Ottawa By-law 2013-416, s. 24 — Property Standards By-law

1) A guard shall be installed and maintained in good repair on every surface to which access is provided, including but not limited to exterior landings, porches, decks, balconies, mezzanines, galleries, raised walkways and roofs, on each side which is not BY-LAW NO. 2013-416 protected by a wall and where there is a difference in elevation to adjacent surfaces of more than 60 cm (23 5/8 in.); 2) A guard shall be installed and maintained in good repair on:

• a) every exterior stair with more than 6 risers and every ramp on all open sides where the difference in elevation between the adjacent ground level and the stair or ramp exceeds 60 cm (23 5/8 in.);
• b) openings through any guard shall be a size which will prevent the passage of a spherical object having a diameter of more than 10 cm (4 in.); and
• c) a pedestrian or physically disabled ramp having a gradient steeper than 1 in 10 or with a rise of over 45 cm (1 ft. 6 in.). 3) A handrail shall be provided and be maintained in good repair and in a safe condition on:
• a) at least one side of stairs less than 1.1 m (3 ft. 7 in.) in width;
• b) two sides of stairs 1.1 m (3 ft. 7 in.) in width or greater; and
• c) two sides of a curved stair used as an exit. 4) Despite subsection (3), handrails are not required for stairs within dwelling units having not more than two (2) risers, or for exterior stairs having not more than three (3) risers and serving not more than one (1) dwelling unit. 5) Despite subsection (3), only one (1) handrail is required on exterior stairs having more than three (3) risers provided such stairs serve not more than one (1) dwelling unit. WALLS AND CEILINGS