A pedestrian side entrance is a doorway or other portal into a building, which is either seldom used, or which serves only a side usage of the building. Like all entrances, it must provide access to the outlying street grid, not merely a courtyard or sealed outdoor area.

A doorway can be a side entrance even if, by passing through another doorway inside, the main usage zone can be accessed - for example, a doorway to a restaurant in a large office building is a side entrance even if the lobby can be accessed from further inside the restaurant.

The immediate use served and the frequency of use distinguish the portal from a main entrance. An internal connection to the main usage zone does not turn an entrance serving a side use into a main one.