OBC DIVISION B · PART 9 · SECTION 9.5 — DESIGN OF AREAS, SPACES AND DOORWAYS

What is the minimum door width between rooms in an Ontario house?

At least one entrance door must be 810 mm x 1,980 mm (32 in x 78 in). Doors to bedrooms need at least 760 mm (30 in) width; bathrooms and utility rooms can be 610 mm (24 in).

Code reference
Doorways within dwelling units must meet minimum widths that vary by the space served: the main entrance and doors along principal routes to bedrooms require larger widths (about 810 mm), bedroom doors require at least about 760 mm, and doors to bathrooms and utility spaces may be narrower (about 610 mm), all with a minimum height around 1,980 mm.
OBC Division B, Subsection 9.5.11.

Paraphrased for clarity — open this provision in the BUILDAiD Library for the exact wording.

What this means in practice

These are clear doorway sizes tied to the door leaf, so order doors by nominal size accordingly: a 2'-8" door satisfies the 810 mm entrance requirement. The most common renovation error is installing a 24-inch door on a bedroom to save wall space, which fails inspection. Halls and stairs leading to bedrooms also need the wider doors along that route. If you are designing for aging-in-place or future accessibility, go beyond minimums, since a 760 mm door is tight for mobility devices.

Plain language

Your front door must be at least 810 mm wide, bedroom doors at least 760 mm, and bathroom or closet doors can be as narrow as 610 mm. Wider is always allowed and makes moving furniture much easier.

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This page is provided for general information. Building code requirements depend on your specific project, occupancy and municipality, and code editions change. Always verify requirements against the current Ontario Building Code and confirm with your local building department.