Egress window requirement question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So any basement with or without bed room require egress window ?

If you’re not claiming a bedroom in the basement then you don’t need an egress window.

I have two separate set of stairs to come out of basement ..

Inside stairs or going outside. You want something to escape in case of fire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

IleanaSchinder wrote:Hi,
Architect here. You don't "need" an egress window but you may want to include it in the scope of the project.
It's a small investment that will pay off because your house will have one MORE bedroom if you decided to change its use in the future.
Also, if you have a door, that may comply with the egress requirement while keeping a smaller non-egress-compliant window.
Good luck with the project!
ileana schinder

I called to Montgomery county permit office and they even I don’t have bed room in basement I need egress window …

You need an exit. Are you confusing an exit with egress window? You can use an egress window as an exit, but it can also be a door. Its a good idea for safety.

[IleanaSchinder]

Anonymous wrote:This comes up when you sell your house and want to list a room as a bedroom. For example, we just sold a house. We had a large room in the basement with a big walk-in closet and a really nice bathroom adjacent. It did not have egress, and our real estate agent wanted us to change the window so that it did, so that she could market the house as a four bedroom house instead of a three bedroom. We didn’t bother to do it, and the house sold right away above list anyway. But that’s why you would concern yourself with egress. Or, if you are actually going to use a room as a bedroom, you don’t want to be caught sleeping in a fire in a room without a way out.

Let me clarify, closets are NOT a bedroom requirement. Somehow, this is an urban myth.
To be considered a bedroom, you need all of the following (no more, no less)
-70 Square feet, 7'-0" minimum on one side.
-Outlets and lighting
-Fixed heating equiment. I.e.: electric baseboard (cooling is not a requirement)
-Egress window and/or door
-Window for air and light
-Smoke detector (hard wired or battery, depending on the jurisdiction)
-Not be a pass-thru room to egress from/to other spaces

I hope this helps,
ileana schinder

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This comes up when you sell your house and want to list a room as a bedroom. For example, we just sold a house. We had a large room in the basement with a big walk-in closet and a really nice bathroom adjacent. It did not have egress, and our real estate agent wanted us to change the window so that it did, so that she could market the house as a four bedroom house instead of a three bedroom. We didn’t bother to do it, and the house sold right away above list anyway. But that’s why you would concern yourself with egress. Or, if you are actually going to use a room as a bedroom, you don’t want to be caught sleeping in a fire in a room without a way out.

I am
Not planning to do bedroom but not sure if I should go without permit as if I pull permit they will make me do degrees which will take 5k -8k .. so I am really confused now.. whom can I reach for code .. county isn’t much helpful

[IleanaSchinder]

Suggestion: if you are NOT changing any infrastructure (i.e.: plumbing, electrical, mechanical, structural, etc. You are not required to pull a permit.
Any changes to the USE of a building or the infrastructure that SUPPORTS the building, you need a permit.
For example, if you are making cosmetic changes to a bathroom, you don't need a permit. However, if you are adding or removing a sink, you do. Feel free to reach out if I can clarify.

[Anonymous]

IleanaSchinder wrote:Suggestion: if you are NOT changing any infrastructure (i.e.: plumbing, electrical, mechanical, structural, etc. You are not required to pull a permit.
Any changes to the USE of a building or the infrastructure that SUPPORTS the building, you need a permit.
For example, if you are making cosmetic changes to a bathroom, you don't need a permit. However, if you are adding or removing a sink, you do. Feel free to reach out if I can clarify.

How can OP not change infrastructure? They are finishing basement which, I assume, additional bathroom, and other infrastructure updates

[IleanaSchinder]

You can "refinish" a space by changing floor coverings, putting "dry" casework (no sink), moving the laundry, putting up partial walls, refinishing an existing bathroom, etc.
Not all renovations require a permit only if they affect the structure and infrastructure.
If your basement bathroom already exists and you are applying new finishes (tile, plumbing fixtures, etc) you don't need a permit. If you are MOVING or ADDING a bathroom, you do need a permit.
I hope this helps!
ileana

[Anonymous]

IleanaSchinder wrote:Hi,
Architect here. You don't "need" an egress window but you may want to include it in the scope of the project.
It's a small investment that will pay off because your house will have one MORE bedroom if you decided to change its use in the future.
Also, if you have a door, that may comply with the egress requirement while keeping a smaller non-egress-compliant window.
Good luck with the project!
ileana schinder

What is the best way to find an independent architect like you? and how much is reasonable cost to finish around 1200-1300 sq basement? Up to the point where County permit is obtained?? I am looking for one to finish my basement (not OP) but in MoCo as well.

[Anonymous]

IleanaSchinder wrote:You can "refinish" a space by changing floor coverings, putting "dry" casework (no sink), moving the laundry, putting up partial walls, refinishing an existing bathroom, etc.
Not all renovations require a permit only if they affect the structure and infrastructure.
If your basement bathroom already exists and you are applying new finishes (tile, plumbing fixtures, etc) you don't need a permit. If you are MOVING or ADDING a bathroom, you do need a permit.
I hope this helps!
ileana

Problem is I looked at existing permit and I don’t see any permit for basement . So I believe what ever is done , done without permit . So I would like to make it correct but egress window is trouble don’t want to make cut in foundation for no reason

[IleanaSchinder]

So, if the work was done before you bought the house, the work done is considered "existing to remain".
If the public records of the house are significantly different from those of the reality (i.e. number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, setback, etc) you may want to file an amendment to correct the records.
I hope this helps!
ileana

[Anonymous]

We redid our basement a few years ago after a flood, just new floors and drywall/paint. They said we had to have an egress, and they built stairs into one of the windows wells, nbd and didn't cost a fortune

[Anonymous]

IleanaSchinder wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This comes up when you sell your house and want to list a room as a bedroom. For example, we just sold a house. We had a large room in the basement with a big walk-in closet and a really nice bathroom adjacent. It did not have egress, and our real estate agent wanted us to change the window so that it did, so that she could market the house as a four bedroom house instead of a three bedroom. We didn’t bother to do it, and the house sold right away above list anyway. But that’s why you would concern yourself with egress. Or, if you are actually going to use a room as a bedroom, you don’t want to be caught sleeping in a fire in a room without a way out.

Let me clarify, closets are NOT a bedroom requirement. Somehow, this is an urban myth.
To be considered a bedroom, you need all of the following (no more, no less)
-70 Square feet, 7'-0" minimum on one side.
-Outlets and lighting
-Fixed heating equiment. I.e.: electric baseboard (cooling is not a requirement)
-Egress window and/or door
-Window for air and light
-Smoke detector (hard wired or battery, depending on the jurisdiction)
-Not be a pass-thru room to egress from/to other spaces

I hope this helps,
ileana schinder

Nobody said it was, "ileana."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

IleanaSchinder wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This comes up when you sell your house and want to list a room as a bedroom. For example, we just sold a house. We had a large room in the basement with a big walk-in closet and a really nice bathroom adjacent. It did not have egress, and our real estate agent wanted us to change the window so that it did, so that she could market the house as a four bedroom house instead of a three bedroom. We didn’t bother to do it, and the house sold right away above list anyway. But that’s why you would concern yourself with egress. Or, if you are actually going to use a room as a bedroom, you don’t want to be caught sleeping in a fire in a room without a way out.

Let me clarify, closets are NOT a bedroom requirement. Somehow, this is an urban myth.
To be considered a bedroom, you need all of the following (no more, no less)
-70 Square feet, 7'-0" minimum on one side.
-Outlets and lighting
-Fixed heating equiment. I.e.: electric baseboard (cooling is not a requirement)
-Egress window and/or door
-Window for air and light
-Smoke detector (hard wired or battery, depending on the jurisdiction)
-Not be a pass-thru room to egress from/to other spaces

I hope this helps,
ileana schinder

Nobody said it was, "ileana."

I know you can't help it but try not to be a jerk.

[Anonymous]

I didn't mean to be a jerk. In fact, there's a HUGE MYTH about bedrooms and closets.
Should I erase my previous message?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This comes up when you sell your house and want to list a room as a bedroom. For example, we just sold a house. We had a large room in the basement with a big walk-in closet and a really nice bathroom adjacent. It did not have egress, and our real estate agent wanted us to change the window so that it did, so that she could market the house as a four bedroom house instead of a three bedroom. We didn’t bother to do it, and the house sold right away above list anyway. But that’s why you would concern yourself with egress. Or, if you are actually going to use a room as a bedroom, you don’t want to be caught sleeping in a fire in a room without a way out.

I am
Not planning to do bedroom but not sure if I should go without permit as if I pull permit they will make me do degrees which will take 5k -8k .. so I am really confused now.. whom can I reach for code .. county isn’t much helpful

Its worth having it for safety.