What's a Bedroom?

Local building codes, appraisal organizations and mortgage programs seem to vary in their requirements for what can legally be classified as a bedroom.  Often mentioned is the closet you have, though in old houses built before central heating, homeowners sometimes preferred free-standing clothes presses in rooms that were clearly intended as bedrooms.  Codes often require at least two means of egress:  two doors, or a door and a window large enough to allow escape in case of fire.  Other areas require a window large enough for a fully equipped firefighter to enter.  With some codes a room cannot be considered a bedroom if it is entered through another bedroom (tandem), if it does not have an outside wall, or sometimes if it has builtins that suggest other usage -- bookshelves, desks, counters.  As you were told,  a bathroom on the same floor is sometimes listed as necessary, but that's not required in every jurisdiction.

All in all, I can't seem to find one definition that applies everywhere.  Perhaps your house should be listed as 3-plus bedrooms.  But you know, mentioning a den may attract just as many potential buyers.

Now I'll sit back and wait for the emails from appraisers who will start with "Edith, what do you mean you don't know?  The definition is simple..."