Prevent accidents and make your home safer by learning about and fixing these code violations. Many are DIY-able.
5 Common Building Code Violations
Building codes go a long way to assuring you live in a safe house. But unless you check, you never actually know whether parts of your home need upgrading to meet the current code. This is especially true when you move into a new home.
Some common and potentially dangerous building code violations are hard to locate and even harder to fix because they’re buried behind finished walls. These include improper framing, excessively cut and notched studs and joists, and inadequate connections between building materials.
However, the following common violations are easy to find.
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Missing or Defective GFCIs
Ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection is now required for outlets in the kitchen, bathroom and garage, and for all outdoor circuits. It cuts power to a circuit if it detects a current change, protecting against electrical shocks.
Test for the presence of GFCIs by plugging a GFCI receptacle tester into an outlet in each of these areas (photo “violation” below). It’ll detect whether there’s a GFCI on the circuit and other wiring problems, like reverse polarity and open grounds.
Test for Missing or Defective GFCIs
A GFCI tester detects a bad GFCI as well as other wiring problems.
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Handrails Without Returns
Codes require handrails to have “returns,” meaning they need to turn and end at the wall (photo “Solution” below). Returns keep items like sleeves and purse straps from getting caught on the end of the rails and causing a fall. Handrails need to be placed 34- to 38-in. above the nose of the stair treads and must be 1-1/4- to 2-5/8-in. thick.
Handrail code violations and solution
Stairways are high accident areas. Up-to-code handrails are important for safety.
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Improper Bathroom Venting
Bathroom exhaust fans should vent to the outside, either through the roof or the side of the house — not into the attic (photo “violation” below).
Stick your head into the attic to see how yours is vented. Venting the warm, moist air into the attic can cause rotting in the roof framing and sheathing, and may not properly rid the bathroom of moisture. That leads to mold and mildew.
Bathroom venting violation and solution
Venting to the attic dumps a lot of moisture into that space. Hire a pro to rectify this.
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Missing Deck Flashing
Flashing needs to be installed between the deck ledger board and the house, and the ledger needs to be firmly attached (photo “solution” below).
A building inspector we talked to said incorrectly installed ledgers are the main cause of problems in do-it-yourself decks because the ledger may pull loose from the house. These decks can actually collapse, especially when loaded with people.
No deck flashing and proper deck flashing
The deck/house joint is a common place for rot. The rot will weaken your deck and structural members in your home, which will require an expensive repair.
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Misplaced Smoke Alarms
Codes require a smoke alarm on each level of the house and outside each bedroom (photo “solution” below). Codes require new homes to have a smoke alarm in each bedroom, hard-wired with a battery backup and interconnected so if one activates, they all go off.
You should install your ceiling-mounted alarms at least four inches away from walls. Wall-mounted alarms should be four to 12 inches down from the ceiling.
Correctly position your smoke alarms
Smoke alarms are critical life-saving devices in case of fire. Position them according to directions.
