Bill > H4699

This bill establishes a special commission to study and potentially legalize single-stair multi-family residential buildings up to six stories tall in Massachusetts. The commission will be comprised of representatives from various organizations including housing, architecture, fire safety, planning, and building regulations, and will be tasked with producing a building code amendment that allows single-stair buildings while developing comprehensive safety measures. These safety measures will include smoke alarms, sprinkler systems, fire-resistant materials, emergency exit strategies, and other protections referenced in the state's fire code (527 CMR 1.00). The study will build upon an existing report by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies and will conduct a technical analysis comparing the safety of single-stair versus two-staircase buildings, as well as create an implementation timeline for the proposed building code amendment. The commission is required to file its study with legislative clerks and the housing committee by July 31, 2026, potentially paving the way for new residential building designs that could increase housing density and affordability.

Budget and Finance

Joint Committee on Housing (Joint)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4699