In real estate and building code terms, the requirements for a room to qualify as a bedroom can vary depending on local regulations, but closets are not universally required.

That said, real estate conventions and market expectations often differ from legal codes. In many places, real estate agents and appraisers follow a loose tradition that a bedroom should have a closet to be marketed as such, because buyers typically expect it. For example, in some older homes without closets, rooms might not be listed as bedrooms even if they meet building code standards—purely for practical or marketing reasons. However, this is more about perception than a strict rule.

For Manhattan, Kansas, the question of whether a closet is required for a room to qualify as a bedroom hinges on local building codes and real estate practices, as Kansas doesn’t enforce a statewide residential building code beyond state-owned properties. Instead, local jurisdictions like Manhattan adopt and adapt their own codes, often based on the International Residential Code (IRC), which, as noted earlier, does not mandate a closet for a bedroom. The IRC focuses on safety and habitability—requiring at least 70 square feet of floor space, a minimum 7-foot dimension, an egress window (at least 5.7 square feet of openable area), ventilation, and a ceiling height of at least 7 feet for half the room—without mentioning closets.

Manhattan, KS, falls under Riley County’s jurisdiction for building regulations outside city-specific amendments. The City of Manhattan has adopted the 2021 IRC with local modifications, as confirmed by the city’s Community Development Department, but there’s no public evidence in their published ordinances or amendments that specifically requires a closet for a bedroom. For instance, the Manhattan Code of Ordinances incorporates the IRC for residential construction but doesn’t list a closet as a requirement in its building-related sections. Riley County’s building codes align similarly, deferring to the IRC unless locally amended, and no such amendment mandating closets is documented.

In practice, real estate listings in Manhattan—like those on platforms such as Zillow or Realtor.com—routinely describe bedrooms without closets, especially in older homes (pre-1940s), as bedrooms, provided they meet size and egress standards. Local real estate agents and appraisers might expect closets in newer homes built after the 1950s, reflecting buyer preferences rather than a legal mandate. For example, a 1920s home in Manhattan with a 10×10 room, a window, and no closet could still be marketed as a bedroom if it has proper egress and heat, mirroring trends in older Midwest towns where armoires were historically used instead of built-in closets.

To be certain, you’d need to consult Manhattan’s Building and Inspection Division directly (reachable via the city’s website or at 785-587-2408) for any unlisted local amendment. However, based on the IRC baseline and the absence of contrary stipulations in available Manhattan or Riley County codes, a closet is not legally required for a room to qualify as a bedroom in Manhattan, KS, as of February 24, 2025. Market expectations might differ, so a room without a closet could still face scrutiny from buyers or appraisers, potentially affecting value—but that’s not a code issue.