Basement bedrooms in Rochester
A bedroom in the basement has to be one you can get out of. Here's what Rochester's handout and Minnesota's code expect.
To call a basement room in Rochester a bedroom, it needs its own emergency escape and rescue opening, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms nearby, heat, and a ceiling that meets Minnesota's height rule for existing basements. For most homes the escape opening is an egress window with a well. Call (507) 718-4800 and we'll connect you with a contractor who can plan the bedroom and the window as one project.
The escape opening
Rochester's basement handout, based on the Minnesota code, lists these requirements:
- At least one emergency escape and rescue opening for the basement, and one for each sleeping room
- The bottom of the clear opening no more than 44 inches above the finished floor
- A clear opening of at least 5.7 square feet, or 5.0 square feet for openings at grade floor level
- An exception for homes with a qualifying automatic sprinkler system
The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's fact sheet adds minimum clear dimensions of 24 inches high and 20 inches wide, and for a below-grade window, a well of at least 9 square feet that extends 36 inches out, with a fixed ladder once it's deeper than 44 inches.
Alarms
Smoke alarms go in each sleeping room and outside each sleeping area, interconnected and hardwired with battery backup, though the handout notes existing areas may use battery-only alarms in limited cases. Carbon monoxide alarms go within 10 feet outside each sleeping room in homes with an attached garage or fuel-burning appliances. They're checked at the final inspection.
Height, heat and light
A basement bedroom in an existing house needs a finished ceiling of at least 6 feet 4 inches, including under beams and ducts. It needs a heat supply and return like any habitable room. And it shouldn't block the path to the window with built-ins.
Why many Rochester basements need a new window
Standard basement windows in older houses are small and set high. Even in newer homes, the windows provided for light usually aren't egress size. Cutting a larger opening, adding a header and installing a well is common and goes on the permit.
What affects the cost
Foundation type, window depth, cutting, the well and ladder, drainage, trim and any other work in the room. We don't quote prices.
Towns around Rochester
FAQ
Does each basement bedroom need its own egress window?
Yes. Rochester's handout calls for an escape opening in each sleeping room unless the house has a qualifying sprinkler system.
How high can the window sill be?
The bottom of the clear opening can be no more than 44 inches above the finished floor.
Where do CO alarms go for a basement bedroom?
Within 10 feet outside each sleeping room, in homes with an attached garage or fuel-burning appliances.
Related services
For the city handout in plain English, see the Rochester basement finishing permit guide.
Got an unfinished basement and a long winter ahead?
Call and we'll put you in touch with a basement finishing contractor who works around Rochester.