Egress windows in St. Cloud
Escape windows for basements across the Granite City, from the north side to the neighborhoods around the university.
St. Cloud had 68,881 residents at the 2020 census. It's the county seat of Stearns County, and the city also reaches across the Mississippi into Benton and Sherburne counties. Its "Granite City" nickname comes from the quarries that have operated in the area since the 1880s.
What kinds of basements are common here?
The city has everything from early 1900s houses to brand-new subdivisions. Older homes can have shallow block basements with small windows, so the opening usually has to be cut larger. Newer homes may already have one egress window but need another for a second bedroom.
Student rentals
St. Cloud State University had about 12,600 students in fall 2020, and many nearby houses are rented to them. If a basement room is rented for sleeping, it needs an escape opening, and a local rental code can require one even where an older replacement window might otherwise pass.
Permits
For addresses inside St. Cloud, permits come from the Building Safety Department through the city's Accela portal. Expect a site plan, a floor plan when the opening grows, and inspections during and after the work.
Common questions
Who issues egress window permits in St. Cloud?
The City of St. Cloud's Building Safety Department. Applications go through the city's Accela online portal.
Do you cover the east side across the river?
Yes. The east side of St. Cloud lies in Benton and Sherburne counties, and we take requests from all of it.
Services in St. Cloud
- Basement egress window installationA code-size escape window cut into the basement wall, with the well, drainage and trim finished.
- Cutting and enlarging openingsSaw-cutting poured concrete or block walls to make a small window opening code-size.
- Window wells and laddersNew or replacement egress wells sized to code, with ladders, drainage and gravel.
- Window well coversCovers that keep out snow, leaves and critters while still opening from inside.
- Basement bedroom code complianceHelp making a basement sleeping room legal: egress, alarms and the permit.
Nearby areas
Turning a basement room into a real bedroom?
Call and a local egress contractor will look at the wall, the yard and the permit with you.