MD Townhouse closet addition to finished room

[Daria B.]

Hi all,

I have a rental townhouse (doing some much needed updating) that is 3 levels with the lower level walk out being the front-door, foyer-hall, garage, and a finished 13x13 room that has full bath and laundry space for w/d. 

My lease agent mentioned perhaps adding a closet to this space and marketing it as an additional bedroom. It's already a 3/2.5 from it's original building. 

While this room does have a window, it's not one that is a type of egress necessary for leaving through. The small window at the base of the ceiling looks out above ground though the entire room is only accessible from the door leading to the hall out the front door, the window is not something that can be used for exiting in emergency, which I believe egress means. And as I write this, does ceiling have to be a certain height as well?

Questions:

• If marketing as a rental (as I intend to continue doing), would adding a closet mean that "voila" I now have an additional bedroom and can market it as a 4/2.5?
• Just for grinds: If marketing for sale, same situation, can it be legally be marketed as 4/2.5?

I did call the permit office for Baltimore County and they said no permit would be required by just adding the closet. There is no electrical or plumbing so no permit is needed.

I don't want to spend money on something that won't really yield a good benefit.

@Ned Carey would you have any input on this since you are in the Maryland and know the pulse beat of the area.

Thank you much and Happy start to a new year!

[Russell Brazil]

Does it have a window? That is a bedroom requirement as well.