Andover, Minn., City Code title 9 ch. 8 art. A (2026) § 9-8A-5
: STAIRWAYS, PORCHES AND BALCONIES: The owner shall keep
Operative Text
9-8A-5: STAIRWAYS, PORCHES AND BALCONIES: The owner shall keep every stairway, inside or outside of a building, and every porch or balcony in safe condition and sound repair, including but not limited to the following: stairs and handrails; every porch, balcony, or deck which is 30 inches or more above grade shall have a guardrail; every handrail and guardrail shall be firmly fastened and maintained in good condition; no flight of stairs shall have settled out of its intended position or have pulled away from the supporting or adjacent structures enough to cause hazard; no flight of stairs shall have rotting, loose, or deteriorating support; excepting spiral and winding stairways, the treads and risers of every flight of stairs shall be essentially uniform in width and height; stairways shall be capable of supporting a live load of l00 pounds per square foot of horizontal projection.
Section 9-8A-5 of the Andover, MN City Code establishes structural and safety standards for all stairways, porches, and balconies in residential and other buildings. The rule requires that these features be kept in safe condition and sound repair, with specific requirements such as guardrails on elevated decks, porches, or balconies 30 inches or more above grade, firmly fastened handrails, uniform tread and riser dimensions (except on spiral or winding stairs), and a load-bearing capacity of at least 100 pounds per square foot. Stairs must not show signs of settling, separation from supporting structures, or rotting and deteriorating supports.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 9-8A-5 of the Andover City Code, property owners are responsible for maintaining all stairways, porches, and balconies in safe and structurally sound condition at all times. Compliant operators routinely inspect these features for signs of rot, looseness, settling, or separation from adjacent structures, and ensure that guardrails are installed on any elevated deck, porch, or balcony 30 inches or more above grade. Handrails and guardrails should be firmly fastened, stair treads and risers should be uniform in dimension, and the stairway structure should be capable of supporting the required 100-pounds-per-square-foot live load.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 9-8A-5 of the Andover, MN City Code gives tenants a basis to expect that all stairways, porches, and balconies in their building are maintained in safe, structurally sound condition, including proper guardrails, secure handrails, and stairs free from rot or dangerous settling. If these conditions are not met, tenants may have grounds to report the issue to the City of Andover's code enforcement or building inspection department. Tenants experiencing unsafe stair or balcony conditions may also wish to document the problem in writing and consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand the range of options available to them.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.