Bill > S964

This bill establishes a special commission to study and potentially legalize single-stair multi-family residential buildings up to six stories in Massachusetts. The commission will be composed of 12 members representing various professional organizations, including the Fire Chiefs Association, American Institute of Architects, National Fire Protection Association, and others. Their primary task is to develop a building code amendment that would allow single-stair multi-family residential buildings while addressing potential health and safety concerns. The study will draw from an existing report by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and will include a technical safety analysis comparing single-stair and two-staircase buildings, as well as create a process map for implementing the proposed building code changes. The commission is allocated $250,000 from the General Fund to conduct the research and develop recommendations. The goal is to explore how single-stair residential buildings could be safely integrated into Massachusetts' housing landscape, potentially offering a new approach to multi-family residential building design.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S964