Landing Requirements — Exterior Doors, Stairs & Maximum Rise
Landings are the code’s way of making sure nobody steps out a door into fresh air. The rules key off which door, which direction it swings, and how far the floor below is.
Worth knowing
- The classic violation: a back door swinging out over two steps to a patio. Either the landing comes up, or the swing turns in, or the door fails.
- Storm and screen doors are the hidden catch in the swing exception — the screen door swinging over the steps counts.
- Deck stairs need a landing at the bottom too — grade counts if it is a 36 in. pad, but mulch does not.
- Landings can slope for drainage up to 2% (1/4 in. per ft) — more than that and it is a ramp with ramp rules.
Common questions
What does the code say about exterior doors for Landings at Doors & Stairs?
A landing or floor is required on each side of each exterior door, at least as wide as the door and 36 in. deep in the direction of travel. (IRC R311.3)
What does the code say about required egress door for Landings at Doors & Stairs?
The landing at the required egress door may sit no more than 1.5 in. below the top of the threshold. (IRC R311.3.1)
What does the code say about other exterior doors for Landings at Doors & Stairs?
Up to 7.75 in. below the threshold is allowed — provided the door does not swing out over the drop. (IRC R311.3.2)
Adopted edition by state
Base-code year from BuildSpec’s adoption records. States often amend the base code, and your city or county may differ, so confirm with your building department.
Related sections and guides
This guide is BuildSpec’s own summary, not code text. It cites the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2023 National Electrical Code as model standards. The IRC 2021 text itself is in the Code Library for signed-in members; BuildSpec publishes no NEC text, which is at nfpa.org.Neither is an adoption record: your state may be on a different edition with amendments — check your jurisdiction page or get an Address Report.