Stair & entrance landing & platform questions & answers:

This article answers questions posed by readers about stair platform or landing design, specifications, codes and safety.

This article series provides building code specifications, sketches, photographs, and examples of defects used in inspecting the platforms or landings used with indoor or outdoor stairs for building entrances, decks, porches, or interior building stairs.

FAQs on Stair & Entry Platform & Landing Codes, Design & Fall Hazards

These questions and answers about stair landings and platforms, safety, trip hazards, and typical stair code requirements for landings and platforms were posted originally at PLATFORMS & LANDINGS, ENTRY & STAIR - be sure to review that article.

On 2018-07-20 by (mod) - reverse the door or add a landing where a door opens over a step

Dave, you'd either reverse the door swing or make a landing - otherwise a door that swings out over a step is a trip and fall hazard and probably violates local code.

On 2018-07-20 by Dave

I purchased an existing house with a screen porch door that opens outward over a set of steps.

My intuition tells me that this pictured door should open inward. Is this door code legal or should it be reversed?

[Click to enlarge any image]

Question: door swings away from steps - do I need a platform or landing?

If I am installing a door at the top of a stairway in a commercial application and the door swings away from the stairs how big of a landing (space from the door to first step) is needed? - Mickey 2/13/2013

Reply:

Mickey,

The minimum stairway top landing width is given above as 34-36" across.
The minimum top landing depth - distance out from the door should still be at least 36".

Why? After all, the door swings away from the landing in your case.

People need somewhere safe to stand when locking, unlocking, opening, and preparing to enter or exit from a door. Imagine standing on a 10-inch deep stair tread, holding an armload of groceries, fishing for your door key.

You'd sure prefer a place of greater size, maybe even space to put down that bag of food. All of the building codes I have reviewed want a landing at the stair top. A doorway that opens onto a stair is a fall hazard regardless of which way the door swings. This is reflected in our code citations in the article above.

Question: last stair tread is high (15-inches) and there is no landing platform. Does this comply with code?

i have wood stairs exiting the house they go down to the ground the last tread is 15 inches up the stairs are resting on some flat rocks no concrete or platform are these code - Ray 3/15/2013

Reply: No.

Ray:

No, your stairs are not safe and should be considered code compliant for at least these reasons:

Step riser is too high,
Step risers are not of consistent height,
Steps end without a smooth, properly-sized landing platform.

Question: landing required at top of stairs that intersect a hallway?

(Feb 26, 2014) Brian said:

Is a landing required at the top of stairs that intersect a commercial building hallway (like a "T")?

Reply:

Brian, interesting question, and I'll express an opinion with the arm-waving disclaimer that we can't say what your local inspector might decide.

If the width of the hallway is at least as great as the minimum platform size, AND if there is no door to whack someone at the top of the stairs, I can't see why a landing would be required. Certainly we've both seen thousands of stairways that terminate at a T formed by an intersecting walk, ramp, or hallway.

On 2018-04-24 by (mod) - handrails and guards on stairways of 3 or more risers or 30" or more in total rise height

Bill,

Typically local building codes require handrails and guards on stairways of 3 or more risers or 30" or more in total rise height.

A two-riser entry, if the steps are within normal riser height limits, will have a total rise height of perhaps 15".

On 2018-04-24 13:42:12.483615 by Bill

@Bill, This is residential structure

Is there a code requirement for front entry with only 2 risers?

On 2018-02-26 by Anonymous - In North Carolina steps leading into a commercial building should be ... [fill in the blank] ?

... code compliant.

Good luck on your test.

On 2018-02-26 by Mesean Maxwell

In North Carolina steps leading into a commercial building should be?

On 2018-01-24 00:07:53.299361 by (mod) -

Tod

I may not have the right understanding of your layout, but in general you want 36" of horizontal distance in the direction of travel at the bottom of any steps or stairs.

On 2018-01-23 18:40:21.787878 by Todf

2 steps down from kitchen to family room. Steps will end 3 inches before reaching glass sliding door. Should be 8 inches?

On 2018-01-22 22:32:45.823913 by John

I Live in St Catherines Ontario.
How many steps am I allowed before needing a landing.

On 2017-10-06 22:35:50.732317 by Bill

I live in Chicago. When entering a restaurant with a right hinged in swing door, there was a step up or stair directly to the left edge of the door. When entering you have to immediately go left and step up that stair to enter. My friend immediately tripped and fell severely breaking his leg. Please tell me this is a severe code violation. Thank you

On 2017-09-30 01:37:18.787769 by (mod) -

Rise,

Without knowing the country, city, province or state, one can't guess accurately at what the city building code might require. However your local city building code inspector is the final legal Authority. Generally if a picture is secure so it it's not a hazard of falling on someone, and if it doesn't intrude into the required with or space of the stairwell, I would not expect the city to have an objection.

On 2017-09-28 13:44:53.287257 by Rose

We own commercial property. I was inquiring if we are allowed to put up pictures in the stairwell. Is this against city building code?

On 2017-09-21 14:04:20.252655 by bruce

can u use the same landing for two flights of stairs

On 2017-07-30 01:01:25.634768 by John

What is the maximum width of entry stairs that don't require an middle rail?

On 2017-06-07 15:04:03.713362 by (mod) -

Bob,

I think the projection of a chimney into a stairway will count as an improper projection into the walking space. But the final legal authority is your local building inspector. Ask her to look at the plan or situation and to let you know what will be acceptable in your building code jurisdiction.

Use the page top/bottom CONTACT link to send me photos of the situation if you can and we may be able to comment further. I can think of a possible solution using a landing.

On 2017-06-07 14:35:15.772923 by Bob Boris

I am working on a stair case that runs along a wall with a chimney, the chimney project 9 inches into the space for 25 inches of run. I have, at this point, designed it such that for most of the stair case the width of the steps is 45" and is therefore 36" (to residential code), as it passes the chimney, however, as I look at the designs I am concerned that any obstruction is likely to fail inspection?

Thanks all

On 2017-05-30 13:45:31.589716 by (mod) -

Brian

The code citation you want and need is given in the article above in several model codes. See, for example the article section titled

Model Building Code Stairways & Landings Specifications - E.G. California Building Code

Do let me know if you have further questions.

On 2017-05-26 12:10:58.786082 by brian.a@buildiconic.com

My non required egress ( additional door) has a clear 4' x 4' standing area, the door sits on a elevation 3" higher. Thus when door is opened you take a step to another 4' x 4' standing area. What exactly code can I go to proof out that this condition is allowed by code

On 2017-04-23 01:10:37.423776 by (mod) -

1. 36" in the direction of travel, width >= stairway width, measured from the bottom step riser
- or some code officials might measure from the first tread nose - about an inch forward. I've not seen that but it's possible. If your space is that tight ask your local building official what she'll accept.

Interior trim intrusion from sides - probably ignored by your building inspector unless it's an unusual thickness;

If your "bottom landing landing" is actually closed in the direction of travel by a wall (which most likely means you have to turn right or left and take another step down) then you'd want the full 36" of travel - subject to local code official approval if trim intrudes into that space.

On 2017-04-22 22:49:56.446927 by matt

the questions below pertain to a landing at the bottom of a set of stairs. On the first floor there is a wall at the bottom of the stairs in the direction of travel 36" trom the final tread when coming down from the second floor, which will then require that the user turn either left or right.

On 2017-04-22 22:28:15.446654 by matt

how to measure a landing and projections. Is the depth of a landing , 36' in direction of travel, measured from the face of the riser or the face of the nosing ? If measured on the surface of the landing...then I assume it is measured to the riser. If so..is the interior trim such as base moulding, toe kick, wainscot cap, newel and other such items allowed to project into the required depth.

So..where is the 36: measured from ? Is interior trim allowed to project into the required 36" ? Are newels and other stair parts permitted to protrude into the required 36" ?

On 2017-04-19 21:46:43.600911 by (mod) -

BB

Check with your *local* building department as their word is the final legal authority on stair code compliance.

Often when a door opens "in" you may be excused from having a landing at the exterior area of the doorway.

On 2017-04-19 18:14:49.005434 by BB

Hello - Thanks for the website it is very useful.

I am trying to find the correct code for my situation. BTW, I live in Georgia, USA. I have stairs leading from the house onto a screened in porch which is at ground level.

Total of two stairs down to the porch (7" each stair rise). The door swings inward. Does the top stair have to be constructed as a landing? It is somewhat analogous to the situation that you would find in a garage where there typically is not a landing. Could you construct these as you would those to a garage without a landing? Or is a landing required? Thank you for your input

On 2017-04-03 19:35:37.877974 by EmilyM.

Thank you. I will check with them.

On 2017-04-03 19:27:12.079375 by (mod) -

Emily

You'll want to check with your local building department, as I can't see enough of the situation from your note to have a sure opinion about code compliance. Indeed an in-swinging door MIGHT be accepted by a building inspector in lieu of constructing a landing (which in my view would be superior, easier to use, and safer).

On 2017-04-03 18:24:02.874094 by EmilyM.

We are purchasing a home in CA with a loft that has a stairway with metal handrail leading up to it. The stairway only leads to the loft and we'd like to turn it in to a bedroom by adding a wall and door at the top of the stairs. We have seen other homes in the same community that have done this, but we'd like to make sure we are up to code when doing so. From what I've read, it sounds like as long as the door at the top swings away from the stairs and not over them, it will be legal and we won't have to add a landing. Is this the true?

On 2017-02-20 22:07:04.726235 by (mod) -

Super, Richard

On 2017-02-20 17:40:28.729691 by Richard

Thanks. I finally found it in the CA Code of Regulations, Title 25.

On 2017-02-20 15:36:42.708007 by (mod) -

Sorry, no, Richard I'm not sure. Similar language appears in many model codes. For California you might find that text in the 2007 California Building Code.

On 2017-02-20 02:00:19.779848 by Richard

I own a mobile home in California, and a question has come up about the need for a landing at the top of the outside stairway. I have a copy of one page from something that reads like a code, but THERE IS NO TITLE ON THE DOCUMENT. It is page 53, and para/section 1498 (d) reads: "Where the mobilehome door swings inward or is a sliding door, the landing, porch, or top step of the stairway may be not more than seven and one-half inches below the door. The width of the landing, porch, or top step of the stairway may be not less than the width of the door opening." QUESTION: Can you tell me the title of this code/document? Also, do you now if this para/section is still in effect? Many thanks.

On 2017-01-20 11:49:24.826754 by Matt

What is the landing area you need when come of a staircase from a loft facing a bedroom door that opens away from you

On 2016-12-06 05:51:40.027895 by uday

Why minimum 3 stairs are provide in one flight.....??

On 2016-12-01 17:43:43.762448 by VJ

I am designing a staircase of basement height 4900,6150mmmm and stilt 4300mm and well size 3135mmx600mm. I am keeping tread size 285mm.

I am confused about the starting points of staircase as I want to design in 8+9+8+9 pattern. and not giving any steps on mid landing. Should up and down be in same line disturbing mid landings width or should mid-landings be same width and disturb entry up-down landings ?

On 2016-10-16 09:32:40.140820 by Anonymous

How many supports does an outdoor staircase need over the span of the staircase?

On 2016-07-11 19:49:39.985060 by (mod) -

If you are convinced that there is a life/safety hazard involving improper placement or use of a door at the stair landing that's probably a local building code issue as well; give your building department a call and ask for an inspection and advice.

On 2016-07-11 17:15:45.598347 by Quizno

So landlord has installed a door stopper at our stair case landing. Child has been hurt already due to the stopper, we have notified and landlord says they will fix for about 3 weeks now. WHAT'S NEXT? In my opinion BC I have a small child
I find to be a safety hazard.Is it or am I overreacting?

On 2016-07-06 22:12:37.762543 by (mod) -

"required?"
One per side of the stairway; on a narrow stair possibly only on one side; on a very wide stair, possibly 3, one on either side and one in the center. We discuss this at stairway width as well.

On 2016-07-06 20:21:35.979495 by Anonymous

How many hand rails are re

On 2016-06-21 00:23:43.304243 by (mod) -

L Dunst

U.K. Stair codes do discuss the requirement for a landing (or in my words, walking space) at the bottom of a stairway. Your landing has to be at least 400 mm in dimension in the direction of travel at the foot of the stairway; the swing of your door, if it opens towards the landing, has to not intrude into that space.

That means that if your door were about 90 cm wide, your landing would have to be 400 + 900 or 1300 mm

Or you can have the door swing "out" away from the stair.

I'll repeat your question and include a link to the U.K. stair code in the article above so that you can read details. See the discussion of doors and landings at stairs on page 19. - give me about another 10 minutes.

On 2016-06-20 20:29:55.269243 by L Dunst

We have stairs in our living room and are planning on putting a partition wall up to block sound traveling up stairs and to also stop heat loss. My question is- would a door put at the bottom of the stairs pass British building regs? There are no other doors to obstruct this door. Thanks for your help.

...

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