diff --git a/ndsl/dsl/stencil.py b/ndsl/dsl/stencil.py
index 6a70b4d8..5e917e66 100644
--- a/ndsl/dsl/stencil.py
+++ b/ndsl/dsl/stencil.py
@@ -737,6 +737,9 @@ def axis_offsets(
             "local_js": gtscript.J[0] + self.jsc - origin[1],
             "j_end": j_end,
             "local_je": gtscript.J[-1] + self.jec - origin[1] - domain[1] + 1,
+            "k_start": origin[2] if len(origin) > 2 else 0,
+            "k_end": (origin[2] if len(origin) > 2 else 0)
+            + (domain[2] - 1 if len(domain) > 2 else 0),
         }
 
     def get_origin_domain(
diff --git a/tests/dsl/test_stencil_factory.py b/tests/dsl/test_stencil_factory.py
index ac189ad8..2af1218d 100644
--- a/tests/dsl/test_stencil_factory.py
+++ b/tests/dsl/test_stencil_factory.py
@@ -107,6 +107,23 @@ def test_get_stencils_with_varied_bounds_and_regions(backend: str):
     np.testing.assert_array_equal(q_orig.data, q_ref.data)
 
 
+def test_stencil_vertical_bounds(backend: str):
+    factory = get_stencil_factory(backend)
+    origins = [(3, 3, 0), (2, 2, 1)]
+    domains = [(1, 1, 3), (2, 2, 4)]
+    stencils = get_stencils_with_varied_bounds(
+        add_1_in_region_stencil,
+        origins,
+        domains,
+        stencil_factory=factory,
+    )
+
+    assert "k_start" in stencils[0].externals and stencils[0].externals["k_start"] == 0
+    assert "k_end" in stencils[0].externals and stencils[0].externals["k_end"] == 2
+    assert "k_start" in stencils[1].externals and stencils[1].externals["k_start"] == 1
+    assert "k_end" in stencils[1].externals and stencils[1].externals["k_end"] == 4
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("enabled", [True, False])
 def test_stencil_factory_numpy_comparison_from_dims_halo(enabled: bool):
     backend = "numpy"