But. . .Is It a Bedroom?

Elise -- thanks!  In listing remarks, the phrase "potential 4th bedroom" is common and a good way around any legalities. 

Vanessa -- with a tough septic law like that one, I sure would be pulling permits!

Julie -- in the final analysis everything depends upon the appraiser's opinion ;-)  Glad you enjoyed the post.

Gary -- out here it's "the bigger the better" and "the more the merrier," be it square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms or garages!

Barbara -- this is no doubt why most jurisdictions have established rules for what is or is not a bedroom.  It's a whole other question as to what qualifies as a "room" -- closets don't in my mind, but I've seen some pretty large, room-sized closets and some pretty small closet-sized rooms!

Jason -- sometimes people add closets to make a room a bedroom.  Again, the definition hinges on the local rules.  In Howard County, the room must have windows that are above-grade (not window wells) that are sized at least 8% of the floor space of the room.  This is for reasons of emergency egress (say in a fire).

Every city, county has a different set of rules - building codes.  As far as I know they all require some sort of permit for finishing indoor spaces, particularly if you are doing any eletrical work.  Your best bet would be to check with your local building code enforcement department to see what the rules are in your area. 

Hi RJ

I cannot advise you on permits or requirements in Virginia. 

You might find some useful information at this site: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/construction/code_enforce.htm

Hi Annie,

The important thing to remember is the "spirit" of the law. . .egress from the bedroom in case of a fire.  This is why the window has to be a certain size. . .an adult male should be able to fit through.  Because there is a door to the outside in your basement room, My guess is that this qualifies as a bedroom and worth the effort of building the closet.  To be certain, call the city and check the building code -- every jurisdiction has different rules.

Remember that appraisers do not count all of the finished square feet of a home. . .only finished spaces that are above grade (e.g. not basements, garages or unfinished attics, etc.). 

I'm not sure what the law is in DC, but in most jurisdictions the room must have ingress/egress large enough to fit an adult male.  Most people feel a closet is necessary and I've seen sellers anchor in a large cabinet to meet that requirement.  I also feel that there should be a full bath on the same level as the bedroom.  You can use any room you want as a bedroom. . .the "legal" classification comes in when you advertise a property for sale with X amount of bedrooms when one of those rooms is not a legal bedroom.

Kari - if there's no window in the room, then I doubt it's a "legal" bedroom.  Again, the issue would come up for you when you try to sell.  I've seen row homes in Baltimore with a bedroom that can only be accessed through another bedroom - this doesn't qualify either, in my opinion.  Also, I would not think a room without a window (large enough for an adult male to get out of) would qualify.  For example, in a house fire where it isn't possible to get out via the hallway because of flames, there is no window to jump out of or for firefighters to get in through!

Jim - Bedroom specifications vary across the nation and are usually defined by the county.  My recommendation is to contact your local code and zoning office to see if they have a legal "definition" for bedrooms.  The best way to appeal property taxes is not by how many bedrooms you do/do not have but by the local sales in your neighborhood over the past 6 months - if the average sale price for homes similar to yours is less than your current tax assessment you may have a case.  Contact a local Realtor to help you find the "comps" to support your claim.  Zillow may be a good place to start, but use it with caution, e.g. in the Baltimore area, Zillow valuations are +- 10% which is a large variation.  Good luck!