How High do Deck Railings Need to Be?

26 Mar 2020 Railings

Having a clear idea of how high deck railings need to be will ensure that your deck space is not only safe for everyone to use but also up to code. At Vista Railings, they understand how important it is to follow the proper deck railing code requirements for your area. In addition to offering a wide range of deck railing products, they are also always available to answer any questions you might have about deck railing code requirements.

Deck Railing Height Requirements

Since one of the most important things to consider when choosing a deck railing is safety, it is crucial to ensure that your deck railing complies with the very specific requirements for residential buildings set out by your city or township. In some cases, compliance may require having the railings professionally inspected in which case the inspector will closely look at the railings around the perimeter of the deck and on stairways and ramps.

Common Safety Concerns with Deck Railings

When it comes to ensuring that your deck railings are up to code, it is important to work with an experienced contractor or deck railing professional to ensure that all safety concerns are being properly addressed. Some of the most common safety concerns with deck railings that you should take into consideration include:

Deck Railing Height

The height of your deck railing will vary depending on the exact requirements of your local municipality. In most cases, deck railing heights vary between 36 to 42 inches from the deck surface to the top of the rail with the bottom of the railing being less than 4 inches from the deck surface; however, you should always double check with an experienced contractor or deck railing professional to ensure that you are meeting local code requirements.

Stair Railing Height

Open staircases that lead from the deck down to the ground will most likely require a railing, depending on the height of the staircase. When installing railings on stairs, certain spacing requirements will need to be observed, such as ensuring small children cannot fall between the bottom of the railing and the top of the stair tread.

If you would like to learn more about how high deck railings need to be, or if you are interested in one of their railing products, please contact Vista Railings at 1-800-667-8247. Their team would love to help ensure that your new deck railings are being installed to meet your areas specific code requirements.