There are four requirements for a room to be considered a bedroom.
First the room has to be at least 70 square feet and 7 feet on each side. So the closet that’s 7′ x 1′ would not be considered a bedroom.
The walls, ceilings and floor must not have any cracks or holes.
An egress window is required in every bedroom of every floor of the house..An egress window must have a minimum opening height of 24 inches and width of 20 inches. Keep in mind this is opening height. If the top half of the window does not open, that is not included. Windows must close and open easily and must not have any cracks.
The minimum required ceiling height is 7 feet 6 inches. If the ceiling is sloped, the required height applies to at least half of the ceiling. If your attic height is less than 7 feet and the house is old and the attic has always been a bedroom, it’s possible to be grandfathered – you can request an appeal with DCRA.
Lastly but most importantly, there must be a heat source. If there’s no central heat or if the radiator is in the hallway, the temperature of the room must be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night in all occupied rooms and bathrooms.
