Huntington, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 124 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 124-18
Staircases
Operative Text
(A) Every exterior and interior flight of stairs having more than four risers shall have a handrail on one side of the stair. (B) Every open portion of a stair, landing, balcony, porch, deck, ramp or other walking surface which is more than thirty (30) inches (762 mm) above the floor or grade below shall have guards, except that guards shall not be required when exempted by the Building Code of the State of New York. (C) Handrails shall not be less than thirty (30) inches (762 mm) high or more than forty-two (42) inches (1,067 mm) high measured vertically above the nosing of the tread or above the finished floor of the landing or walking surfaces. (D) Guards shall not be less than thirty (30) inches (762 mm) high above the floor of the landing, balcony, porch, deck, or ramp or other walking surface.
Section 124-18 of Huntington, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 124 establishes safety requirements for staircases and elevated walking surfaces in residential properties. Stairways with more than four risers must have a handrail on at least one side, and any open walking surface—such as a balcony, porch, deck, or ramp—elevated more than 30 inches above the ground must have protective guards. The code specifies precise height ranges for handrails (between 30 and 42 inches above the tread nosing or finished floor) and a minimum height of 30 inches for guards, with limited exceptions allowed under the New York State Building Code.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Huntington, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 124 § 124-18 generally ensure that all stairways with more than four risers are equipped with a compliant handrail on at least one side. Compliant operators also verify that guards are installed on any open elevated surface more than 30 inches above grade, and that both handrails and guards meet the specified height dimensions—handrails between 30 and 42 inches, guards at least 30 inches. Routine inspections of staircases, landings, balconies, porches, decks, and ramps help confirm that these structural elements remain in proper condition and within code tolerances.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Huntington, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 124 § 124-18, tenants have an interest in knowing that their landlord is required to maintain handrails and guards on staircases and elevated walking surfaces that meet specific height and placement standards. If a handrail is missing, improperly sized, or a guard is absent from a balcony, porch, or deck elevated more than 30 inches, this may constitute a code violation that tenants can document and report to the appropriate Huntington municipal code enforcement authority. Tenants may also consider raising such conditions as a habitability concern or consulting a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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