Need help with handrail code requirement

last year

Hi, can someone help me out. I have a handrail from my basement door to the upstairs kitchen and it's a straight rail and my hoa says I need to curve the ends per bi law code. Is there a piece I can get to add to the ends and curve to the wall or would I need to buy a new handrail with curved ends? Ive included photos. Thanks.

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Comments (11)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
You don't need a new handrail; you need to return the handrail ends to the wall so a firehose doesn't catch the way it is.
ffpalms
last year
Is the plastic protecting your carpet as slippery as it looks? It looks very unsafe. I would remove it, as it is not really keeping the carpet clean.
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Arie Griggs
Original Author
last year
Hi. Are there simple return pieces to purchase somewhere, or will I have to have them made at a home depot, Lowe's etc? I don't care if they are imperfect, I just need to pass inspection. Thanks
Arie Griggs
Original Author
last year
I'm removing it soon ffpalms. It is a hazard going upstairs for sure. It's not slippery however. Changing the whole carpet.
einportlandor
last year
last modified: last year
I suspect you'll pay more in labor to have something added on to the existing railing than it will to replace it with a solid piece. BTW, I'm surprised your HOA has any authority over the interior of your home. Interesting.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
As joe said you need returns so it has a closed end that goes to the wall. Likely easiest to have a handyman or woodworker craft a new handrail on the same brackets with a new length of handrail stock. It’s been building code for a while (though I’m surprised the hoa would care)
Arie Griggs
Original Author
last year
Thanks everyone, yea the hoa didn't care since the old owners went 20 years with it as is. Now they're screaming fines if not fixed. Smh. But I'm most likely going to get a new handrail made and use the existing brackets. Thanks again!
PRO
Beth H. :
last year
last modified: last year
are you doing something diff to the stairs? why is your HOA requiring something that was there when you bought the house?

furthermore, since when does the HOA have a say-so over something inside your home (that doesn't affect the actual building or other members directly?)
Arie Griggs
Original Author
last year
I haven't thought much about the stairs as of yet, any ideas? But neighbors said the new members on the hoa board are operating differently than past ones.
PRO
Beth H. :
last year
last modified: last year
the new members on the hoa board are operating differently than past ones

Huh? what exactly does this mean?

And who voted for them to act differently? The HOA isn't just 'allowed' to change and do what they want, are they?

If you and other homeowners are concerned that they are over reaching, then you all need to have a meeting to discuss exactly what they are doing, and what everyone is on board with.

Again, Why are they involved on the inside of your home, specifically w/a handrail? Did they come inside and do an inspection? Were they advised that ALL handrails have to change? That is not their level of involvement. Where are the HOA bylaws that you were given?
Arie Griggs
Original Author
last year
I believe they are just more aggressive, but as you said, it really shouldn't be their concern but they did do an inspection after we closed and it was of course something they listed regarding things that needed to be brought up to code, and after an entire year, they sent a ticket because it was never reported that we resolved their checklist, which didn't include much but the handrail and a couple of non working smoke detectors. I'm sure they're not trying to force themselves in to "check" what was fixed but I do have to go fight the ticket soon. My argument is just what was mentioned, its been 20 years and I'm sure they didn't bother the former owners so why me? Why now?
PRO
Beth H. :
last year
last modified: last year
wth? "They" did an inspection AFTER you bought the home? no. Who gave them the authority to do inspections on the insides of your homes?

They can't order you to bring things up to code if your own city allows you to be 'grandfathered' in. Did you have an inspection when you bought the home?

Unless you are touching the stairway to make changes, you are grandfathered in (basically, you're allowed to keep it as was allowed during the time it was built) If they knew about this handrail w/the previous owners but are making you change it, that's complete BS.

And if the previous owners did this handrail themselves, and it's out of code, and the hoa knew about it then, they can't force you to now pay for it. (I'm assuming you passed inspection when you purchased this home?)

I can't understand these HOA's who operate like tyrants.

contact your city hall and talk to someone w/building codes. Pose it to them. If the city does not require you to bring the handrail up to current code, and during the inspection when you bought the home nothing was ever said, then your HOA doesn't have the right to write you ticket for failing to do so! I mean, what in the world??

Where are you bylaws?

When are your meetings?

Have other people gotten these tickets?

You all need to get together and shut down these people w/nothing else better to do