Do I have to have a basement window?

Question

I bought an old house for a rental and all the basement windows are removed and covered. Do I have to have any operating basement windows by law? Is there any difference if I plan to rent it out. It's an unfinished basement so there is nothing down there besides washer and dryer area.

Answer 1

I believe by law, rentals are required to have operating windows only if there's a living unit down there. If it's unused, storage, or laundry area, then there's likely no law requiring windows. But common sense would say if people are going to be using it for anything, and there's old covered-up windows, then it'd make sense to remove the coverings and restore them -if only for lighting. If security's a concern, they can be covered with bars or a shielded window well. If it's possible to put in windows that open, then you have better ventilation down there as well.

Answer 2

I just built a new house last year and the same question came up. In my area the code says that you need atleast 1 basement window, however it does not say that the window has to open so my inspection passed with a simple glass block window.

The reason why I only installed 1 window was due to the fact I was planning on finishing off the basement and the windows would have been higher than the drop ceiling anyways so there would be no point in installing them.

Other thing to consider that if you finish a basement the code is now requiring you provide an emergency exit, which is either a seperate enterance from the outside, or a window that you can easily climb out of.

My back door is 1/2 way on the stairway going upstairs so this is not an issue.

But back to the window, go to Home Depot, they sell the complete glass block windows for around $40, set it in place and fill in around the window with some morter and you should be all set.

You can install it in less than 1 hour!

Answer 3

Our large condo downstairs (basement to some but it has a full length apartment in half of it)-does not have any windows but logic says you should have-maybe on opposite sides in case of a fire. Our condo has one which has actual doortype windows to open up and out. It is a simple safety factor if nothing else. Even though we have two stairways to access the lower level-fires could block those too. Better safe than sorry, or hurt,or dead.

Answer 4

Check with your own City Code department, but if there is living space in the basement, then typically, yes you must have an emergency egress window to allow exit in cases of emergency.

Answer 5

probably yes. by city building codes.probably noone would know. but if something happened and your renters couldnt escape, big lawsuit

Answer 6

lots of basements don't have windows.....so, no

Answer 7

I really don't think so. But you really should check your local codes.