Lincoln, Neb., Mun. Code ch. 21.05 § 21.05.500
Section 702.3 Amended; Means of Egress; Locked Doors
Operative Text
Section 702.1 of the International Property Maintenance Code is amended to read as follows: 702.3 Locked doors. All means of egress doors shall be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort, except where the door hardware conforms to that permitted by the International Building Code, as adopted by the City. (Ord. 19349 §50; March 1, 2009).
Under Lincoln, Neb., Mun. Code ch. 21.05 § 21.05.500, all doors that serve as a means of egress in a property must be openable from the egress side without requiring a key, special knowledge, or unusual effort. The only exception applies when the door hardware meets the standards set by the International Building Code as adopted by the City of Lincoln. This rule is designed to ensure that occupants can exit a building quickly and safely in an emergency.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Lincoln, Neb., Mun. Code ch. 21.05 § 21.05.500 generally ensure that every egress door in their buildings can be opened from the inside without a key, code, or special technique. Compliant operators regularly inspect door hardware to confirm it meets either the basic openability standard or the specific hardware exceptions recognized under the International Building Code as adopted by Lincoln. Keeping documentation of hardware specifications and inspection records is a common practice among operators seeking to demonstrate ongoing compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Lincoln, Neb., Mun. Code ch. 21.05 § 21.05.500, tenants have a right to egress doors that can be opened from the inside without a key, special knowledge, or unusual effort, unless the hardware qualifies under the City-adopted International Building Code. If a tenant encounters an egress door that appears to violate this standard — for example, one that requires a key to exit — that condition may be reportable to the City of Lincoln's code enforcement or building inspection office. Tenant-rights organizations in the Lincoln area can provide general information about how to document such conditions and what complaint processes may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 5, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.