Section R318 — MEANS OF EGRESS — 2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)

R318.1 Means of egress. ¶

R318.1 Means of egress. Dwelling units shall be provided with a means of egress in accordance with this section. The means of egress shall provide a continuous and unobstructed path of vertical and horizontal egress travel from all portions of the dwelling unit to the required egress door without requiring travel through a garage. The required egress door shall open directly into a public way or to a yard or court that opens to a public way.

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback

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R318.2 Egress door. ¶

R318.2 Egress door. Not less than one egress door shall be provided for each dwelling unit. The egress door shall be side-hinged, and shall provide a clear width of not less than 32 inches (813 mm) where measured between the face of the door and the stop, with the door open 90 degrees (1.57 rad). The clear height of the door opening shall be not less than 78 inches (1981 mm) in height measured from the top of the threshold to the bottom of the stop. Other doors shall not be required to comply with these minimum dimensions. Egress doors shall be readily openable from inside the dwelling unit…

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject

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R318.3 Floors and landings at exterior doors. ¶

R318.3 Floors and landings at exterior doors. There shall be a landing or floor on each side of each exterior door. The width of each landing shall be not less than the door served. Landings shall have a dimension of not less than 36 inches (914 mm) measured in the direction of travel. The slope at exterior landings shall not exceed [1] / 4 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (2 percent). Exception: Exterior balconies less than 60 square feet (5.6 m [2] ) and only accessed from a door are permitted to have a landing that is less than 36 inches (914 mm) measured in the direction of travel.…

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use

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R318.4 Vertical egress. ¶

R318.4 Vertical egress. Egress from basements and habitable levels that are not provided with an egress door in accordance with Section R318.2 shall be by one or more ramps in accordance with Section R318.8 or one or more stairways in accordance with Section R318.7. For habitable levels or basements located more than one story above or more than one story below an egress door, the maxi- mum travel distance from any occupied point to a stairway or ramp that provides egress from such habitable level or basement, shall not exceed 50 feet (15 240 mm).

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district

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R318.5 Landing, deck, balcony and stair construction and attachment. ¶

R318.5 Landing, deck, balcony and stair construction and attachment. Exterior landings, decks, balconies, stairs and similar facilities shall be positively anchored to the primary structure to resist both vertical and lateral forces or shall be designed to be selfsupporting. Attachment shall not be accomplished by use of toenails or nails subject to withdrawal.

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval

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R318.6 Hallways. The width of a hallway shall be not less than 3 feet (914 mm). ¶

R318.6 Hallways. The width of a hallway shall be not less than 3 feet (914 mm). 3-62 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER. BUILDING PLANNING

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R318.7 Stairways. ¶

R318.7 Stairways. Where required by this code or provided, stairways shall comply with this section. Exceptions: 1. Stairways not within or serving a building, porch or deck. 2. Stairways leading to nonhabitable attics. 3. Stairways leading to crawl spaces. R318.7.1 Width. Stairways shall be not less than 36 inches (914 mm) in clear width at all points above the permitted handrail height and below the required headroom height. The clear width of stairways at and below the handrail height, including treads and landings, shall be not less than 31 [1] / 2 inches (787 mm) where a handrail is…

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use

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R318.8 Ramps. ¶

R318.8 Ramps. Where required by this code or provided, ramps shall comply with this section. Exception: Ramps not within or serving a building, porch or deck. 3-64 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER. BUILDING PLANNING R318.8.1 Maximum slope. Ramps serving the egress door required by Section R318.2 shall have a slope of not more than 1 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (8.3-percent slope). Other ramps shall have a slope of not more than 1 unit vertical in 8 units horizontal (12.5 percent). Exception: Where it is technically infeasible to comply…

provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use provision permitted lot commission district approval parking minimum height dwelling application requirement review coverage subject setback occupancy development standard accessory yard section structure compliance use

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