[MassHistPres] Historic Porches

[Suzanne W Pelton]

An owner in Lenox is preparing to have a new deck installed on the  
porch of an historic 1886 house. The Chippendale balustrade is only  
29" high. Since the balustrade is not being changed, only repaired in  
spots, does its historic status exclude it from modern code, i.e. new  
balustrades must be 36" tall?

And what about handrails? The 6' wide steps do not currently have a  
hand rail. Must the owner install one or can it be kept historic  
looking?

Thank you for any information you can provide on this subject.

Suzanne Pelton
Lenox Historical Commission