La Crosse Egress Window Guide (2026): WI & MN Code

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
When required (WI)	Basements used for sleeping need 2 exits; an egress window in each bedroom can be the second	SPS 321.03(5)
Opening (WI)	Net clear opening at least 20 x 24 in.; opens from inside without tools	SPS 321.03(6)
Sill (WI)	60 in. max above floor; platform required above 46 in.	SPS 321.03(6)(d)
Well (WI)	As wide as the window, 36 in. out; ladder or step if deeper than 46 in.	SPS 321.03(6)(e)
Opening (MN)	5.7 sq ft net clear, 20 in. wide, 24 in. high, 44 in. max sill	MN Rules ch. 1309, R310
Contractor (WI)	Dwelling Contractor certification plus a certified Qualifier to pull a permit	SPS 305.31
Contractor (MN)	Residential contractor or remodeler license for work in more than one skill area	MN DLI
La Crosse permits	Building permit required even for window replacement; 608-789-7530	City of La Crosse
Snow	About 46 in. a year; January average low about 10°F	NOAA normals (via Wikipedia)

When does a basement need an egress window in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code, SPS 321.03(5)(b), says basements and ground floors used for sleeping must have at least two exits. One of those can be an egress window that meets the window rules in subsection (6), but only if there's one in each bedroom. Local ordinances can also apply the code to additions and alterations on homes built before June 1, 1980; the Village of West Salem's building code is one example. Ask your permit office how it applies to your home.

What size does the window have to be?

Under SPS 321.03(6), the nominal net clear opening must be at least 20 inches by 24 inches, in either orientation, and no part of the window, including stops, stools, meeting rails and operator arms, can cut into that space. The window has to open from inside without tools or removing a sash. The lowest point of the clear opening can be no more than 60 inches above the floor. If it's more than 46 inches up, you need a permanent platform at least 20 inches wide and 9 inches deep, no more than 24 inches high, and able to hold 200 pounds.

What are the window well rules?

Any egress window with part of its opening below grade needs an areaway, or well. SPS 321.03(6)(e) requires it to be at least as wide as the window and at least 36 inches out from the wall. If the bottom is more than 46 inches below the ground beside it, you need a ladder or an additional step. Ladder rungs must be at least 12 inches wide, project at least 3 inches from the wall, hold 200 pounds, be spaced no more than 12 inches apart and reach within 12 inches of the top. The well must be built so water entering it doesn't enter the house.

How is Minnesota different?

La Crescent follows the Minnesota Residential Code, chapter 1309 of Minnesota Rules. As summarized by Scott County's building inspections handout, an emergency escape opening needs a net clear area of at least 5.7 square feet (5 for grade-floor openings), a clear width of 20 inches and height of 24 inches, and a sill no more than 44 inches above the floor. A below-grade window needs a well of at least 9 square feet with 36 inches of projection and width. Wells deeper than 44 inches need a permanently attached ladder or steps, and any cover or grate must be releasable from inside without a key, tool or special knowledge.

Who can pull the permit?

In Wisconsin, SPS 305.31 says no one may get a building permit for a one- or two-family dwelling without a Dwelling Contractor certification and holding or employing a certified Dwelling Contractor Qualifier. Owner-occupants pulling a permit for their own home are handled differently. In Minnesota, the Department of Labor and Industry requires a residential building contractor or remodeler license for anyone contracting directly with a homeowner for work in more than one special skill area, such as excavation, masonry and concrete, and carpentry. Licenses can be checked on DLI's lookup tool.

What else applies in La Crosse?

Permits. The City of La Crosse's window and door packet says a building permit is required, lists framing, insulation and final inspections as needed, and asks owners who hire a contractor that isn't bonded and insured to sign a cautionary statement.
Lead-safe work. The same packet notes that window work on homes built before 1978 must follow DHS 163, Wisconsin's lead-safe renovation rules.
Digging. It also reminds owners to call Digger's Hotline before digging.
Contracts. Wisconsin's Home Improvement Practices code, ATCP 110, requires a written contract when you pay before the work is done, listing the work, materials, price, dates and any warranty.

Why does ground and weather matter here?

The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey's Geology of La Crosse County describes the broad Mississippi valley terraces as gravelly sand left by glacial meltwater, and the bluffs as sandstone capped with Prairie du Chien dolomite. Sand digs easily and drains well but can cave in an open pit. La Crosse also averages about 46.3 inches of snow a year, so plan for drainage and a cover that opens from inside.

Questions to ask before you hire

Which wall would you cut, and why there?
How will the opening be supported, and does it need an engineer?
Who pulls the permit, under which certification or license?
How deep is the well, does it need a ladder, and where will water drain?
What does the written warranty cover: the window, the well, leaks?

Common questions

Is Wisconsin's egress window size the same as Minnesota's?

No. Wisconsin requires a 20 by 24 inch clear opening with a sill up to 60 inches (platform over 46). Minnesota adds a 5.7 square foot minimum area and a 44 inch maximum sill.

Does an egress window well need a ladder?

In Wisconsin, when the bottom of the well is more than 46 inches below the ground beside it. In Minnesota, when the well is deeper than 44 inches.

Who issues permits in La Crosse?

The City of La Crosse Building and Inspections office at City Hall, 400 La Crosse St., 608-789-7530. Onalaska, Holmen and La Crescent each run their own permit offices.

La Crosse egress window guide (2026)