Do I need a landing at the top and bottom of the stairs?
Yes — a landing at least 36 in deep is required top and bottom (IRC R311.7.6).
A floor or landing is required at the top and bottom of each stairway. For a straight run, the landing must be at least 36 inches (914 mm) deep in the direction of travel and at least as wide as the flight it serves.
One common exception: a landing is not required at the top of an interior flight, as long as a door does not swing out over the stairs.
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Related answers
- How wide does a staircase have to be? — IRC §R311.7.1
- What is the minimum headroom above a stairway? — IRC §R311.7.2
- What are the maximum stair riser height and minimum tread depth? — IRC §R311.7.5
- What are the tread depth rules for winder (pie-shaped) stairs? — IRC §R311.7.5.2.1
- What's the steepest slope allowed for a residential ramp? — IRC §R311.8.1
- What is the minimum size for a required exterior (egress) door? — IRC §R311.2
- What size landing is required outside an exterior door, and how far can the floor drop at the threshold? — IRC §R311.3
- How big a step down is allowed at an exterior door threshold? — IRC §R311.3.1
Need this scoped to your jurisdiction?
Adopted edition and local amendments vary by city and county. Ask Donnie checks your jurisdiction and cites the exact adopted section.
Ask Donnie →General information based on the International Residential Code (a model code). This is AI assistance to verify — not legal advice. Confirm the adopted edition and any local amendments with your local building department (AHJ) and a licensed professional before you build.