Minneapolis Bedroom Requirements

I run into this situation a lot when showing homes in Minneapolis - is that room in the basement really a bedroom?  Is that loft-area in the upper level really a bedroom?  For owner-occupants, these questions may not be as important - any room can serve as a bedroom if you really want it to be!  However, this question becomes far more important when dealing with potential rental properties.  For a landlord renting a home, bedrooms equal cash flow so it is important to make sure your home has legal bedrooms that would pass a City of Minneapolis rental inspection.

The following criteria are listed at the very beginning of the City of Minneapolis' maintenance code.  They list the definition of a bedroom as "a habitable room within a dwelling unit which is used, or intended to be used, primarily for the purpose of sleeping, but shall not include any kitchen or dining room".  Seems pretty straight forward, right?  But just a minute - the City also lists a number of measurable parameters to determine whether a room meets the City's definition.  That list includes:

• Minimum seven foot ceiling height.
• Minimum of seventy square feet, excluding closet space.  
• A source of natural light that is equal to or greater than 8% of the floor area.
• A source of natural ventilation that is equal to or greater than 4% of the floor area.
• Cannot be arranged such that access to a sleeping room can be had only by going through another sleeping room, bathroom or toilet room.  If the home was built prior to 1920, this situation is grandfathered, however.
• Bedroom must be properly egressed.   

What's interesting is that you'll notice there is nothing in the code that requires a closet.  However, in order to be a legal bedroom, the above criteria MUST be met.