Lighting Outlets

BRANCH OPINION

LIGHTING OUTLETS REQUIRED BY ARTICLE 9.34.2.1.

The Ontario Building Code states in Article 9.34.2.1., "An exterior lighting outlet with fixture controlled by a wall switch located within the building shall be provided at every entrance to buildings of residential occupancy." This article is identical to that found in the 1990 edition of the National Building Code of Canada. Also, see the commentary note to Part 9 of the NBC dealing with this topic.

The Commentary on Part 9 National Building Code of Canada 1990 states:

"...Lighting outlets, for instance, are required at each entrance to a residential building to prevent accidents at entrance steps and thresholds.... Private garages and carports for dwelling units also require lighting outlets, although the carport light can also serve as an entrance light for the dwelling unit...."

Furthermore:

vehicular entrance doors leading into attached garages are not intended to serve exactly the same function as mandoors and therefore a lighting outlet is not required.
In the case of mandoors leading from the exterior into attached garages where access is provided between the garage and the dwelling unit, a lighting outlet is required.
For mandoors leading from the exterior into attached garages where access is not provided between the garage and the dwelling unit, a lighting outlet is required.
Side or rear entry doors from the exterior into a dwelling unit are also required to be provided with lighting outlets.
Entry doors from the exterior into a finished or unfinished basement are equally required to have lighting outlets.

Mandoors leading into a detached garage on a residential property are not required to be provided with lighting outlets.

The above opinions are based on the text as quoted from the Commentary to Part 9 of the NBC. Also, an attached garage is considered to form part of the residential unit (see Sentence 9.10.9.16.(3)); the corollary being that a detached garage does not form part of the dwelling unit since it is not attached to the residential structure.

June 5, 1995

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