I'm not Jerry, but what should be done and what the builder has to do are different animals. Depending upon the location of the stairs, he MAY not have been REQUIRED to even place a handrail.
Go to a thread under Exterior systems, started on 4/16 "Docks and Decks." I asked a question from a similar scenario.
Of course you know how it should be done and that reporting what you have is the right thing to do. But if the stairs are off a deck or dock, you may not find support.

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