Interior basement door clearance

[turnercc]

I am planning a kitchen renovation and am trying to get clarity on how much space I need in the kitchen, in front of a door that opens to a basement stair. The kitchen is in an old DC rowhouse, so space is at a real premium. The current configuration (shown in the image below) has the door in orange. The door is a bit narrow - 28" wide, and the space between the closed door and the start of the cabinets is also about 28" (so it can swing all the way open, but just barely.)

Our renovation will have a similar setup, but we're not clear on the code requirements for the space in front of the door. Our architect suggested that the space may need to increase to 36", even though the door will remain at 28", to comply with code.

Other relevant info: The basement to which the door/stair leads has its own outside door to the backyard. The building is a single-dwelling rowhouse in DC. It is not a historic building or in a historic zone.

My questions are:
1. Since the basement has another exit directly to the outside, does that mean that this door in the kitchen is not part of a means of egress?
2. Ideally, we'd like to keep the space between the door and the counter at 28" rather than expanding to 36". Is this possible without violating residential building code?

 

[TheCommish]

Is there currently a door at the base of the stairs? If yes then my opinion the door needs to open to 90 deg.

if there is not a door then how are you complying with this sections of the 2015 IRC

R311.7.6 Landings for Stairways

There shall be a floor or landing at the top and bottom of each stairway. The width perpendicular to the direction of travel shall be not less than the width of the flight served. Landings of shapes other than square or rectangular shall be permitted provided that the depth at the walk line and the total area is not less than that of a quarter circle with a radius equal to the required landing width. Where the stairway has a straight run, the depth in the direction of travel shall be not less than 36 inches (914 mm).

Exception: A floor or landing is not required at the top of an interior flight of stairs, including stairs in an enclosed garage, provided that a door does not swing over the stairs.

 

[Mr. Inspector]

There are no requirements for interior door sizes in the interior of a house.

 

[turnercc]

Is there currently a door at the base of the stairs? If yes then my opinion the door needs to open to 90 deg.

if there is not a door then how are you complying with this sections of the 2015 IRC

R311.7.6 Landings for Stairways

There shall be a floor or landing at the top and bottom of each stairway. The width perpendicular to the direction of travel shall be not less than the width of the flight served. Landings of shapes other than square or rectangular shall be permitted provided that the depth at the walk line and the total area is not less than that of a quarter circle with a radius equal to the required landing width. Where the stairway has a straight run, the depth in the direction of travel shall be not less than 36 inches (914 mm).

Exception: A floor or landing is not required at the top of an interior flight of stairs, including stairs in an enclosed garage, provided that a door does not swing over the stairs.

There is not a door at the base of the stairs. Based on my understanding, the exception you cite would apply here, because the door swings into the kitchen, not over the stairs.

 

[turnercc]

There are no requirements for interior door sizes in the interior of a house.

I'm not worried about the door itself, which would get grandfathered in regardless of code. The question is whether we need to leave 36" deep of clear space in front of the door in the kitchen. I'd prefer to only leave 28" of space, but don't want to run afoul of code requirements.

 

[jar546]

I'm not worried about the door itself, which would get grandfathered in regardless of code. The question is whether we need to leave 36" deep of clear space in front of the door in the kitchen. I'd prefer to only leave 28" of space, but don't want to run afoul of code requirements.

As long as the door opens 90 degrees, there is no requirement.

 

[Sifu]

What code? You may not be on it yet, or at all, but the 2024 IRC has changed this:

 

[turnercc]

What code? You may not be on it yet, or at all, but the 2024 IRC has changed this:
View attachment 14706

Oh man. I'm in DC. Any idea how I can tell which edition of the code is in effect?

 

[Sifu]

Whatever AHJ you are pulling the permit from should tell you, usually adopted codes are on their website.

 

[turnercc]

Whatever AHJ you are pulling the permit from should tell you, usually adopted codes are on their website.

Looks like it's an amended version of IBC 2015. Only seeing stairs mentioned under means of egress:



Not seeing anything in here about minimum depth. Just that it "need not exceed 48 inches". I'm also thinking that this stairs does not need to qualify as a means of egress in the first place since the basement has it's own exit to the backyard.