Victoria, Minn., Mun. Code art. 103-V (2026) § 103-125

Generally. Dwelling units or rooming units shall have access directly to the outside or to a common hallway or public corridor with egress to the outside. An exit shall not pass through a hazardous area such as a furnace room, boiler room, storage room, garage or similar areas. 

Means of egress system. A means of egress system shall be deemed as meeting the intent of this section, provided that the means of egress system or systems is evaluated by the code official and judged to be equivalent to the exit means of egress system that was required by the code under which the building was constructed or equivalent provisions of the currently adopted fire code. This includes, but is not limited to, number of exits, separation of exits, egress illumination, emergency egress illumination, emergency exit signage and illumination, corridors, corridor doors, and egress travel distance. 

Obstruction of egress. Means of egress shall not be obstructed in any manner and shall remain free of any material or matter where its presence would obstruct or render the means of egress hazardous. All egress routes shall be properly maintained in a safe manner. A clear and unobstructed means of access with a minimum width of 30 inches and a minimum height of 78 inches shall be maintained from the operating face of an electrical service panel, meter or switchboard. Tenants shall at all times have free access to the service panel for their dwelling unit. 

Escape windows. 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. 
Escape window requirements. An escape window from a sleeping room shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 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 44 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. 

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 section. 

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. 

Inadequate exits. Except for those buildings or portions thereof that have been provided with adequate exit facilities conforming to the provisions of this section, 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 or 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. 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 or a lack of an adequate number or width of exits, or when other conditions exist that are dangerous to human life. 

(Code 1998, § 8-126; Ord. No. 349, 4-12-2007)