Bismarck Egress Window Guide: Sizes & Permits (2026)

Updated October 22, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Where required	Basements and every sleeping room; a finished basement with no bedroom still needs one	City of Bismarck FAQ
Opening size	5.7 sq ft net clear (5 sq ft at grade floor); at least 24 in high and 20 in wide	City of Bismarck FAQ; IRC R310.2.1 as quoted by City of Fargo
Bismarck's adopted code	2021 International Residential Code; city is updating to the 2024 IRC	City of Bismarck: Building Codes
Sill height	No more than 44 in above the floor	City of Bismarck FAQ
Window well	9 sq ft minimum, 36 in projection and width	City of Bismarck FAQ
Ladder	Required for wells deeper than 44 in	City of Bismarck FAQ
Covers and bars	Must release from inside without a key, tool or special knowledge	IRC R310 as quoted by City of Fargo
State code	2024 IRC-based State Building Code, effective Jan. 1, 2026, where codes are enforced	ND Department of Commerce
Bismarck permits	Basement finishes need a permit; Building Inspection (701) 355-1465	City of Bismarck
Contractor license	Required for jobs over $4,000; check on FirstStop	ND Secretary of State

Which code applies around Bismarck?

North Dakota doesn't force every city to enforce a building code, but a city, county or township that chooses to must adopt the State Building Code, and may amend it. The North Dakota Department of Commerce says the updated State Building Code, based on the 2024 International Residential Code and other 2024 codes, takes effect January 1, 2026. Bismarck, Mandan, Lincoln and Burleigh County each run their own permits under that framework, so the egress rules are broadly the same across the metro while the paperwork goes through different offices. The City of Bismarck's building codes page currently lists the 2021 International Residential Code as adopted and says the city is working on its update to the 2024 IRC, with draft amendments due to be posted in September 2026. Ask the Building Inspection office which edition your permit will be reviewed under.

Where is an escape opening required?

The City of Bismarck's building inspection answers say basements and every sleeping room need at least one operable emergency escape and rescue opening. A finished basement needs one in each bedroom, and if a finished basement has no bedrooms, one egress window still has to be provided. Main-floor bedrooms also need one, though the minimum opening there can drop to 5 square feet.

How big does the window have to be?

The minimum net clear opening is 5.7 square feet, measured with the window fully open. The residential code also sets a minimum clear height of 24 inches and a minimum clear width of 20 inches, and the two have to work together: a 24-inch-high opening has to be roughly 34 inches wide to reach 5.7 square feet. The sill can be no more than 44 inches above the floor. Casement windows usually meet these numbers with the smallest frame because nearly the whole sash opens.

What about the window well?

Per Bismarck's answers, the well needs at least 9 square feet of horizontal area, with at least 36 inches of projection from the wall and 36 inches of width, and it has to let the window open fully. A well with a vertical depth of more than 44 inches needs a permanently affixed ladder or steps. Any cover, grate or bars over the well must be releasable or removable from the inside without a key, tool or special knowledge.

Do I need a permit in Bismarck?

Bismarck's list of projects needing permits includes additions, renovations and remodels, with basement finishes named specifically. The city notes that permits are required by state statute and local ordinance, and that work not done to code can affect insurability and sale. It says most residential permits other than new homes and drainfields can be issued within one business day. For a stand-alone window job, call the Building Inspection Division at (701) 355-1465 and ask. In Mandan and Lincoln, check with each city. Outside city limits in Burleigh County, the county's Building, Planning and Zoning department handles its jurisdictional area.

How do I check a contractor?

North Dakota requires a contractor license whenever a job's cost exceeds $4,000. Licenses come in classes A through D based on the largest single job allowed, with Class D covering jobs up to $100,000. Look the contractor up on the Secretary of State's FirstStop search to confirm the license is active.

What does winter mean for egress wells?

Bismarck averages about 50 inches of snow a year, and January's average temperature is under 13°F. Uncovered wells can fill and drift shut, and covers can freeze down or get buried. Keep covers clear after storms, make sure they lift from below, and check that soil around the well slopes away so spring melt drains off. The North Dakota Geological Survey's surface geology map of the area shows Missouri River floodplain silt, sand and clay, glacial till on higher ground, and claystone and sandstone bedrock, so digging and drainage conditions vary from one neighborhood to the next.

Questions to ask an installer

What will the net clear opening and sill height be, in numbers?
How will you support the wall above the cut?
How will the well drain, and is a ladder or stepped well included?
Do you hold a North Dakota contractor license, and who pulls the permit?
What does your warranty cover on the window, the well and leaks?

Common questions

What is the minimum size for a basement egress window in Bismarck?

A net clear opening of 5.7 square feet, at least 24 inches high and 20 inches wide, with the sill no more than 44 inches above the floor.

How deep can a window well be without a ladder?

Up to 44 inches. A well deeper than that needs a permanently attached ladder or steps.

Which building code does North Dakota use in 2026?

The State Building Code based on the 2024 International Residential Code, effective January 1, 2026, in jurisdictions that enforce a building code.

Bismarck egress window guide (2026)