Elmira, N.Y., Code ch. 8, art. V § 8-358
Railings and parapet walls
Operative Text
(a) Railings or parapet walls shall be provided at open sides of balconies, mezzanines, porches, accessible roofs, exit passageways, areaways, motor vehicle parking decks and ramps, and around floor openings. (b) Railings or parapet walls shall be at least three feet, six inches in height and designed to resist a lateral load, at the top, of at least 50 pounds per linear foot. Fixed openings in railings or parapet walls shall not exceed six inches in one dimension. (c) Wheel bumper blocks shall be provided at perimeter and around floor openings of open motor vehicle parking decks and ramps. Wheel bumper blocks shall be continuous, at least eight inches in height, fastened to the floor, and designed to resist a minimum linear load of 300 pounds per foot.
Elmira Code ch. 8, art. V § 8-358 establishes structural safety requirements for railings and parapet walls at elevated or open areas of buildings, including balconies, porches, rooftops, and parking decks. These barriers must stand at least three feet six inches tall, withstand a lateral load of at least 50 pounds per linear foot, and have no fixed openings wider than six inches in any single dimension. Parking decks and ramps must also have continuous wheel bumper blocks at least eight inches high, anchored to the floor and rated to resist a minimum load of 300 pounds per foot.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Elmira Code ch. 8, art. V § 8-358 generally ensure that all balconies, mezzanines, porches, accessible roofs, exit passageways, areaways, and parking structures are equipped with compliant railings or parapet walls meeting the specified height and load-resistance standards. Compliant operators also verify that fixed openings in those barriers do not exceed six inches in any one dimension, and that open parking decks and ramps feature properly anchored, continuous wheel bumper blocks. Routine inspections and documentation of these structural elements are common practices for maintaining compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Elmira Code ch. 8, art. V § 8-358, tenants have an interest in knowing that balconies, porches, rooftops, and similar open areas in their building are required to have properly constructed railings or parapet walls meeting specific height and strength standards. If a railing appears to be missing, too short, structurally unsound, or has gaps wider than six inches, this provision may be relevant to a housing code complaint filed with the City of Elmira's code enforcement office. Tenants may also wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand how identified violations under this section can be raised or documented.
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 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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