Does a bedroom require a closet to be considered a bedroom?

For my Ask the Appraiser series, A question I get all the time from clients is whether a closet is required for a room to be considered a bedroom.  The answer may surprise you but a bedroom does not need a closet.  For a typical homeowner, it is expected to have a closet, because let’s face it, we all have a lot of stuff and need more storage space. However, it is not required for a bedroom to have a closet.  When you look at older Victorian homes or historical homes to name a few, many of those do not have closets but instead have wardrobes.  You find this a lot in older cities like San Francisco, New York, and all over Europe.  It’s a sign of the times as homeowners did not require as much storage space a hundred years ago.  Now, builders create huge closets, I have seen some walk-in closets in primary bedrooms that were bigger than the other bedrooms in the house!

Let’s review what the requirements are to be considered a bedroom.

• Egress/Ingress – A bedroom needs proper egress (exit) and ingress (entry) into and out of the room. A bedroom can’t be a passthrough to another room. It needs a door and also a large enough window or slider in case of fire or emergency. If one exit is blocked a secondary exit is required.
• Privacy – A door that can be closed is required for privacy.
• HVAC – Registers for ventilation and temperature control is typically expected. Air conditioning is not always expected depending on the location and climate.
• Minimum Size – There is usually a minimum square footage requirement for a room to be classified a bedroom so that there is enough room to fit a bed and basic furniture.
• Building Codes – Compliance with minimum standard ceiling height is required but varies between market areas. It is always a good idea to check with local building codes.
• Lighting – There should be adequate lighting via artificial and natural light for safety and convenience.

If you ever have real estate or appraisal-related questions, contact me anytime, and let’s start a discussion!