What does a basement bedroom need in New Jersey?

The escape opening

Under the New Jersey edition of the International Residential Code, every sleeping room needs at least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening, including sleeping rooms in basements (R310.1). It has to open without keys or tools and lead to a yard or street. The minimums (R310.2):

• 5.7 square feet of net clear opening (5 square feet for a grade-floor opening)
• 24 inches of clear height and 20 inches of clear width, from normal operation of the window
• The bottom of the opening no more than 44 inches above the floor

The window well

When the opening sits below grade it needs an area well of at least 9 square feet, at least 36 inches wide and projecting at least 36 inches from the wall, big enough for the window to open fully. A well deeper than 44 inches needs a permanent ladder or steps (R310.4).

The sprinkler exception

A basement sleeping room in a home with an automatic sprinkler system does not need its own escape opening, but only if the basement has either one code-compliant way out plus one escape opening, or two code-compliant ways out (R310.1, exception 2).

Ceiling height

Habitable space, including a bedroom, needs a ceiling of at least 7 feet, and bathrooms and laundry rooms at least 6 feet 8 inches. In basements, beams, girders and ducts may drop to 6 feet 4 inches above the finished floor (R305.1). Parts of a basement without habitable space need 6 feet 8 inches, or 6 feet 4 inches at beams and ducts (R305.1.1).

Permits

Cutting an escape opening into a foundation wall, framing the room and wiring it all need a construction permit (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.14); none of it is ordinary maintenance (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.7). For costs, see the basement finishing cost guide.