo many incarnations over its lifetime, sellers need to know what makes a bedroom legal before listing their home to make sure there are no issues hindering the sale once a buyer has been found,” says Carl Ekroth of Douglas Elliman in New York. Window. Many cities have a minimum size for one-bedroom windows.
This requirement plays into the requirement of an exit route. In an emergency, the window should be the right size so that everyone can escape. However, there are industry standards that help homeowners and their agents understand exactly what makes a room a bedroom. While the details may vary from place to place, the general requirements remain the same. Here`s what you need to know to eliminate any doubt about whether a room is considered a bedroom or not. Ways to determine if a room is considered a bedroom – criteria may vary depending on state and local laws Having a room without windows can help you get creative with what you call it. In some offers, a room without windows may be called an office or a bonus room. Some may even refer to it as additional storage space, depending on the size. If you want to get creative with the space, especially if it has a good square footage, you can call it a game room, a gym, or even give it upsell value and suggest buyers turn it into a movie theater. If your space is a foot or two less, you may want to consider an interior renovation project to add square feet and fit the bed you want (even a king size bed or a California king bed).
But most owners will try to bring a standard large bed, double bed or queen bed into the room with a dresser to accommodate average demands. But don`t let dreams of more square feet in your average room put you off — a quick Reno in your home or apartment might be the answer, depending on your budget. If you`re still not sure if your room is technically a bedroom, ask your agent before you put your home on the market. Don`t have one yet? How to find a real estate agent near you. Have you asked yourself, “Does a bedroom have to have a closet?” Well, contrary to popular belief, a bedroom doesn`t need a closet (or walk-in closet) to be considered official (forget your own bathroom). Your partner may disagree, but legally, at least in most states, it doesn`t. Under this section, a resident`s room must be at least 100 square feet – or 80 square feet if the unit was built before 1975. This does not include closets, wardrobe or bathrooms. If the room can accommodate multiple beds, the room must have at least 80 square meters of space per bed in the room.