Alabama Residential Code: Stairs & Guards

Alabama builds to the Alabama Residential Code, based on the 2015 IRC, in force statewide since 1 October 2016. Regulatory authority moved to the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board in October 2024, and a newer edition has reportedly been in the works — but it hasn’t been confirmed adopted, so the 2015-based code remains current at time of writing.

Alabama’s known amendments concentrate on energy compliance (an ERI-based path under R406.4), not stair geometry. So for a house stair the figures match the IRC baseline — 7¾ in max riser, 10 in min tread, 6 ft 8 in headroom, 36 in min width, 34–38 in handrails, 36 in guards, the 30 in guard trigger and the 4 in sphere. See the US stair & guard rules for the shared figures. Given the current edition is a decade old and a replacement may be pending, confirm the current edition in force where you build.