Basement bedrooms and egress in Fargo
A basement room only counts as a bedroom if someone can get out of it in a fire. Here's what Fargo checks.
Turning part of a Fargo basement into a bedroom means meeting the escape, alarm and space rules in the residential code, then getting it inspected. It's for families adding a room for a teenager or guest, owners renting out space, and sellers who want an honest bedroom count. The outcome is a room that's safe to sleep in and legal to list.
What makes a basement bedroom legal?
- An escape opening. The City of Fargo's egress handout says basements and every sleeping room need at least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening, and each basement bedroom needs its own.
- Size. The handout calls for at least 5.7 square feet of net clear opening, or 5.0 square feet at or below grade, with at least 24 inches of clear height and 20 inches of clear width.
- Sill height. Fargo measures from the finished floor and allows up to 48 inches for below-grade openings, a local amendment.
- A window well. At least 9 square feet, 36 inches out from the wall and 36 inches wide, with a permanent ladder or steps if it's deeper than 44 inches.
- Alarms. Smoke alarms in and outside sleeping rooms and carbon monoxide protection where fuel-burning appliances or an attached garage are present. Ask the contractor what the inspector will look for.
Signs your basement room isn't a legal bedroom yet
- The only window is a small, high hopper or block window
- The window opens into a shallow metal well with no ladder
- The room was finished without a permit
- There's no smoke alarm inside the room
- The only way to the window is over a bed or dresser bolted in place
Why it's a common Fargo project
Older homes near downtown, NDSU and the north side often have finished basement rooms with windows sized for light, not escape. Fargo's handout also says that windows in projects permitted since the 1988 code that don't meet egress have to be corrected. Newer homes to the south usually have one egress window, but finishing a second or third bedroom means adding more. In Fargo's shrink-swell clay, the well needs good drainage and well-compacted backfill so it doesn't settle away from the house.
What affects the cost?
- Whether the window is new or an enlarged existing opening
- Poured concrete versus block foundation walls
- Well depth, material, ladder and cover
- Alarm upgrades, closet and door work
- Patios, decks or utilities near the wall
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Does a basement bedroom need a closet?
The residential code doesn't define a bedroom by its closet, but buyers, appraisers and listings often expect one. Ask your real estate agent how it affects the bedroom count.
Can a door count as the escape opening?
Yes, an exterior door that leads outside can serve as the emergency escape opening. Most basements use a window and well instead.
Who calls 811 before the well is dug?
Usually the contractor. North Dakota requires a call to North Dakota One Call at least two business days before digging.
Related services
More background: Fargo basement finishing guide.
Ready to use the space under your feet?
Call and a local basement finishing contractor will look at the space, the moisture and the permits with you.