Building Code Glossary
Public Entrance: Building Code Definition
How the IBC 2009 define public entrance, where the wording differs, and which chapters depend on the term.
On this page
Last updated September 7, 2026 · Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The [ICC code library](https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes) publishes the current model text and the [ICC adoption maps](https://www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/code-adoption-maps/) show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Direct answer
Public entrance is a defined term in the International Building Code (IBC) 2009, in Accessibility. The code's own words are: “An entrance that is not a service entrance or a restricted entrance.” No other I-Code in this corpus defines it, so the IBC 2009 definition is the one to work from. The term is used in 5 chapters of this corpus, most often in Accessibility (IBC 2009), Fire Protection Systems (IBC 2009), Fire Protection Systems (IFC 2009). These pages transcribe the 2009 model text; verify the definition against the edition and amendments your authority having jurisdiction has adopted. Record the jurisdiction, the adopted edition, the application date and any local amendment that rewrites the definition before you use it on a live project, because a term redefined by amendment changes every requirement that depends on it.
Content and cited inputs reviewed by Scott Barrington, Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-09-07 · Updated 2026-09-07.
What does this term mean?
Public Entrance — IBC 2009, Accessibility:
An entrance that is not a service entrance or a restricted entrance.
What must be verified before using this guidance?
Public Entrance is defined once in this corpus, in the Accessibility chapter of the International Building Code (IBC) 2009:
An entrance that is not a service entrance or a restricted entrance.
Where public entrance is used in the code
The term appears in 5 chapters of the 2009 I-Codes hosted here. The chapters that lean on it hardest are the ones to read next.
| Chapter | Code | Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Accessibility | IBC 2009 | 5 |
| Fire Protection Systems | IBC 2009 | 3 |
| Fire Protection Systems | IFC 2009 | 3 |
| Existing Structures | IBC 2009 | 2 |
| Definitions | IBC 2009 | 1 |
The terms public entrance is built out of
The definition above leans on 2 other defined terms. Each carries its own code definition, and a local amendment to any of them changes what public entrance covers:
- Service Entrance — IBC 2009: An entrance intended primarily for delivery of goods or services.
- Service — IRC 2009: The conductors and equipment for delivering energy from the serving utility to the wiring system of the premises served.
Public Entrance: what to open, and in what order
Every row is a document this term depends on. The ICC code library and the ICC adoption maps cover the middle rows.
| Check | Where | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Read the definition in the adopted IBC | Accessibility | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Accessibility (IBC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Fire Protection Systems (IBC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Fire Protection Systems (IFC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Existing Structures (IBC 2009) | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Service Entrance | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Service | |
| Local amendment to any of the above | Jurisdiction's amendment list |
A research aid, not a code determination. The authority having jurisdiction decides which edition and which amendments apply.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all glossary guidance
- Service Entrance: Building Code Definition
- Service: Building Code Definition
Sources and method
Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The ICC code library publishes the current model text and the ICC adoption maps show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What is the code definition of public entrance?
The International Building Code (IBC) 2009 defines it in Accessibility as: “An entrance that is not a service entrance or a restricted entrance.” The 2009 model text is reproduced here; the definition that binds your project is the one in the edition your jurisdiction has adopted, as amended locally.
Which parts of the code depend on public entrance?
In this corpus the term is used across 5 chapters, led by Accessibility in the IBC 2009. Those are the sections whose scope moves if the definition is amended locally, so read them together with Chapter 2 rather than on their own.
What is a building entrance?
Building is a separate defined term. The IBC 2009 defines it as: “Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.” That is not the same as public entrance, which the IBC 2009 defines as “An entrance that is not a service entrance or a restricted entrance.” — read both before applying either, and confirm the wording in the edition your jurisdiction has adopted.
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