Minot Egress Window Guide: Sizes & Permits (2026)

Updated October 23, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Clear opening	5.7 sq ft (821 sq in); 5 sq ft (720 sq in) at grade floor	City of Minot egress handout
Width and height	At least 20 in clear width and 24 in clear height	City of Minot egress handout
Sill height	No more than 44 in above the floor	City of Minot egress handout
Window well	9 sq ft minimum, 36 in out and 36 in wide; window must open fully	City of Minot egress handout
Ladder or steps	Required if the well is over 44 in deep; may intrude up to 6 in	City of Minot egress handout
Under a deck	At least 36 in clear height	City of Minot egress handout
Covers and bars	Must release from inside without a key, tool or special knowledge	IRC R310.4 as quoted by City of Fargo
Minot's residential code	2024 International Residential Code	City of Minot applicable codes
Frost line	4 ft	City of Minot design criteria
Contractor license	State license for jobs over $4,000; verify on FirstStop	ND Secretary of State

Which building code applies in Minot?

The City of Minot's list of applicable codes and geographic design criteria names the 2024 International Residential Code for houses, along with the 2024 editions of the building, mechanical, energy, fire, fuel gas and existing building codes. North Dakota's Department of Commerce says the updated State Building Code, built on the 2024 international codes, takes effect January 1, 2026. Under state law a city, county or township that chooses to enforce building codes must use the State Building Code, though fully chartered home rule cities may adopt something else. Burlington and Surrey are separate cities, so ask each one what it enforces.

Where is an escape opening required?

The IRC, as quoted in the City of Fargo's egress handout, requires an emergency escape and rescue opening in basements, in habitable attics, and in every sleeping room. A basement bedroom needs its own. The handout's section R310.2.1 adds that the opening has to be operable from inside.

How big does the window have to be?

The City of Minot's Egress Window Information handout lists a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet, or 821 square inches, with 5 square feet allowed for grade-floor openings. The clear width must be at least 20 inches and the clear height at least 24 inches, and the bottom of the opening can't be more than 44 inches above the floor. "Net clear" means the space you can actually pass through with the window open, measured inside the frame and sash, not the glass size printed on a label.

What does the well need?

Per the same handout, the well's horizontal dimensions must let the window open all the way, with at least 9 square feet of area and at least 36 inches of projection and width. A well deeper than 44 inches below the adjacent ground needs a permanently fixed ladder or steps that can be used with the window fully open, and the ladder or steps may not take up more than 6 inches of the required well dimensions. If the window sits under a deck, the handout calls for at least 36 inches of clear height under the deck.

Can I cover the well?

Yes, with limits. The IRC section quoted by the City of Fargo allows bars, grilles, covers and screens over escape openings as long as the minimum clear opening is kept and the device can be released or removed from inside without a key, a tool or special knowledge. Locked covers, screwed-down grates and covers too heavy to push up from the well don't meet that.

What about smoke alarms?

Minot's handout says smoke alarms are required under the residential code when permitted interior alterations, repairs or additions take place, and when sleeping rooms are added or created in an existing dwelling. It notes this also applies to window replacements.

How do permits work in Minot?

The City of Minot says all residential construction plans are examined for code compliance before a permit is issued, covering new homes, decks, garages, additions and renovations. Applications go through the city's Online Permitting & Licensing Portal, which needs an email account and takes card or e-check payments. Building Safety, the city's inspection division, can be reached at 701-857-4102 or buildingsafety@minotnd.gov. Since an egress project cuts the foundation and often creates a bedroom, ask Building Safety what your plan requires before work begins.

How do I check a contractor's license?

The North Dakota Secretary of State says anyone doing a job whose cost exceeds $4,000 must hold a state contractor license. Licenses come in four classes by job size: Class D up to $100,000 per job, Class C up to $300,000, Class B up to $500,000, and Class A over $500,000. Applicants must file a certificate of liability insurance and show workers' compensation coverage through Workforce Safety & Insurance. You can look up a contractor's status with the FirstStop contractor search. Minot's licensing handout also points general contractors to the Secretary of State first, and says electricians and plumbers need a city license in addition to their state license.

How do Minot's ground and weather affect a well?

Soil. The North Dakota Geological Survey's Minot quadrangle map shows the Souris floodplain made of sand, gravel, silt and clay, often over 100 feet thick, and the uplands covered with clay-rich glacial till generally 100 to 150 feet thick. It also maps landslide deposits on parts of the valley walls.
Frost. Minot's design criteria list a 4-foot frost line and severe weathering, so drainage and sealing around a below-grade window matter.
Snow. Minot averages about 42.5 inches of snow a year, and the city's snow load reference says ground snow loads typically fall in the 50 to 60 psf range. Clear egress wells and covers after storms.
Cold. The January daily mean at Minot International Airport is about 13.8°F.

Before you hire

Decide which room the window serves and measure the wall from inside.
Check outside for decks, meters, the AC unit and the property line.
Verify the contractor's state license on FirstStop.
Get a written quote with the net clear opening, the well size and depth, the ladder, the reinforcement plan and the warranty.
Confirm who applies for the City of Minot permit and schedules inspections.

Common questions

Does a Minot basement need an egress window if there's no bedroom?

The IRC section quoted by the City of Fargo requires an escape opening in basements as well as in each sleeping room. Ask Minot Building Safety how that applies to your plan.

Does the $4,000 license rule apply to egress jobs?

The North Dakota Secretary of State says anyone doing a job over $4,000 must hold a state contractor license. Many egress installations will exceed that, so check the license on FirstStop.

Which code edition does Minot use for houses?

Minot's list of applicable codes names the 2024 International Residential Code.

Minot egress window guide (2026)