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If you’ve been around real estate much in your life I’m sure you’ve heard the comment that if a room doesn’t have a closet it can’t be considered a bedroom. Well, that’s actually not true, at least in San Angelo! There is no single definition for a bedroom in Texas. In 2001 Texas adopted the International Residential Code. The IRC includes minimum requirements for what can be considered a bedroom.
There are 3 things that the IRC requires:
- A floor area of no less than 70 square feet and no less than 7 feet in any horizontal dimension
- A minimum ceiling height of 7 feet, and if there is a sloped ceiling, then a minimum of 50% of the ceiling must be a minimum of 7 feet high
- At least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening with a clear opening of not less than 5.7 square feet, and a required egress window that must have a minimum width of 20 inches, a minimum height of 24 inches, and a maximum window sill height of 44 inches.
There can be exceptions to the requirements if the house was built prior to the adoption of the IRC by Texas, but for the most part, this is the minimum rule.
Local residential codes in an area could require other things a bedroom must-have, like a closet, but for San Angelo, we do not have that requirement. Certain lenders could also have further definitions of a bedroom for their appraisal guidelines.
This does not mean that your second living area, which meets the above criteria, can now be considered a 4th bedroom when you list your house. Realtors follow a strict code of ethics and must avoid exaggerating or misinterpreting facts related to the property that could mislead or deceive the public. So, if it looks like a bedroom, walks like a bedroom, talks like a bedroom, and follows the IRC minimum requirements, it probably is a bedroom. But, if it looks like a living room … then it’s not a bedroom.
