Thinking about finishing your Saline basement into a family room or adding a bedroom? It’s exciting to gain more living space, but the egress rules can feel confusing. You want a safe, code-compliant remodel that also passes inspection and protects your home’s value. In this guide, you’ll learn when an egress opening is required, how big your window or door needs to be, what window wells must include, and how to prepare your plans for a smooth permit and inspection process. Let’s dive in.
When egress is required in Saline
Converting an unfinished basement into habitable space usually triggers the egress requirement. If you plan a family room, office, or play area intended for regular occupancy, code expects at least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening.
Adding a bedroom or using a space for sleeping always requires a compliant egress opening serving that room. This applies whether you are building a new room or changing how you use an existing one.
If your basement already has an operable exterior door that opens directly to grade, that can satisfy the egress requirement for the space. The door must be usable from the inside without keys or tools.
What your egress opening must provide
Size and clear opening
Most Michigan jurisdictions follow IRC-based standards. A typical basement egress window must provide a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet. The clear opening should be at least 20 inches wide and 24 inches high, and the area must still total at least 5.7 square feet after accounting for sashes and hardware.
Manufacturers publish “egress-rated” sizes with net clear opening data. Inspectors verify the net clear opening, not just the rough opening, so plan to submit product specs.
Sill height and operation
The bottom of the egress opening (sill) should be no more than 44 inches above the finished floor. The window or door must open from the inside without keys, tools, or special knowledge. Security bars or covers are acceptable only if you can release them from inside easily.
Keep finishes, built-ins, and furniture clear of the egress opening. Nothing should block someone from opening the window or door fully in an emergency.
Window wells below grade
If your egress window is below grade and opens into a window well, the well must be big enough to allow escape. A typical requirement is a minimum horizontal area of 9 square feet, with a minimum clear dimension of 36 inches.
When a well is deeper than 44 inches, you will typically need a permanent ladder or steps. The ladder should be usable with the window fully open and must not encroach more than a small amount into the required well space. Show ladder details on your plans.
Provide drainage for the window well. Many projects fail inspection because wells lack a drain connection or gravel and drain tile detail. Plan for this early.
Using an exterior door
A direct exterior door can substitute for an egress window if it opens to grade and meets operability requirements. If you plan to cut in a new door, you will likely need structural header details and site work to reach grade safely.
Permits and inspections in Saline and Washtenaw County
Finishing a basement into habitable space or adding a bedroom typically requires a building permit. Your local building department will review plans and schedule inspections for framing and systems, followed by a final inspection.
If your property is within Saline city limits, the City of Saline building department handles your permit and inspections. For homes outside the city, Washtenaw County or your township’s building department will enforce the Michigan Residential Code locally.
Expect rough inspections for framing, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing, plus verification of any window well excavation and drainage. At the final inspection, the official will check egress sizes, sill heights, operation, and required smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
What to include in your plan set
Floor plan and labels
Provide a scaled floor plan showing proposed rooms and labels, the location and size of windows and doors, and how people will exit the space. Identify any rooms intended for sleeping.
Window and well details
Include manufacturer spec sheets or clear opening calculations for all egress windows. Show window well dimensions, depth, ladder or step details if the well is deeper than 44 inches, and a drainage plan.
Structural notes
If you are enlarging an opening or cutting in a new window or door, include framing and header details. A licensed contractor or structural engineer can supply this. Make sure details match field conditions.
Life safety items
Place smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on your plan. Bedrooms require interconnected smoke alarms, and basements finished for occupancy generally require both smoke and CO alarms in specified locations.
Design checklist to pass inspection
- Define each room’s use and identify any sleeping rooms.
- Measure existing windows: rough opening, net clear opening, and sill height from the finished floor.
- Decide whether to enlarge a window, install a new egress window, or add an exterior door.
- For window wells, design at least 9 square feet of clear area with a minimum 36-inch dimension; include a ladder if the well is deeper than 44 inches.
- Provide a clear drainage strategy for the well.
- Choose egress-rated window products and gather manufacturer documentation.
- Plan the location and interconnection for smoke and CO alarms.
- If you plan security bars or a cover, ensure they are removable from inside without tools and note that on the plans.
Common pitfalls to avoid
Confusing rough vs. net clear opening
Inspectors verify the net clear opening after accounting for sash and hardware. Do not rely on rough opening sizes on a brochure. Always submit the manufacturer’s egress data.
Window well drainage oversights
Standing water or a missing drain detail can trigger a fail. Show gravel base, drain tile, or a connection to site drainage on your plan and confirm it during rough inspection.
Non-releasable security devices
Security bars and rigid covers must open from the inside without keys, tools, or special knowledge. Plan a simple interior release and be ready to demonstrate it.
Radon and moisture not addressed
Basement work can expose moisture and sub-slab conditions. Consider radon testing and mitigation planning and show vapor barriers or drainage details if required by local practice.
Underestimating costs and timing
Enlarging openings can involve structural headers and excavation. Plan for permit timelines, contractor schedules, and possible coordination with excavators or window well installers.
For home sellers in Saline
If you converted a basement or added a bedroom, having permits and final inspection sign-off helps protect your sale. Buyers, inspectors, lenders, and insurers look for documented compliance when bedrooms are involved.
If a room is staged as a bedroom without proper egress, it can raise issues during inspections and underwriting. It is better to bring the space up to code or disclose accurately, with estimates ready for any needed egress work.
Next steps
- Measure and document your existing basement windows and doors, noting sill heights and whether openings are below grade.
- Call the City of Saline or your Washtenaw County building department to confirm the current Michigan Residential Code edition and any local amendments for egress.
- Get estimates from qualified contractors for enlarging openings, installing egress windows and wells, or adding an exterior door. Include structural and drainage work.
- Prepare and submit your permit package with product specs, well details, structural notes, and alarm locations. Schedule rough and final inspections accordingly.
- Keep all permit records and final approvals. These documents support a smoother sale when you are ready to list.
Ready to plan a code-smart remodel that also supports resale value? Reach out to The Darby Group for practical guidance on timelines, contractors, and what local buyers expect so your project pays off when it is time to sell.
FAQs
Do Saline basement remodels always require an egress window?
- Not always. If you create habitable space or any sleeping room, code typically requires an egress opening. A direct exterior door to grade can satisfy the requirement.
What are the minimum basement egress window sizes for Washtenaw County?
- A typical standard is a 5.7 square foot net clear opening with at least 20 inches of clear width and 24 inches of clear height, plus a sill no more than 44 inches above the floor.
What window well size and features are required for below-grade egress?
- Plan for at least 9 square feet of clear area with a minimum 36-inch dimension, drainage, and a permanent ladder or steps if the well is deeper than 44 inches.
Can a window screen or security bar be part of an egress opening?
- Yes only if it can be released from inside without keys or tools. Screens and bars cannot reduce the net clear opening or prevent quick escape.
What inspections will verify egress compliance in Saline?
- Expect rough inspections for framing and systems, possible checks of well excavation and drainage, and a final inspection confirming size, sill height, operation, and required smoke/CO alarms.
Do I need a structural engineer to enlarge a basement window for egress?
- Often yes. Enlarging an opening usually requires new header sizing and framing details, which a contractor or engineer should provide for permit review.
