Winona, Minn., City Code ch. 33A (2026) § 33A.08
Exits
Operative Text
33A.08 - EXITS
(a) General. Dwelling units or rooming units shall have access directly to the outside
or to a public corridor with egress to the outside. All buildings or portions thereof
shall be provided with exits as required by the Building Code. An exit shall not
pass through a hazardous area such as a furnace room, boiler room, storage
room, garage or similar areas.
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(b) Obstruction of Egress. Obstructions, including storage, shall not be placed in the
required width of a means of egress, except for projections allowed by the
Building Code. 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.
(c) Emergency Escape and Rescue Openings. 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 that opens
to a public way.
An Emergency Escape and Rescue Opening from a sleeping room shall have a
minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet. Grade floor openings shall have a
net clear opening of not less than 5.0 square feet. The net clear opening height
shall be not less than 24 inches and the net clear opening width shall be not less
than 20 inches. The finished sill height shall not be greater than 44 inches above
the finished floor. Emergency escape and rescue openings installed under decks
and porches shall be fully openable and provide a path not less than 36 inches in
height to a yard or court.
If necessary to add a window, the new window shall meet all of the requirements
of the Building Code for a new Emergency Escape and Rescue Opening.
Replacement windows installed in buildings shall be exempt from the minimum
sill height requirements and the minimum opening area provided that the
replacement window meets the following conditions:
(i) The replacement window is the manufacturer’s largest standard size
window that will fit within the existing frame or existing rough opening.
The replacement window is of the same operating style as the existing
window or a style that provides for an equal or greater window opening
area than the existing window.
(ii) The replacement window is not part of a change of occupancy.
(d) 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,
which is operable from the egress side without the use of a key, special
knowledge, or extraordinary effort. All windows intended to operate shall have a
functioning lock, which is operable from the egress side without the use of a key,
special knowledge, or extraordinary effort.
(e) Emergency Escape and Rescue Doors. Where a door is provided as the
required emergency escape and rescue opening, it shall be a side-hinged door or
slider. Where the opening is below grade, it shall be provided with an area well.
(f) Window Wells. The horizontal area of the window well shall not be less than 9
square feet, with a horizontal projection and width of not less than 36 inches.
The area of the window well shall allow the emergency escape and rescue
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opening to be fully opened. Window wells with a vertical depth greater than 44
inches shall be equipped with a permanently affixed ladder or steps usable with
the window in a fully open position. Ladders or rungs shall have an inside width
of not less than 12 inches, shall project not less than 3 inches but not more than
6 inches from the wall and shall be spaced not more than 18 inches on center
vertically for the full height of the window well.Winona City Code Ch. 33A § 33A.08 establishes requirements for exits and emergency escape routes in rental dwellings. Every dwelling or rooming unit must have a clear path to the outside that does not pass through hazardous areas like furnace or storage rooms, and egress paths must remain free of obstructions at all times. Sleeping rooms below the fourth floor must have at least one operable window or door sized and configured to allow emergency escape or rescue, with specific minimum dimensions for openings, sill heights, and — where applicable — window wells with ladders. Exit doors must include dead-bolt locks operable from the inside without a key, and all operable windows must have functioning locks.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental properties subject to Winona City Code Ch. 33A § 33A.08 generally ensure that all egress paths are kept clear of storage and other obstructions at all times, and that no exit route passes through a furnace room, garage, or similarly hazardous space. Compliant operators verify that sleeping rooms below the fourth story contain at least one window or door meeting the section's dimensional requirements — including minimum opening area, sill height, and, for below-grade openings, properly sized window wells with ladders where required. Exit doors are typically equipped with dead-bolt locks operable from the inside without a key or special knowledge, and all operable windows have functioning locks meeting the same standard.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Winona City Code Ch. 33A § 33A.08, tenants in rental dwellings have a right to exits and emergency escape openings that meet the city's safety standards, including unobstructed egress paths and properly sized, operable windows or doors in sleeping rooms. If an egress path is blocked, a required window does not open properly, or a dead-bolt or window lock is missing or non-functional, these conditions may constitute violations of the rental property code. Tenants who believe their unit does not meet the exit requirements of § 33A.08 can consider contacting the City of Winona's code enforcement or housing inspection office, or reaching out to 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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