My cousin has 3 children, a 15 yr old girl, a 8 yr old boy and a 5 month old. She lives with her husband in a 2 bedroom apartment. The 15 yr old shares her bedroom with her 8 yr old brother, while the baby shares a room with his parents. Is it legal to put the boy and girl (with such a huge age difference) in the same room? Is it even legal to have a 2 bedroom that houses 5 people in the state of Wisconsin?

Yes... why wouldn't it be? It mostly depends on square footage. Not actual room counts. There is no legal requirement for every kid to have his or her own room.

It's not illegal. It's not a great idea, as a teenager especially needs some private space, but sometimes 2 bedrooms are all that the family can afford.

As long as the teen is OK sharing her room with her brother its fine. If the 8 year old were also a teen, that may make both of them uncomfratable. But I don't believe there are any laws against it. Some apartment complexes have guidelines that the company chooses to follow but it is not a law.

We can't say, definitively, whether there are laws about this. Generally such laws are on a very local level. I don't know of any state laws on the issue. In some localities housing or building departments may regulate this. In others, family services agencies may have rules about it. So if you really want to know, I would ask at the local Family services agency.

Generally though any rules on this issue would be enforced only if someone files a complaint with the authorities.

I would agree that a 15 yr old girl needs her privacy. And sharing with an 8 yr old brother is not the best situation.

I'm wondering why you are asking. Did the 15 yr old complain to you?

P.S. Moved from children forum