Hand rails on porches according to NC building code

Jeff B

Jeff B

Thanos was right
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Location
Lincolnton N.C.
I got a letter from my ins. company saying I need to build a hand rail to be in compliance with local building codes.

I am told that on porches it needs to be 34" from the ground to require a hand rail. Mine is 29" from the ground.

Any general contractors out there that can confirm this? Maybe have the specific building statue/code?

Thanks
 
Section AM111 (appendix M) of the 2012 code allows up to 30".

However it depends on the year your house was built as the specific code to reference depends on when the house was built.
 
On another note, you should ask insurance company to quote the specific code that they claim you are in violation of. Making a general statement like "out of compliance with code" is useless unless the reference a specific section of the code that pertains to your house.
 
30" from the ground is when the handrail requirement kicks in. Also whenever there is a run of 4 or more steps, you'll need a handrail on at least one side of the stairs.
 
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Thanks guys, house was built in 1955 Can't remember the count of treads on the front steps. I'll post a pic at lunch I think three.
 
the other thing is insurance companies can require modifications to insure you above and beyond code.

We recently switched companies and learned 2 things. Very few will insure a house with a trampoline unless it has a safety net.
One company insisted I install a guardrail above the retaining walls around my house.
 
Ron said:
the other thing is insurance companies can require modifications to insure you above and beyond code.

We recently switched companies and learned 2 things. Very few will insure a house with a trampoline unless it has a safety net.
One company insisted I install a guardrail above the retaining walls around my house.
Click to expand...

Apparently trampolines are taken very seriously by insurance companies. One of my wife's friends had her insurance company drop them after they discovered she had a trampoline in the back yard. I thought that was crazy.

We went through the whole hand rail deal when we built our new house. The builder made sure to back fill/push up enough dirt around the back porch to be less than 30" so it would pass inspection.
 
my letter states "compliance with local codes" so I am hoping I can work it out. At 29" I am in the clear. The treads i need to verify with the code.

I will call them again tonight and be nicer this time:)
 
drkelly said:
Apparently trampolines are taken very seriously by insurance companies. One of my wife's friends had her insurance company drop them after they discovered she had a trampoline in the back yard. I thought that was crazy.

We went through the whole hand rail deal when we built our new house. The builder made sure to back fill/push up enough dirt around the back porch to be less than 30" so it would pass inspection.
Click to expand...


They are. I was asked about ours when I was pricing homeowner's insurance. We have one, so I said yes. They also asked about if we have a dog and what breed, and if he had ever bitten anyone. It didn't really have the detrimental effect I figured it would have on our rates.
 
I swapped from Nationwide when they had me cut tree limbs and even wanted my rose bushes cut back. I understood the limbs. But they also required a handrail for less than 30". Think they told me (3 steps require it). My steps are small (foresee future knee issues). This is all from the Insurance Co. though. It's their job to make sure they will never get sued...
 
6BangBronk said:
I swapped from Nationwide when they had me cut tree limbs and even wanted my rose bushes cut back. I understood the limbs. But they also required a handrail for less than 30". Think they told me (3 steps require it). My steps are small (foresee future knee issues). This is all from the Insurance Co. though. It's their job to make sure they will never get sued...
Click to expand...


I'd have switched too.... Did they make you change the color of the paint, too? Perhaps demand some new curtains and valences? Perhaps remodeling and adding an en suite?
 
I called them, no matter the code. They said I had to have a hand rail on the steps..
 
ManglerYJ said:
They are. I was asked about ours when I was pricing homeowner's insurance. We have one, so I said yes. They also asked about if we have a dog and what breed, and if he had ever bitten anyone. It didn't really have the detrimental effect I figured it would have on our rates.
Click to expand...

Thats why when our ins company inquired about our dogs, I claimed them as a couple of cur's. ;) Had to actually explain to the lady what that was.

This is good info though, I was thinking about pulling my porch rails to give me more room. Its a narrow porch and its hard to sit in my rocking chair....
 
The full story.

Had State Farm for 14 years (since age 18) and dropped them when they wanted me to rid of the best dog I have ever had in my life (part chow). Had the dog 6 years prior and they just drove by one day and saw her. No complaints or anything by my only 2 neighbors.

Then the Nationwide ordeal at my (newest to me) house. But... Nationwide had no ordeal with my chow is why I went with them. Had them for 7-8 years. Pretty sure they didn't like the idea my house was 90 years old and was just nit-picking when I bought it. I worked several days just for Nationwide before final closing. It was the handrail that got me for I didn't plan on one and would have had to redo my steps.

Switched to Liberty Mutual 5 years now and absolutely love them. A co-worker I work with swears by them as well. No problems with chow dog (although she diseased at 16 y.o.), rose bushes or no handrail at front steps. No issues with Electrical fuses instead of breakers (although I switched out). And no problems with a 5V tin roof.

Over the years I learnt to be absolutely honest with my Insurance company. And no 2 companies have the same rules. Remember, you are at risk of loosing any checks written for a cause if they ride out and see any single thing that sets apart from their 200 page rule book. Plus, I let all my skeletons out of the closet long time ago. So much easier to just remember 1 story. The truth!
 
We had liberty mutual for a long time. Switched a while back and it seems all homeowner companies want to come inspect a new policy.

That's what opened all my doors to scrutiny.


We have a 1.5-2 acre pond on the back of my property, I expected that to be an issue. No one blinked at that. I have a deck that is 48 ft to the ground, I expected that to be an issue. Not a blink.

I never expected the trampoline. I even offered to the company to write a rider that said they had no liability for any event that happens relating to the trampoline. They said they couldnt.

They told me it had to go.

I called my brother who wanted one for his kids. Told the agent my brother was coming to pick it up that weekend. He said "Ok good." Totally unintentionally my brother and I both forgot for like 6 months. Nothing has ever been said.
 
Sounds like what we just went through....
They gave us 30 days to be moved in
Had to install hand rail
Still want me to pressure wash the roof on the out building and well house due to moss being on
Remove burn barrell
 
Like the burn barrel can't re-appear? Or even be painted green and set out in the woods? Or stored in a manner where it can't be detected as a tool to burn? Is more dangerous than a barbecue grill???

:lol:
 
PIT, Rotts, Chow, Akita, Doberman, German Shepard, Husky and Malamute ( and a few more) all considered liabilities, I have a Husky MIX, but he looks more MIX than husky, just a LOT of hair, not a word said, they were concerned when I told them we also had a Pit MIX, he became a Boxer mix, this was Liberty Mutual. they actually took pictures of the dogs. We dropped LibMu in '13, they doubled our rate, no explanation, no questions, nothing, and never could get an actual agent to talk to us about it. Guess the $15k totaled car payout kinda pissed them off end of '11.

State Farm asked no questions, but did come and take pictures, did not have to repair or replace anything. believe me, there are things that NEED done here, I was expecting a laundry list. nada.

The MAJOR sticking point here where I live was Fire service coverage. distance to hydrant, Response time from Firehouse to location, and equipment the fire service had available. We are rated at a rural 6, ( LibMu and a few other companies wanted to classify as rural 9S, even though we are 2.5 miles from the closest manned station, and we have 4 stations within 5 miles ( 2 of which rate a 6 and one a 5 )

I have no fear, if the call has to ever be made, I'll pay hell getting to the house for all the fire equipment in the way ! Sounds like a high speed parade when there is ever a fire call in the vicinity ( @CLRacer )
 
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