Egress Code in Ontario

A window must meet certain requirements to comply with the Ontario Building Code. The basement egress requirement in Ontario ensure inhabitants stay safe by providing a second means of exit from a basement living space, in the event of an emergency.


Ontario Egress Map

What are Ontario Egress Requirements?

  • The window must be openable from the inside without the use of tools or special knowledge.
  • It must provide an unobstructed opening with a minimum area of 0.35 sq. m. (3.77 sq. ft.) with no dimension less than 380 mm (1’3”). 
  • There must be a 550 mm (1’ 10 2/3”) space of clearing in front of the window. 
  • Where a window sash swings towards a window well, it must not do so in a way that would restrict escape in an emergency.

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36x24 side hinge egress window
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Egress Windows are Emergency Exits

What are Egress Windows?

Egress means to go out. Egress windows, then, are windows you can use to leave your home. While they may seem like a regulatory burden, these windows furnish occupants with natural light, provide a source of natural ventilation, and can become a lifesaver in an emergency. If there is a fire in your home, for example, a single stairwell may become unusable, leaving family members and tenants without a clear path to safety. For bedrooms and floors with doors that lead directly outside, these windows are not strictly necessary. This is because there are clear escape routes that can be taken in the case of an emergency. In basements, however, egress windows are essential and, if there is a bedroom, required by law.

The Ontario Building Code

The Ontario Building Code requires that every floor level containing a bedroom in a suite includes at least one window that can easily be opened from the inside. This window must provide an unobstructed open space greater than 0.35 sq. m. (3.77 sq. ft.) with no dimension less than 380 mm (15"). The window must also be able to maintain the required opening without the need for additional support. Where this window opens into a window well, that well must have a clearance of at least 550 mm (1’ 10 2/3”) and, if the window swings towards the well, it must not restrict the opening of the window in such a way that it would obstruct the ability to escape in the event of an emergency.

Diagram of a window that passes egress in Ontario

With an unobstructed clear opening of 0.357 square meters and the smallest clear opening height being 380 mm, Window A would pass Ontario Egress. It is important to note that, since the height is so small, the width must be rather large to meet the area requirements.  

Diagram of a window that passes egress in Ontario

This window has the smallest square dimensions that will meet the area requirements. 592 mm x 592 mm leaves the window with exactly the 3.5 square meter clear opening required to pass egress. 

Diagram of a window that does not pass egress in Ontario

This window meets the requirements for smallest dimension (380 mm), however it does not meet the minimum requirements for area. This window would not pass egress in Ontario. 

Egress Window Well Requirements in Ontario

In order the meet egress code in Ontario, an egress window that is below ground level must open into a well that meets certain requirements. The well must extend 550 mm beyond the fully open window (for an out-swinging window) or beyond the wall (for an in-swinging window). The bottom of the window must also be no more than 1 m above the ground. This "ground", however, can be a bench or step that is put in place to meet this limit.  

A diagram of egress window well requirements in Ontario

This is a side cross-sectional view of a basement with egress window and adjacent window well. As this egress window is in-swinging, the window well must extend at least 550 mm from the wall. 

A diagram of egress window well requirements in Ontario

This is a side cross sectional view of a basement with an out-swinging egress window and its window well. To meet egress in Ontario, this well must extend 550 mm past the fully open window.

In Short

To put it all simply, if you are developing your basement in Ontario you will need an egress window that has a wide clearance and be easily opened. The Great Egress Company provides a curated collection of windows that meet egress requirements. The easiest way to get your hands on a code-compliant egress window is to let us ship one straight to your door. Have a look for yourself.


Our windows come in several types and sizes that will pass egress in Ontario. If you need a specific size or a specific colour, we can have a custom window made just for you. 

An Egress Window in a window well

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