Spokane basement planning · Checklists
Egress window checklists: measure, call, quote and inspect
Four short checklists for the four moments that matter: before you call, when you measure, on the day of a quote visit and after the work is done. Print the page or keep it open on your phone.
Tip: use your browser's print command. Source figures were last checked October 14, 2026.
Get a Spokane egress window quoteHow to use these lists
Work through them in order and write answers beside each line. Keep the answers, the permit paperwork and the installer's written scope in one folder so you can compare quotes on the same facts.
What they do not replace
They do not replace your permit office, a licensed professional or a written contract. The code figures quoted come from public sources linked below and the calculators on this site.
1. Before you call an installer
Which wall and room is the window for?
Bedroom, daylight, or replacing a small window.
Is the house inside City of Spokane limits?
Check the City's address tools. A Spokane mailing address is not proof.
Is the opening new, bigger or the same size?
This changes whether a permit and a new foundation cut are involved.
What is outside that wall?
Deck, patio, driveway, downspout, tight side yard, fence.
Does water collect near the wall?
Note it; ask how the well will drain.
Rough timing and who will be home
Say whether the basement is finished.
Your city and ZIP
Needed for any inquiry.
2. Measuring checklist
Open the existing window fully and measure the gap
Narrowest clear width and shortest clear height, in inches.
Record the sill height from the finished floor
If the floor is unfinished, note that and ask the permit office.
Multiply width by height and divide by 144
Or use the size calculator. Compare with 5.7 sq ft.
Measure the planned well
Width along the wall, projection out, and vertical depth to the well floor.
Compare with 9 sq ft, 36 in and 36 in
The well calculator does the arithmetic. Past 44 in deep, plan for a ladder or steps.
Photograph the wall inside and out
For your own folder and the site visit. Do not use photos in place of permit drawings.
Note where the nearest deck, utility meters and downspouts are
Say so at the visit; the locate service marks buried lines before digging.
3. Quote-day checklist
Check the installer's L&I registration
Use the Verify tool; note the registered name and number.
Walk the outside with them
Point out access, deck, paving and water. Ask how equipment reaches the wall.
Ask for the manufacturer's net clear opening figure
And the open-sash depth for the well.
Ask who handles each step
Permit, locates, cutting, excavation, window, well, drainage, inspection, finishing, soil removal, yard repair.
Ask what is included, excluded or an allowance
Use the same list for every quote.
Ask when and how changes are approved
In writing, before work is done.
Get the scope, terms and warranty in writing
Washington L&I suggests at least three written bids and a written contract you understand.
4. After installation: inspection checklist
Open the window from inside with no key or tool
The code requires this for the escape opening.
Re-measure the open window and sill
Compare with the manufacturer's figure and the minimums.
Measure the well and check for a ladder
If the well is deeper than 44 in, a permanently affixed ladder or steps are required.
If there is a well cover, open it from inside
It must be releasable from inside without a key or tool.
Confirm the inspection results
Ask the permit office or installer for the passed final, and keep a copy.
Watch the well in the next rain
Note where water goes and tell the installer if it collects.
Check restoration and cleanup against the written scope
Soil, yard, debris, trim, paint, insulation.
File the paperwork
Permit, final approval, window specifications, contract and warranty terms.
If it is a new bedroom, check the City's other items
Smoke alarms, wiring and ceiling height on the bedroom checklist.
Where the list items come from
Reviewed 2026-10-14
- City of Spokane Sleeping Room Egress guidesheet (PDF, rev. 2016-05-13)
5.7 sq ft openable area, 24 in height, 20 in width and 44 in maximum sill; all three opening minimums apply together; ladder or steps in wells deeper than 44 in. Older document: confirm against the current code.
- MyBuildingPermit.com Tip Sheet 10 (PDF, Feb. 15, 2024)
2021 IRC with Washington amendments: opening sizes, area well of at least 9 sq ft with 36 in projection and width, ladder over 44 in, rung dimensions, covers. Not a Spokane document.
- Washington WAC 51-51-03100
State amendments to IRC R310, effective 2024-03-15.
- Washington L&I: hiring a contractor
Registration, Verify tool, bond, insurance, three written bids, references and a written contract.
- RCW 19.122.030: notice before excavating
White marking, notice through the one-number locator service 2 to 10 full business days ahead, no digging until operators respond, markings valid 45 days.
- City of Spokane inspection procedures sheet (PDF)
Posting the permit, approved plans on site, address visible, adult on site, what the applicant must arrange. The inspection chart on the sheet is dated 2012: confirm current practice.
Common questions
What should I have ready before calling an egress window installer?
Know which wall and room the window is for, whether the opening is new or existing, what is outside the wall, your city and ZIP, and whether the house is inside City of Spokane limits. Approximate answers are fine for a first call.
What measurements do I need for an egress window quote?
Measure the existing window's clear width, clear height and sill height with it fully open, then the room to the planned well: width along the wall, projection and depth. The installer should confirm all measurements on site.
What should I check after an egress window is installed?
Open it from inside with no key or tool, re-measure the clear opening and sill, check the well size and ladder, test any cover from inside, and keep the passed final inspection and paperwork. Also watch where water goes in the next rain.
Can I print these egress window checklists?
Yes. Use your browser's print command on this page, or print the contractor worksheet for site visits. Nothing you type into the calculators is stored, so write the results on your printout.