CodeMandatory
Hallway minimum width
CM-HALLWAY-WIDTH-01Description
Hallways must be at least 36 inches (3 ft) wide.
Why this exists
Hallways must be at least 36 inches wide so two adults can pass and a stretcher / wheelchair can navigate the egress path.
Categories
Life safetyAccessibility
Source
ICCno manifest entry
International Residential Code (2024)
Section: R311.6
Published 2026-05-09 · last verified 2026-05-09
Solver enforcement
The constraint solver runs check function cm-hallway-width-01 as a hard constraint — layouts that fail are rejected outright.
Backed by research
Hallways must be at least 36 inches (3 ft) wide.
Council (2024), ICC — R311.6 — view source ↗
See the full research bibliography for context. Our licensing principle describes how we cite published research without using the underlying datasets.
Plan symbols this applies to
These plan symbols invoke this directive when placed on a floor plan. Click any to see where it's drawn and what other rules apply to it.
Related directives
- Garage / dwelling fire separation · IRC R302.6
- Habitable space minimum ceiling height · IRC R305.1
- Egress window net opening dimensions · IRC R310.2
- Stair riser, tread, and headroom · IRC R311.7
- Smoke alarms required throughout dwelling · IRC R314
Last reviewed 2026-05-09.