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OBC DIVISION B · PART 9 · SECTION 9.8 — STAIRS, RAMPS, HANDRAILS AND GUARDS

What height must a stair handrail be in Ontario?

Handrails must be 865 mm to 1,070 mm (34 in to 42 in) above the stair nosings. Inside a dwelling, at least one handrail is required on stairs with more than two risers; wide stairs need rails on both sides.

Code reference
At least one handrail is required on stairs, with exemptions for very short flights within dwelling units (generally those with two risers or fewer, or three or fewer for exterior stairs serving a single dwelling). Handrail height must be between 865 mm and 1,070 mm measured vertically above the tread nosing, and rails must be continuously graspable and secured to resist loads.
OBC Division B, Subsection 9.8.7.

Paraphrased for clarity — open this provision in the BUILDAiD Library for the exact wording.

What this means in practice

Graspability is enforced along with height: the rail must be a shape a hand can wrap around, roughly 30-43 mm for circular sections, so a flat 2x6 cap on a half wall does not qualify as the handrail. Rails should run continuously for the full flight, terminate safely, and keep clearance (about 50 mm) from the wall. On stairs over 1,100 mm wide serving certain uses, two handrails are needed. Fasten into blocking or studs; drywall anchors will not meet the load requirement.

Plain language

A stair handrail must sit between 865 mm and 1,070 mm above the steps and be shaped so your hand can actually grip it. Almost every stair with three or more steps needs one, solidly anchored.

Related questions

What is the maximum stair rise and minimum run in Ontario?How high must a deck guard or railing be in Ontario?

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This page is provided for general information. Building code requirements depend on your specific project, occupancy and municipality, and code editions change. Always verify requirements against the current Ontario Building Code and confirm with your local building department.