Hamilton By-law 23-162, s. 15(4)(a) — Property Standards By-law

An exterior stairway with more than three (3) risers and less than seven (7) risers or an interior stairway in a dwelling or dwelling unit with more than two (2) risers shall have at least one handrail sufficient to prevent an accidental fall and such handrail shall be repaired or replaced if damaged.

• (b) Despite subsection 15(4)(a), an exterior stairway with more than three (3) risers and less than seven (7) risers may have a partial or short wall, on either side sufficient to prevent an accidental fall off the side of the exterior stairway and such partial or short walls shall be repaired or replaced if damaged.
• (c) Where access is provided for other than maintenance purposes:
• (i) an exterior stairway with more than six (6) risers; or
• (ii) a landing, porch, balcony, mezzanine, gallery, raised walkway, roof or deck, with a difference in elevation at any point from the adjacent finished ground or a floor of more than 600 mm shall be protected by Building Code compliant guards on all open sides sufficient to prevent an accidental fall. Common Areas