Staircase Construction Regulations

Size

• Regulations stipulate that the height of each step, called the riser height, can be no more than 8.25 inches tall. Also, the step itself for placement of the foot needs to be 9 inches deep. These regulations are nationally accepted standards to keep staircases safe and simple to climb.

Considerations

• Some cities and counties have adopted some variations to the nationally accepted standards by the Building Officials and Code Administration, or BOCA. Before embarking on a staircase building project, check with local codes for any differentiations.

Expert Insight

• For spiral staircases, special rules apply where measurements need to be taken at certain parts, such as the foot tread depth being measured 12 to 14 inches out from the thin side.