Egress-door landing must be within 1½ in of threshold (8¼ in if door doesn't swing over)
2025 RCNYS §R318.3.1 Egress-door floor elevationDescription
The landing or finished floor at the required egress door must be no more than 1½ in below the top of the threshold. Exception: where the door does not swing over the landing, the landing may be up to 8¼ in below the threshold. Non-egress exterior doors may have landings up to 8¼ in below the threshold in all cases. Landings must be at least 36 in deep in the direction of travel and as wide as the door served.
Why this exists
The 1½ in rule at the egress door = a near-flat threshold, accessible to wheelchairs + walkers + carrying-laundry-in. The 8¼ in allowance is the height of a single normal stair riser — fine for an exterior side door but not for the required egress door.
Measurements
| Property | Operator | Value | Unit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
egressLip | max | 1.5 | in | Egress-door landing drop from threshold |
egressLipNoSwing | max | 8.25 | in | Egress-door landing drop when door doesn't swing over |
landingDepth | min | 36 | in | Landing depth in direction of travel |
Categories
Applies to
- Jurisdiction: New York State
Source
Solver enforcement
Browsable only — the solver does not currently enforce this directive (no spec-level data to check against). This entry exists so the architect personas can cite it in conversation and the user can read what the rule says.
Related directives
- Garage / dwelling fire separation · IRC R302.6
- Habitable space minimum ceiling height · IRC R305.1
- Egress window net opening dimensions · IRC R310.2
- Stair riser, tread, and headroom · IRC R311.7
- Smoke alarms required throughout dwelling · IRC R314
Last reviewed 2026-05-15.