What is a bedroom?
For safety reasons, each city or local jurisdiction has specific rules and codes to help identify what is a bedroom. You should always consult with local officials for a definitive determination.
I was on broker’s tour today and reminded of how the “average” agent has little idea of what is and is not a bedroom. Home buyers and sellers have even less knowledge about this. The house I saw has two bedrooms and what the listing agent calls an “au pair,” nicely staged with a bed. This is a room with outside entry only. He considers this additional room to be bedroom number three.
Actually, the city where this home is located considers it a “plus” room, not a bedroom because 1) the only access to the hot water heater is through this room; and 2) it has a door opening into the garage. The former is a violation of the city’s Uniform Building Code and the latter does not comply with the Plumbing and Mechanical Codes.
These are significant because people sleep in bedrooms and there are numerous regulations to ensure they do not die in a room that is unsafe for sleeping. In the situation I cited above, the danger of noxious fumes and fire eliminates this room from being used for sleeping; therefore, it is not a bedroom. Secondarily, the value of a property is somewhat related to the number of bedrooms and it is important for the count to be correct.
Note: County records are often inaccurate and indicate an incorrect number of bedrooms and square feet. Do not rely on them.
For more information on this topic, see my article with the same title HERE.