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Chapter 3 — BUILDING PLANNING

Section R320 — HANDRAILS

2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

R320.1 General. Handrails shall comply with Section R320.

R320.2 Height.

Handrail height, measured vertically from the sloped plane adjoining the tread nosing, or finish surface of ramp slope, shall be not less than 34 inches (864 mm) and not more than 38 inches (965 mm). Handrail height on alternating tread devices and ship’s ladders shall be uniform and not less than 30 inches (762 mm) and not more than 34 inches (864 mm).

Exceptions:

  1. The use of a volute, turnout or starting easing shall be allowed over the lowest tread.
  2. Where handrail fittings or bendings are used to provide continuous transition between flights, transitions at winder treads, the transition from handrail to guard, or used at the start of a flight, the handrail height at the fittings or bendings shall be permitted to exceed 38 inches (965 mm).

R320.3 Handrail projection.

Handrails shall not project more than 4 [1] / 2 inches (114 mm) on either side of the stairway or ramp.

Exception: Where nosings of landings, floors or passing flights project into the stairway reducing the clearance at passing handrails, handrails shall project not more than 6 [1] / 2 inches (165 mm) into the stairway, provided that the stair width and handrail clearance are not reduced to less than that required.

R320.4 Handrail clearance.

Handrails adjacent to a wall shall have a space of not less than 1 [1] / 2 inches (38 mm) between the wall and the handrails.

R320.5 Continuity.

Handrails shall be continuous for the full length of the flight, from a point directly above the nosing of the landing at the top of the flight to a point directly above the lowest nosing of the flight. Handrails where required for ramps shall be continuous for the full length of the ramp. A handrail end shall be returned continuous to itself or toward a wall, guard or walking surface. Handrail returns shall not form a gap more than [1] / 4 inch (6.4 mm) from the adjacent wall.

Exceptions:

  1. Handrail continuity shall be permitted to be interrupted by a newel post at a turn in a flight with winders, at a landing, or over the lowest tread.

  2. A volute, turnout or starting easing shall be allowed to terminate over the lowest tread.

R320.6 Grip size.

Required handrails shall be of one of the following types or provide equivalent graspability.

  1. Type I. Handrails with a circular cross section shall have an outside diameter of not less than 1 [1] / 4 inches (32 mm) and not greater than 2 inches (51 mm). If the handrail is not circular, it shall have a perimeter of not less than 4 inches (102 mm) and not greater than 6 [1] / 4 inches (160 mm) and a cross section of not more than 2 [1] / 4 inches (57 mm). Edges shall have a radius of not less than 0.01 inch (0.25 mm).
  2. Type II. Handrails with a perimeter greater than 6 [1] / 4 inches (160 mm) shall have a graspable finger recess area on both sides of the profile. The finger recess shall begin within [3] / 4 inch (19 mm) measured vertically from the tallest portion of the profile and have a depth of not less than [5] / 16 inch (8 mm) within [7] / 8 inch (22 mm) below the widest portion of the profile. This required depth shall continue for not less than [3] / 8 inch (10 mm) to a level that is not less than 1 [3] / 4 inches (45 mm) below the tallest portion of the profile. The width of the handrail above the recess shall be not less than 1 [1] / 4 inches (32 mm) and not more than 2 [3] / 4 inches (70 mm). Edges shall have a radius of not less than 0.01 inch (0.25 mm).

R320.7 Exterior plastic composite handrails.

Plastic composite exterior handrails shall also comply with the requirements of Section R507.2.2.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
2025 California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. ▸ Chapter 3 — BUILDING PLANNING
    Overview
    1. Section R300 — SITE DRAINAGE
    2. Section R301 — DESIGN CRITERIA
    3. Section R302 — FIRE-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
    4. Section R303 — FOAM PLASTIC
    5. Section R304 — PROTECTION OF WOOD AND WOOD-BASED PRODUCTS AGAI…
    6. Section R305 — PROTECTION AGAINST SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES
    7. Section R306 — FLOOD-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
    8. Section R307 — STORM SHELTERS
    9. Section R308 — SITE ADDRESS
    10. Section R309 — AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEMS
    11. Section R310 — SMOKE ALARMS
    12. Section R311 — CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS
    13. Section R312 — MINIMUM ROOM AREAS
    14. Section R313 — CEILING HEIGHT
    15. Section R314 — MEZZANINES
    16. Section R315 — SLEEPING LOFTS
    17. Section R316 — HABITABLE ATTICS
    18. Section R317 — GARAGES AND CARPORTS
    19. Section R318 — MEANS OF EGRESS
    20. Section R319 — EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE OPENINGS
    21. Section R320 — HANDRAILS
    22. Section R321 — GUARDS AND WINDOW FALL PROTECTION
    23. Section R322 — ACCESSIBILITY
    24. Section R323 — ELEVATORS AND PLATFORM LIFTS
    25. Section R324 — GLAZING
    26. Section R325 — LIGHT, VENTILATION AND HEATING
    27. Section R326 — SANITATION
    28. Section R327 — TOILET, BATH AND SHOWER SPACES
    29. Section R328 — AGING-IN-PLACE DESIGN AND FALL PREVENTION
    30. Section R329 — SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
    31. Section R330 — ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
    32. Section R331 — STATIONARY ENGINE GENERATORS
    33. Section R332 — STATIONARY FUEL CELL POWER SYSTEMS
    34. Section R333 — RESERVED
    35. Section R334 — CONSTRUCTION WASTE REDUCTION, DISPOSAL AND RECY…
    36. Section R335 — SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR LICENSED 24-HOUR CARE FA…
    37. Section R336 — LARGE FAMILY DAY-CARE HOMES
    38. Section R337 — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR EXTERIOR…
    39. Section R338 — ELECTRIC VEHICLE
    40. Section 339 — RESERVED
    41. Section R340 — POLLUTANT CONTROL
  4. Chapter 4 — FOUNDATIONS
  5. Chapter 5 — FLOORS
  6. Chapter 6 — WALL CONSTRUCTION
  7. Chapter 7 — WALL COVERING
  8. Chapter 8 — ROOF-CEILING CONSTRUCTION
  9. Chapter 9 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES
  10. Chapter 10 — CHIMNEYS AND FIREPLACES
  11. Chapter 44 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  12. Appendix AA — BOARD OF APPEALS
  13. Appendix AB — PERMIT FEES
  14. Appendix AC — RESERVED
  15. Appendix BA — RESERVED
  16. Appendix BB — TINY HOUSES
  17. Appendix BC — RESERVED
  18. Appendix BD — RESERVED
  19. Appendix BE — RADON CONTROL METHODS
  20. Appendix BF — PATIO COVERS
  21. Appendix BG — SOUND TRANSMISSION
  22. Appendix BH — AUTOMATIC VEHICULAR GATES
  23. Appendix BI — LIGHT STRAW-CLAY CONSTRUCTION
  24. Appendix BJ — STRAWBALE CONSTRUCTION
  25. Appendix BK — COB CONSTRUCTION (MONOLITHIC ADOBE)
  26. Appendix BL — HEMP-LIME (HEMPCRETE) CONSTRUCTION
  27. Appendix BM — 3D-PRINTED BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
  28. Appendix BN — EXTENDED PLATE WALL CONSTRUCTION
  29. Appendix BO — EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
  30. Appendix CA — RESERVED
  31. Appendix CB — RESERVED
  32. Appendix CC — RESERVED
  33. Appendix CD — RESERVED
  34. Appendix CE — RESERVED
  35. Appendix CF — RESERVED
  36. Appendix CG — NONSEWERED SANITATION SYSTEMS
  37. Appendix CH — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
  38. Appendix CI — SWIMMING POOL SAFETY ACT
  39. Appendix CJ — EMERGENCY HOUSING
  40. Appendix CK — AREAS PROTECTED BY THE FACILITIES OF THE CENTRAL…

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