Ingress and Egress
Explore ingress and egress in Canadian real estate — why legal access matters for commercial use, safety, and site design.

June 09, 2025
What is Ingress and Egress?
Ingress and egress refer to the legal rights of access into (ingress) and out of (egress) a property, particularly important in commercial real estate and site planning.
Why Ingress and Egress Matter in Real Estate
In Canadian real estate, clear ingress and egress are essential for safety, usability, and legal compliance—especially for retail, office, or industrial properties.
Considerations include:
- Driveway and road access
- Emergency exits
- Shared access rights (e.g., easements)
- Parking lot design and flow
Restrictions or unclear access can reduce a property’s value, complicate development, or lead to legal disputes.
Understanding ingress and egress is vital for buyers, tenants, developers, and municipalities ensuring accessible and compliant site layouts.
Example of Ingress and Egress in Action
Before signing the lease, the tenant confirms that the storefront has direct egress to the rear alley for deliveries and fire compliance.
Key Takeaways
- Defines legal property access
- Essential for safety and operations
- Affects value and compliance
- Includes pedestrian and vehicle flow
- Must be verified in commercial deals
Related Terms
- Easement
- Commercial Property
- Site Plan
- Building Code
- Accessibility Standards


























September residential sales, not seasonally adjusted; the annual comparison uses CREA’s revised figures. Chart:
Annual changes in the unadjusted national MLS® HPI and average sale price. The average is affected by the mix of transactions. Chart:
Seasonally adjusted residential months of inventory by province. Local property types can differ substantially. Chart:
Ontario and B.C. are the two provinces with forecast annual average-price declines in 2026. Chart:
Annual average transaction prices in Canadian dollars. Forecast values are not December price targets. Chart:
Five-year changes in seasonally adjusted composite MLS® HPI benchmarks, September 2021 to September 2026. Chart: 
