What is the code for the step down at the landing for an exterior door?

Author: Christ Casper  |  Last update: Saturday, March 7, 2026

Landings or finished floors at the required egress door shall be not more than 11/2 inches (38 mm) lower than the top of the threshold.

What is the maximum step down from the exterior door?

The general requirement for the specified egress door is a maximum 1-1/2-in. step from the threshold down to the landing on both sides of the door. However, recognizing the weather-related benefit of space between the door and the exterior landing, an exception allows up to a 7-3/4-in.

What is the clearance code for stair landings?

Every landing shall have a minimum depth, measured parallel to the direction of travel, equal to the width of the stairway or 48 inches (1219 mm), whichever is less. Doors opening onto a landing shall not reduce the landing to less than one-half the required width.

What is the code for front door steps?

The height of your front entry step (called Risers), according to code, can be no higher than 7 3/4 inches . The part of the front entry step you actually step on (called Treads) can be no less than 10 inches. All Risers (the height of the steps) and Treads (the part you step on) must all be the same; uniform.

Can a door swing into a stair landing?

When fully open, the door shall not project more than 7 inches (178 mm) into a landing. Where wheel chair spaces are required on the stairway landing in accordance with Section 1009.6. 3, the wheelchair space shall not be located in the required width of the landing and doors shall not swing over the wheelchair spaces.

Exterior door landing sizes under the International Residential Code

What is code for the step down at the landing for an exterior door?

Landings or finished floors at the required egress door shall be not more than 11/2 inches (38 mm) lower than the top of the threshold.

What is the rule for stairs landing?

Building codes for stair landing pads usually require that the landing be at least as wide as the stairway and at least 36 inches deep. This size ensures people can move comfortably and safely. The landing should also be level and free of obstacles to prevent tripping.

What is the code for exterior stairs?

International Residential Code (IRC)

The IRC stairs code states that, to comply with stairway requirements, the minimum width for residential stairs be no less than 36 inches. The stair riser code is up to 7.75 inches, and can not vary more than 3/8 of an inch.

How far does a door need to be from stairs?

Doors: The building regulations stipulate that there must be 400mm from the door, or swing of the door to the bottom of the stairs.

What is the code for falling down stairs?

ICD-10 code W10. 8 for Fall (on) (from) other stairs and steps is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Other external causes of accidental injury .

What is the 7 11 rule for stairs?

For both the IBC and the ADA, the 7/11 rule applies: riser height is a maximum of 7 inches and minimum of 4 inches and tread depth is a minimum of 11 inches. When you're walking either up or down stairs, you don't want to have to think about each step, you want to walk with a cadence.

Do exterior steps require a landing?

Outdoor stair landing code

There shall be a floor or landing at the top and bottom of each stairway and the width perpendicular to the direction of travel shall not be less than the flight served.

What is the minimum landing before stairs?

Stairways clearances

Stairways shall be ≥ 600mm wide inside the stiles and it is to have a minimum clearance of 550mm between rails. For stair landing; the width of the landing shall not be less than the stairway width and a minimum of 600 mm clear of cross-traffic, door swing or any other structure.

What size is a landing entrance?

3.1.

The landing area's size outside each exterior door should be no less than 5×5' (60x60" or 152x152cm). A 60×60” (or greater) landing area outside any entrance door is ideal.

How high should a doorstep be?

The choice of material influences the slab thickness, which typically ranges between 20mm and 40mm. Ensure that the slab thickness plus an additional 10mm is considered when measuring the space from the top step to the door entrance. Step Rise: Aim for a rise (height) of each step between 150mm and 170mm.

What is the minimum step down to a deck?

Should There Be a Step Down to a Deck? Yes, there should be a step down to a deck from your door. Ideally, the step should measure between 2 inches and 4 inches in height.

Why is 37 degrees the best angle for stairs?

Ergonomic Efficiency: At 37 degrees, the ratio of the tread (the horizontal part where you step) to the riser (the vertical part between treads) is optimized for average human stride lengths. This angle ensures that the stairs are not too steep or too shallow, providing a natural and comfortable ascent and descent.

What is the minimum depth of a step?

OSHA 1910.25(c)(3) requires standard stairs to have a minimum tread depth of 9.5 inches (24 cm). IBC 1011.5. 2 requires that stair treads be 11 inches (279mm) minimum measured horizontally between the vertical planes of the foremost projection of adjacent treads and at a right angle to the treads leading edge.

What is the distance between stairs and egress?

Required interior exit stairways shall be separated by a distance not less than 30 feet (9144 mm) or not less than one-fourth of the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the building or area to be served, whichever is less.

How big does a landing need to be at an exterior door?

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.

What is the maximum stair run before landing?

The 2021 IRC, R311. 7.3, states that a flight of stairs shall not have a vertical rise greater than 12 feet 7 inches (3835 mm or 151 inches) between floor levels or landings.

What are the ADA requirements for exterior stairs?

Requirements for stairways address treads and risers, surfaces, nosings, and handrails. All steps on a flight must have uniform riser heights within a range of 4” – 7” and uniform tread depths that are 11” min. Open risers are prohibited. Risers can slope under the tread at an angle not exceeding 30º from vertical.

What is the code height for outdoor steps?

Individual risers must have a height no greater than 7 3/4 inches and a depth of at least 10 inches.

What is the minimum landing between stairs?

The landing distance in front of the top and bottom step must be at least the width of the staircase.

What is the 27 rule for stairs?

The "27 Rule" for stairs is a helpful guideline for determining comfortable stair dimensions. According to this rule, the sum of the riser height and the tread depth should equal 27 inches. For example, if the riser height is 7 inches, the tread depth should be 10 inches.

Previous article
Can a faulty hot water heater use electricity?
Next article
How do you remove carbon monoxide from the air?