Permit Process for converting 2 bedroom into 3 bedroom

[Josh L.]

What's the permit process like for converting a 2 bedroom into a 3 bedroom? How long does it take and how expensive is the process?

I've got this 2 bedroom town home with 2.5 baths with this loft space that's kind of useless. From a real estate perspective, it seems like it'd be better to convert that into a 3 bedroom 2.5 baths as that would be more valuable than a 2 bedroom and a loft with 2.5 baths.

But, then I notice that no other town homes in the same complex have done such a conversion so I'm wondering if the permit process is impossible or something. Is the city, county, or the HOA that would not allow this conversion?

Otherwise, it would seem like a no-brainer for some of the 2 bedroom models I see here that have a large separate den room downstairs  so that all they'd need to do is build a wall  and a closet for that den to make it a 3 bedroom. 

Those same 2 bedrooms already advertise themselves as a 3 bedroom on Craigslist so why wouldn't they make it official and make it a real 3 bedroom?

[Jon Holdman]

Does the downstairs den meet the requirements for a bedroom?  In particular, egress and size.  If its ground level, you need a window with a minimum of 5.0 sq.ft. of clear opening for egress.  If below or above, its 5.7 sq.ft.  Usually easiest to meet with a 4'0"x4'0" slider.  The room must be at least 70 sq.ft, with no dimension less that 7'.

The process is usually not complex.  Draw up some plans and submit them to the city.  Details vary widely as to how many hoops they will make you jump through.  You may also have to do other changes such as arc-fault breakers and hard wired smoke and CO detectors.

There indeed could be issues with zoning or the HOA.

You may need a licensed general contractor and licensed subs to pull permits.

Call and talk to the city (zoning department, building department) and HOA.