Exterior doors tend to open inwards for security reasons. For the door to open outwards, the hinge mechanism would be located on the outside of the home. However, any hinges located outside pose a big risk to your home's security.

Can exterior doors open outward?

While there are areas of the country that may vary, there is no universal building code that forbids the use of residential exterior doors that open outward.

Can you have a front door that opens out?

The primary function of an exterior door is that of securing the property against would-be intruders. ... Nowadays, you can find outward-opening doors with their hinges protected – but they're still more vulnerable than their inward-opening counterparts.