Dayton, Minn., Mun. Code Ch. 113 (2026) § 113.073
ESCAPE WINDOWS
Operative Text
Sleeping rooms below the fourth story shall have at least one operable window or exterior door approved for emergency escape or rescue. The units shall be operable from the inside to provide a full clear opening without the use of separate tools or special knowledge and shall open directly onto a public way or a yard or court located on the same lot as the building. (A) Escape window requirements. An escape window from a sleeping room shall have a minimum net clear opening of five square feet. The minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches and the minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches. The finished sill shall not be more than 48 inches above the floor. If necessary to add a window, the new window shall meet the requirements of the Building Code for a new escape window. (B) Replacement escape windows. When replacing an existing escape window, the replacement window shall meet the minimum requirements of an escape window as defined in this chapter. (C) Security locks. When an exit door from a dwelling unit is required to provide security from unlawful entry, the door shall be provided with a dead-bolt lock or approved device, which is operable from the inside without the use of a key, special knowledge, or extraordinary effort. (D) Inadequate exits. (1) Except for those buildings or portions thereof that have been provided with adequate exit facilities conforming to the provisions of this chapter, buildings or portions thereof whose exit facilities were installed in violation of ordinance requirements in effect at the time of their construction or whose exit facilities have not been increased in number of width in relation to any increase in occupant load due to alterations, additions or change in use or occupancy subsequent to the time of construction shall be considered substandard. (2) Notwithstanding compliance with code requirements in effect at the time of their construction, buildings or portions thereof shall be considered substandard when the code official finds that an unsafe condition exists through an improper location of exits, a lack of an adequate number or width of exits, or when other conditions exist that are dangerous to human life. All escape windows will follow building code at the time of construction; if no codes were in effect, it will follow general construction practice at the time of construction. (Ord. 2018-18, passed 2-28-2018; Ord. 2019-07, passed 6-11-2019) Penalty, see § 113.999
Dayton Ch. 113 Rental Dwellings § 113.073 establishes minimum safety standards for emergency escape windows and exit doors in rental sleeping rooms below the fourth story. Each qualifying sleeping room must have at least one operable window or exterior door that opens fully from the inside — without tools or special knowledge — and leads directly to a public way, yard, or court. The rule also sets specific dimensional minimums for escape window openings, governs how replacement windows must be sized, and defines conditions under which exit facilities are considered substandard regardless of when the building was constructed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental dwellings in Dayton should ensure that every sleeping room below the fourth floor has at least one escape window or exterior door meeting the dimensional requirements of § 113.073 — a minimum net clear opening of five square feet, at least 24 inches high and 20 inches wide, with a finished sill no more than 48 inches above the floor. When replacing an existing escape window, compliant operators confirm the replacement unit meets these same minimums rather than simply matching the old window's dimensions. Exit doors requiring security locks are typically fitted with a dead-bolt operable from the inside without a key or special knowledge, and any building whose exit facilities fall short of the standards outlined in § 113.073 may be classified as substandard, with penalties available under § 113.999.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Dayton Ch. 113 Rental Dwellings § 113.073, tenants in sleeping rooms below the fourth story have a right to at least one fully operable emergency escape window or exterior door that meets specific size and accessibility standards. If a sleeping room's window appears too small, is painted or nailed shut, requires a tool or key to open, or has a sill more than 48 inches from the floor, that may indicate a condition the code classifies as substandard. Tenants who believe their unit does not meet the escape-window requirements of § 113.073 can document the condition, review the penalty provisions referenced in § 113.999, and consider reaching out to Dayton's code enforcement office or a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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