Montana Building Code - Stairs (insurance, loft, home)

[Montana Mountain Man]

I'm building a cabin with a small loft for overflow sleeping / storage. Can I use ladder stairs to access or must I have a full staircase? Somewhere in between? Thanks for any help

[MTSilvertip]

Welcome to the Montana Boards Montana Mountain Man.

The answer to your question depends a lot on where you are. Citys or towns usually have pretty strict codes, and inspections. Outside city limits,(depending on county) there may only be codes about your sewage and power or plumbing, and no basic codes for the structure.
I know the more populous counties such as Lewis and Clark or Gallatin would like to have your structure inspected, but outside of some zoning about commercial/residential/light industrial ect, they don't usually have ordinances about your basic structure unless you request an inspection.

I have been building a cabin far back in the mountains, and as it isn't hooked to power and isn't plumbed, it hasn't been inspected and won't be unless I request it under the laws of the county I am building in.
I will be starting to build another home next spring, and it is in a different county, but when I checked with the county board, the only thing I have to have inspected is there has to be a perk test on the ground for a drain field, and my access road has to meet certain criteria as it is coming off a county road. Other than that, I can build pretty much as I want.

I have seen cabins built with basically no foundation, or very poor foundations, walls that you could put your hand through, Windows and doors with cracks around the frames so large you can see through them, floor joists layed directly on the dirt, and the only things that are inspected are the wires and wether or not the seep field will perk in the proper amount of time.

Check with your local county planning board's office, or an architect, or look up your local codes online.
Personally, I wouldn't think the difference between a ladder and stairs would make a difference, except if there are fire codes you may fall under.

Insurance companies will probably be a good resource as they do grade your home for a myriad of things that will combine to govern your rates.

Good luck

[Jbechtel]

Build a spiral staircase instead of a ladder. I see them all over Montana in small cabins. I bet their code.

[57pickles]

I found this while doing a Google search for ladders to a loft.

The response to this question by Silvertip is incorrect...The concept that because there's no inspections you can do whatever you want is just plain folly - you are required by the State to follow the building code. Lots of counties and small towns don't have the budget to provide pemits, plan reviews, inspections, or enforcement - that doesn't mean you aren't required to follow the IRC (International Residential Code) adopted by the State of Montana. All it means is that the local jurisdiction doesn't provide any review of your project - you now have the responsibility to meet the code without their help.

All it takes is for someone to get hurt because of something you do (or don't do) and you will find yourself on the wrong end of a law suit and potentially not covered by your insurance company. Also, if you sell the property in the future, your liability will not go away...you may still be responsible for accidents that might happen in the future.

If you are going to ignore or intentionally violate the Code, carefully examine what the ramifications might be.

[oldtrader]

If the home is not built to code, your insurance company may not want to cover it.