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New York Residential Code: Stairs & Guards
New York runs its own Residential Code of New York State, now updating to a 2025 edition — but New York City runs an entirely separate construction code that this page doesn't cover.
New York runs its own Residential Code of New York State (RCNYS). The 2025 RCNYS — based on the 2024 IRC — was formally adopted (Notice of Adoption, 24 July 2025), replacing the 2020 RCNYS (2018 IRC). Its effective date isn’t firmly confirmed in state sources at time of writing, so confirm with your local code enforcement officer which edition currently applies.
New York City is a major exception. NYC runs its own NYC Construction Code, administered by the Department of Buildings, entirely separate from RCNYS — the figures below don’t apply inside the five boroughs.
Outside NYC, no confirmed RCNYS-specific stair or guard amendment surfaced — figures follow the IRC baseline for whichever edition is in force. See the US stair & guard rules for the shared figures. For projects inside NYC, confirm figures against the NYC Construction Code directly — it isn’t covered on this page.
Adoption status
Adopted- Current code in force
- Residential Code of New York State (own code) — 2025 RCNYS (2024 IRC) being phased in; predecessor 2020 RCNYS (2018 IRC)
- Next edition
- —
- Adoption / transition
- Statewide own code; 2025 RCNYS adopted (Notice of Adoption 2025-07-24, derivative of 2024 IRC), replacing 2020 RCNYS (2018 IRC); effective date not firmly confirmed. NYC runs its own construction codes, not RCNYS.
Last verified 2026-07-28
No state-specific variations recorded yet for this jurisdiction.