A structural hot-rolled or cold-rolled stainless steel sheet having improved intergranular corrosion resistance and toughness at the welding heat affected zone and further having low strength and high elongation. The composition of the steel sheet contains less than about 0.008 mass percent of C; about 1.0 mass percent or less of Si; about 1.5 mass percent or less of Mn; about 11 to about 15 mass percent of Cr; more than about 1.0 mass percent and about 2.5 mass percent or less of Ni; less than about 0.10 mass percent of Al; about 0.009 mass percent or less of N; about 0.04 mass percent or less of P; about 0.01 mass percent or less of S; and the balance being Fe and incidental impurities. These contents satisfy the expressions: (Cr)+1.2.times.(Ni).gtoreq.15.0; (Ni)+0.5.times.(Mn)+30.times.(C).ltoreq.3.0; (C)+(N).ltoreq.0.015; and (Cr)-(Mn)-1.7.times.(Ni)-27.times.(C)-100.times.(N).gtoreq.9.0.