# Québec Construction Code: Stairs & Guards

Québec's Construction Code adopts the NBC 2020 (modified) — mandatory from October 2026. The residential stair figures match the national code.

- Canonical HTML: https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/qc/
- Publisher: Chippy Tools
- Language: en
- Updated: 2026-09-13

[Browse all topics](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/topics/)[Free web tools](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/tools/)[Printable references](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/printables/)

[All countries](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/) [Canada](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/)

Topics

Stairs

- [NBC Stair & Guard Rules: Riser, Run, Handrails, Guards](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/stairs/stair-and-barrier-requirements/)

Footings

- [Canada Footing Sizes (NBC 9.15)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/footings/footing-sizes-and-depth/)

Room heights

- [Canada Minimum Ceiling Heights (NBC 9.5)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/rooms/minimum-ceiling-heights/)

Ramps

- [Canada Ramp Slopes (NBC 9.8)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/ramps/ramp-gradients/)

Wet areas

- [Shower & Bathtub Waterproof Finish (NBC 9.29.2)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/wet-areas/waterproofing-requirements/)

By province & territory

- [Alberta](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/ab/)
- [British Columbia](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/bc/)
- [Manitoba](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/mb/)
- [New Brunswick](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/nb/)
- [Newfoundland and Labrador](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/nl/)
- [Nova Scotia](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/ns/)
- [Northern Territory](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/nt/)
- [Nunavut](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/nu/)
- [Ontario](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/on/)
- [Prince Edward Island](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/pe/)
- [Québec](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/qc/)
- [Saskatchewan](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/sk/)
- [Yukon](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/yt/)

Calculation guides

- [Concrete Calculations: The Complete On-Site Guide](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-calculations-guide/)
- [How to Calculate Concrete Volume for a Slab](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-volume-slab/)
- [How Many Bags of Concrete Per m³? (20kg, 25kg, 40kg)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/bags-of-concrete-per-m3/)
- [Concrete for Post Holes: Volume Per Hole & Bags Needed](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-post-holes/)
- [Concrete Mix Ratios Explained: 1:2:3, 1:2:4 & Water-Cement Ratio](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-mix-ratios/)
- [Roof Pitch to Angle: Convert Rise/Run to Degrees & Grade](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/roof-pitch-to-angle/)
- [Rafter Length Calculation: Run, Rise & Overhang](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/rafter-length/)
- [Stair Rise & Run Setout: Riser, Going & the 2R+G Formula](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stair-rise-and-run-setout/)
- [How to Convert a Fall or Gradient: Ratio, Percentage & Degrees](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/fall-and-gradient-conversion/)
- [Stud & Joist Spacing Takeoff: How Many at 400, 450 & 600 mm Centres](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stud-and-joist-spacing-takeoff/)
- [Gravel & Base Volume: Compacted Depth vs Loose-Fill Order Quantity](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/gravel-and-base-volume/)

In this section

[Browse all topics](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/topics/)[Free web tools](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/tools/)[Printable references](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/printables/)

[All countries](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/) [Canada](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/)

Topics

Stairs

- [NBC Stair & Guard Rules: Riser, Run, Handrails, Guards](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/stairs/stair-and-barrier-requirements/)

Footings

- [Canada Footing Sizes (NBC 9.15)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/footings/footing-sizes-and-depth/)

Room heights

- [Canada Minimum Ceiling Heights (NBC 9.5)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/rooms/minimum-ceiling-heights/)

Ramps

- [Canada Ramp Slopes (NBC 9.8)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/ramps/ramp-gradients/)

Wet areas

- [Shower & Bathtub Waterproof Finish (NBC 9.29.2)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/wet-areas/waterproofing-requirements/)

By province & territory

- [Alberta](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/ab/)
- [British Columbia](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/bc/)
- [Manitoba](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/mb/)
- [New Brunswick](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/nb/)
- [Newfoundland and Labrador](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/nl/)
- [Nova Scotia](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/ns/)
- [Northern Territory](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/nt/)
- [Nunavut](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/nu/)
- [Ontario](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/on/)
- [Prince Edward Island](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/pe/)
- [Québec](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/qc/)
- [Saskatchewan](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/sk/)
- [Yukon](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/yt/)

Calculation guides

- [Concrete Calculations: The Complete On-Site Guide](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-calculations-guide/)
- [How to Calculate Concrete Volume for a Slab](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-volume-slab/)
- [How Many Bags of Concrete Per m³? (20kg, 25kg, 40kg)](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/bags-of-concrete-per-m3/)
- [Concrete for Post Holes: Volume Per Hole & Bags Needed](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-post-holes/)
- [Concrete Mix Ratios Explained: 1:2:3, 1:2:4 & Water-Cement Ratio](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/concrete-mix-ratios/)
- [Roof Pitch to Angle: Convert Rise/Run to Degrees & Grade](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/roof-pitch-to-angle/)
- [Rafter Length Calculation: Run, Rise & Overhang](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/rafter-length/)
- [Stair Rise & Run Setout: Riser, Going & the 2R+G Formula](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stair-rise-and-run-setout/)
- [How to Convert a Fall or Gradient: Ratio, Percentage & Degrees](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/fall-and-gradient-conversion/)
- [Stud & Joist Spacing Takeoff: How Many at 400, 450 & 600 mm Centres](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/stud-and-joist-spacing-takeoff/)
- [Gravel & Base Volume: Compacted Depth vs Loose-Fill Order Quantity](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/concrete/gravel-and-base-volume/)

[Building Codes](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/) [Canada](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/) Québec

# Québec Construction Code: Stairs & Guards

Québec's Construction Code adopts the NBC 2020 (modified) — mandatory from October 2026. The residential stair figures match the national code.

Québec builds to the **Construction Code, Chapter I — Building**, which adopts the [National Building Code](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/) with Québec amendments. The current edition is **NBC 2020 (modified Québec)**, in force since **17 April 2025** and **mandatory from 17 October 2026** — until then a project may still be built to the previous NBC 2015 (modified Québec) edition, so check which one applies to your start date.

For a house stair the figures **match the NBC 2020 baseline** — 200 mm max riser, 255 mm min run (giron), 1950 mm headroom, 860 mm min width, 865–1070 mm handrails, 900 mm guards, the 600 mm trigger and the 100 mm gap. Québec adds a few belt-and-braces rules (for example, balusters must resist a sideways load so the 100 mm gap can’t be spread open) but doesn’t change those numbers. See the [Canada stair & guard rules](https://www.chippy.tools/building-codes/ca/stairs/stair-and-barrier-requirements/).

## Adoption status

Transition

Current code in force

Construction Code, Ch. I — NBC 2020 (modified)

Next edition

—

Adoption / transition

Québec's Construction Code adopts NBC 2020 (modified Québec), in force since 17 April 2025 and mandatory from 17 October 2026 (NBC 2015 modified may still be used until then). The residential stair figures match NBC 2020.

[Official source →](https://www.rbq.gouv.qc.ca)

Last verified 2026-07-28

No state-specific variations recorded yet for this jurisdiction.

This page is general information for tradespeople and is not compliance, engineering or legal advice. Requirements are subject to state and territory variations and adoption timing. Always confirm requirements with your building certifier and relevant state authority.





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