Good question. Some of the places that are shown are described as "designed and built by the young architect/owner" and clearly do not meet local code requirements for stair safety. In some of those cases, I suspect they didn't get permits or have not received a certificate of occupancy (yet). Sometimes the local construction permit office gets after the owner when the photos appear in local newspapers! Sometimes they build to local codes, then remove the safety features after the inspection.

I would like to see those young architects' ideas, but incorporating some common sense about safety. Once you have toddlers running up and down stairs or older people who need a handrail, the "cool factor" is a lot less important.

Codes vary by location and many of those homes are probably built outside of the US, which seems a bit restrictive in the railing department. Forces many homeowners to install inappropiate railings outside on historic houses too, so they look like cribs.

Also, some, such as you cottage, may have been built 40 or more years ago and are grandfathered in. However, as you found out, whenever you spend more than 50% of the value or tear out the existing, you come under current regulations, unless you are a historic property or in a designated historic district, which then comes under the International Building Code for Existing Buildings, which tends to be less restrictive on such things.

If you added a dormer to the far wall, you might have been able to meet the height restrictions. Of course that is a rather expensive option. A cable railing system would be visually less heavy if that is permitted.

There are many ways around codes for stairs. You can always use a "temporary" code compliant railing and or balusters, get your CO then take them down. I hear of paying the inspector some dollars to look the other way has been done. (I am not endorsing this at all). But in reality, some of the stairs may also be considered a secondary stair or "monumental" type stair. It really depends on local and how knowledgeable your particular inspector is.

My recent total gut job project had only main original feature on the interior - the staircase! Although it was 36 wide, the rise and run didn't meet current code so I couldn't change anything without a major, major redesign. We didn't have 80" where first floor ceiling extended over the stairs, but they allowed us to keep it.

Fortunately for us, our local code enforcement doesn't require stair updates even when spending more than 50% of value.

Thank you all for your comments....yes the code inspector has a bit of a reputation in town but watcha gonna do....I do agree that alot of people just put whatever as a handrail and take it down after the inspection (not that I suggest that). The cable railing system is a great idea - do you know of one yourself?

Here is an idea book with transparent guardrails. Most of these are custom, so may be quite expensive. A commercial contractor might be a good resource on how to find a cable rail system--and I imagine it could be fabricated from parts with the right hardware. But at least the pictures will give your inspector an idea of what you have in mind and whether it meets regs.

All regs. require interpretation and you might be able to consult with someone at state level if there is a dissagreement. Unlike Linda, you appear to have a total gut job and removed the original staircase or ladder, if there was any.

Also many rural areas did not have or enforce building codes in years past, but do now, so who knows what happened when it was built, and even today have limited staff or have limited experience in unorthodox solutions. It is quite common to have just one inspector or even a contracted firm to cover a county.

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/beautiful-stairs-safety-meets-style-stsetivw-vs~553566

Here is a website for DIY cable railing systems, which can be used outside for deck and stair railings too, and for pergolas. for a contemporary look without blocking the view. Glass is another option, but is pricier and harder to keep clean.

http://www.cablerailingdiy.com/?gclid=CMHY6dXc_rQCFcxAMgodSkoAvg