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Building Code Reference

Got a CRC R319.2 correction?

Egress window dimensions

For builders in California, Greater Seattle, the Las Vegas area, the Denver area and Kansas City · CrossBeam Permits

What this code requires, how to fix it, and how cities and counties review it

What this code requires

CRC R319.2 sets the minimum dimensions for emergency escape and rescue openings (EEROs) in sleeping rooms and basements. The net clear opening must be at least 5.7 square feet (5.0 sq ft for grade-floor or below-grade openings), with a minimum clear height of 24 inches and a minimum clear width of 20 inches. The finished sill height can't exceed 44 inches above the floor. These numbers tell you exactly how big a bedroom window has to be so a firefighter can climb in or an occupant can climb out without a ladder or assistance.

How to fix it

  1. Pull the window schedule and mark every EERO

    Go through the window schedule and identify every window serving a sleeping room or basement. Mark each one as an EERO and note its rough opening size, frame type (single-hung, casement, slider), and operating sash dimensions. Don't confuse nominal window size with net clear opening. Net clear opening is measured from the inside of the frame with the sash fully open, not the rough or frame opening. If the schedule doesn't currently show those fields, add columns for them now.

  2. Calculate net clear opening for each EERO

    For each marked window, multiply the net clear height (sash travel at full open) by the net clear width. The result must be at least 5.7 square feet, or 5.0 sq ft for a grade-floor opening (bottom of the clear opening not more than 44 inches above or below the adjacent finished grade). Check both: the area AND each linear dimension independently. Minimum clear height is 24 inches. Minimum clear width is 20 inches. A window can meet the area floor and still fail if either dimension is short. Manufacturer product data sheets list net clear opening for each operator type.

  3. Verify finished sill height at each EERO location

    Measure from the finished floor to the top of the window sill at each EERO location. The maximum is 44 inches. If any window sits above a raised platform, closet floor, or knee wall, measure from the actual finished floor level of the room, not from the rough framing. Note the floor-to-sill dimension on the floor plan or window schedule. For windows near the 44-inch limit, an explicit dimension note prevents the checker from flagging it.

  4. Add net clear opening dimensions to the window schedule

    The window schedule needs to show net clear height, net clear width, and net clear area for every EERO, not just the nominal window size. Add three columns or a callout note. If you're using a manufacturer's window, the product spec sheet lists the net clear opening for each operator type. A double-hung window and a casement of the same nominal size have different net clear openings, so note the operator type too. This documentation removes any ambiguity for the plan-checker.

  5. Flag grade-floor openings and call out the 5.0 sq ft exception

    If the bottom of the clear opening is not more than 44 inches above or below the finished grade outside, it is a grade-floor opening and the minimum area drops to 5.0 square feet. Note the exception directly on the window schedule or plan sheet next to the window tag. Write something like: 'Window [X] is a grade-floor EERO. Min. net clear area: 5.0 sq ft per CRC R319.2.1 exception.' This tells the plan-checker exactly what you're relying on. Without the note, a checker who doesn't verify the sill height above grade will flag a 5.2-square-foot window as non-compliant.

  6. Revise the window sizing if any opening is undersized

    If a window doesn't meet the minimum dimensions, your options are: (a) swap to a larger window unit that clears 5.7 sq ft, 24 inches height, and 20 inches width; (b) change the operator type if the frame is acceptable but the sash travel is the problem, such as switching a fixed-over-operable single-hung to a full-casement; or (c) add a second EERO if the room layout allows. Document the change on the plans with the revised net clear dimensions and confirm the sill height still meets the 44-inch cap after the swap.

  7. Show a detail or schedule note for the 44-inch sill cap

    If any EERO sill is between 36 and 44 inches, note it explicitly. Write the finished-floor-to-sill dimension on the floor plan next to the window tag. Some plan-checkers will flag anything near 44 inches without a documented measurement because they can't verify it from the drawings alone. One clear dimension note avoids a back-and-forth correction cycle.

  8. Cross-check bedroom count and window locations before resubmitting

    Every room labeled 'bedroom,' 'sleeping room,' or any room that could function as a bedroom needs a compliant EERO. In ADU projects, flex rooms and study alcoves with closets often get classified as bedrooms during plan review even if the drawings don't call them that. Walk the floor plan and count every potential sleeping space. Also confirm that any window well serving a below-grade EERO meets the clear dimensions in CRC R319.4 before you resubmit, so you don't fix the window and get a second correction on the well.

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Why you got flagged

Most corrections citing R319.2 come down to one of three problems on the window schedule or the floor plan.

The first is a window that meets the area requirement but fails one of the linear dimensions. A 36-inch-wide by 24-inch-tall window has a net clear opening of 6.0 square feet, which passes the area test. But if the installer uses a single-hung window and the operable sash only opens to 18 inches of clear height, the 24-inch minimum isn't met and the window fails. Plan-checkers flag this when the window schedule lists nominal size without showing the net clear opening dimensions.

The second problem is a sill height that wasn't checked against the 44-inch cap. A bedroom window installed above a closet shelf or a high knee wall puts the sill at 48 or 50 inches. That's a common layout in split-level additions where the floor drops. The plan shows the window location but doesn't note the finished floor-to-sill measurement, so the checker has to flag it for clarification.

The third scenario is a basement or ground-floor bedroom where the area requirement drops to 5.0 square feet. Some designers apply the 5.7-square-foot standard to every opening. A grade-floor bedroom window sized to exactly 5.2 square feet passes the exception but fails the general rule, and if the plans don't call out the grade-floor exception, a plan-checker reading fast will flag it as undersized.

The official code

California Building Standards Code, Title 24 Part 2.5 — California Residential Code (BSC)

Read the source →

Common questions

Does CRC R319.2 apply to ADUs?
Yes. Every sleeping room and basement in an ADU needs an EERO that meets R319.2 dimensions. There's no ADU-specific exemption from the egress window requirements. ADU bedroom windows are a common correction because ADU plans often show a single window per room without listing the net clear opening dimensions or the operator type. Add the net clear height, width, and area columns to the window schedule before you submit.
What's the minimum window size for a bedroom in California?
The net clear opening must be at least 5.7 square feet for upper-floor bedrooms, and 5.0 sq ft for grade-floor or basement bedrooms. The minimum clear height is 24 inches and the minimum clear width is 20 inches. The sill height can't be more than 44 inches above the finished floor. Net clear opening is measured with the window fully open, inside the frame. A common mistake is relying on the nominal window size. A 3-foot-by-4-foot single-hung window may only open the bottom sash to roughly 22 inches of travel, giving you less than 5.7 sq ft net clear even though the glass area looks right.
Does a casement window meet egress requirements more easily than a single-hung?
Usually yes. A casement window swings fully open, so the net clear opening is close to the full glazed area. A single-hung window only opens the bottom sash, which typically travels about half the frame height. For the same nominal size, a casement gives significantly more net clear opening. If you need to fit an EERO in a tight wall location, a casement is usually the easier path to compliance. Some awning windows also qualify, but verify the net clear dimensions against the spec sheet because the opening angle affects available height.
Can a skylight count as an emergency escape opening?
Under CRC R319.2, a skylight can qualify as an EERO if it meets the same net clear opening dimensions: 5.7 sq ft (5.0 sq ft at grade), 24 inches minimum clear height, and 20 inches minimum clear width when open. In practice, skylights are rarely accepted as the sole EERO for a bedroom because fire departments and many local plan-checkers push back on them. Reachability is a real concern. The code doesn't explicitly ban skylights as EEROs, but if you're counting on one, confirm the position with your plan-checker before finalizing the design.
What happens if my bedroom window sill is higher than 44 inches?
The window fails R319.2 and you'll get a correction. Fix options include: lowering the window in the wall so the sill is at or below 44 inches, adding a fixed window seat or built-in step that reduces the effective floor-to-sill height, or adding a second compliant EERO. Of these, repositioning the window during framing is the cleanest path. The window seat option requires the step to be fixed (not a removable storage lid) and the plans must show the seat dimensions plus the resulting floor-to-sill measurement.
Do window bars or security grilles block egress compliance?
Window bars are allowed on EEROs only if they have an approved, easy-release mechanism that can be opened from the inside without tools or a key. The release hardware must be operable with one hand. This is covered in CRC R319.5. If you're showing window bars on a bedroom window in the plans, note the release mechanism type on the drawings. A fixed security bar with no release fails. Plan-checkers flag this frequently on projects where homeowners want window security in ground-floor bedrooms.

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