Egress Window Code Requirements

An egress window is an emergency escape route. A means of egress, or escape, is required for a finished basement to be considered in compliance with city code regulations. If you do not have a walkout basement, you must have at least one egress window in your finished basement. If there are bedrooms in the basement, there must be one egress window for each bedroom.

A basement egress window must meet four International Residential Code (IRC) requirements:

1. Minimum width of opening: 20 in.
2. Minimum height of opening: 24 in.
3. Minimum net clear opening: 5.7 sq. ft.
4. Maximum sill height above floor: 44 in.

A basement egress window well must:

1. Allow the rescue window to fully open.
2. Provide a 9 sq. ft. "ground area", with a minimum dimension of 36 in. in width and length.
3. Contain a permanently affixed ladder or steps for climbing out if the window well depth exceeds 44 in. The ladder must be at least 12 in. wide and project no less than 3 in. from the window well. The rungs must be no more than 18 in. apart. The ladder cannot be obstructed by the open window or encroach on the required window well dimensions by more than 6 in.
4. Well covers must be easily removable without special tools.