I can't get any help from the code office.
They want a
drawing but won't give me the info to do it
right. Well,
to be honest here's the complete story.

It's not their job to do the design work for you;
that's your job. You have to show them what you're
going to do, how you're going to do it, and with
what materials, and usually require a guestimate
of the cost for tax purposes.

If you ask, I'll bet they'll even accept sketches
as long as you have dimensions and the relevant
data they need to make a decision. Unless you've
already ****ed them off, that is, in which case
I'd make sure everything followed the books 100%.

Three years ago we erected a double wide for a
cabin. I was informed that I needed a
rudimentary porch on the
front (we seldom use it) but that it wasn't high
enough
to require a railing. I believe that the thing
is only
4'x4' and 28" high. I would like to make the
deck wider
(left to right, not front to back) since it's a
bit
dangerous getting in the door. I would like to
cantilever a new set of joists from the 4x4 to
the left
and right and then, add a railing. How much can
I
cantilever these joists? Is there any other
consideration? As always, TIA!
Chuck

Hard to say what you can "cantilever" without
knowing a lot more about it. A sketch would help,
in fact (sorry, couldn't resist!)g. If you
actually even mean cantilevering, which I suspect
you don't.
If I were you I'd check with a couple
contractors and see what they can give you; maybe
invite one over for a 6-pack next Saturday or
whatever, to talk it over.
I don't have any handy right now, but there are
quite a few sites that will let you calculate what
you'll need for overhangs, extensions, weight
bearing, etc., etc., and railing requirements,
etc..
Do NOT go on what you "heard". Since this will
affect your taxes from the sound of it (everything
does these days), it means you're in for an
inspection and that in turn means you need to
design and build it to specs. x by x wood, spaced
x apart, supported within ... by ... and
fastenings of ..., and so forth. Truthfully, it
doesn't sound like it would need much of a
drawing.
When I extended my front stoop and added a
wheelchair ramp, the "inspection" consisted of
drinking a beer while we debated whether it was
technically "attached to the premises" or not. I
lucked out; they decided it was a free standing,
so no tax hit. The "inspection" in this case was
one of the guys had to drive by my place to get to
work, so he just watched me as he passed by in his
pickup. The only real problem I had with calcs
was being sure the roof snow-load was met, so I
seriously overdesigned that part of it. It really
pays to be palsy-walsy with those guys.

HTH

Twayne