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What is the code for exterior stairs?

Author

Mia Smith

Published Mar 22, 2026

What is the code for exterior stairs?

Exterior stair riser code Exterior stair risers must comply with IBC section 1011.5 stair treads and risers. Stair risers height shall be 7 inches maximum and 4 inches minimum.

How many exterior steps can you have without a handrail?

The building code does not refer to the number of “steps” but it does require a handrail when there are two or more “risers”. For clarification, a “riser” is the vertical portion of a stair. The “tread” is the top of a step. A two riser minimum would translate to two steps.

Do exterior steps require a landing?

All exterior doors shall have a landing immediately on the exterior side. These landings shall be as wide as the door and a minimum of 36 inches in the direction of travel. These landings must be no more than 8 inches below the interior floor level.

Do exterior stairs need handrails?

Exterior stair railing code maintains that if your deck’s stairs have fewer than two risers, a rail is not mandatory. On a related note, your deck must have guardrails or similar if it exceeds a height of 30 inches from the ground.

What is the code for Stairs in Ontario?

The Ontario Building Code | Stairs (1) Stairs shall be inclined at an angle of not more than 45° with the horizontal, and their steps shall have risers not more than 210 mm high and treads not less than 220 mm wide exclusive of nosing.

What is code for Stairs in Canada?

Building Codes for Stairs Stairs must be at least 36″ wide with a minimum headroom of 6′ 8″ Risers must have a maximum height of 7 ¾” and open risers must be 4″ high or shorter. Each tread in a stair must have a minimum depth of 10″. The treads of curved staircases must not be less than 6″ deep.

Do you need a railing for 3 steps?

A: Editorial Adviser Mike Guertin replies: Since your stairs will have only three risers, you don’t need to install a handrail. That said, it’s important to count the number of risers accurately.

What is the code for stairs in Ontario?

What is the building code for Stairs in Canada?

Text: It’s a small step towards changing the way homes are built, but researchers hope it’s one that could help save hundreds of lives every year. For decades, the National Building Code of Canada has suggested that stairs need to be a minimum of 21 centimetres (or 8 1/4 inches) when it comes to the treads.

What is code for stairs in Ontario?

Are spiral stairs legal in Canada?

(1) A curved or spiral stair is permitted in a stairway not required as an exit provided the stair has, 4.5., angled treads in other than required exit stairs shall have an average run of not less than 200 mm and a minimum run of 150 mm.