Can a loft space with no door be considered a bedroom?

Question

Basically what the title says. My unit has a finished third floor in the attic, however, there is no door to this floor. The space is big enough for a bed, has a window, etc.

Side note, when they were selling the house they considered this space the 3rd bedroom, but during the appraisal, they considered it a loft.

Nathan Gesner · Answer

There are six things required to classify a space as a legal bedroom:

• Minimum bedroom size: At least 70 square feet, but local code may require more. It's pretty small.
• Minimum horizontal footage: At least 7' wide in any direction so it can fit a bed. You can't use a 4' wide hallway as a bedroom, even if it meets all the other requirements.
• Two means of egress: Occupants need to methods of escaping, typically a doorway and a window.
• Minimum ceiling height: You need at least 7' of head space. Your loft may have a sloped ceiling. That's acceptable as long as you have 70' of space with 7' ceilings.
• Minimum window size: The window must be large enough for an adult to egress, and it must be reachable. The minimum is usually around 5.7 square feet.
• A heating and cooling element: A permanent source of heat is mandatory. Some areas require a cooling source. Check your local code.

I don't know of any requirement that a doorway have an actual door. The fact that your loft provides a means of egress should be acceptable.

Russell Brazil · Answer

Add a door, now you got a bedroom