"California's emerging housing fracas over a single stairwell may become a lightning rod, affecting both building codes and capital investment in more multifamily projects in more places. California's Fire Marshal is reportedly in the final stages of a report due this month on whether the state will allow singlestair multifamily buildings above three stories, and on when and how they may be permitted."
"Whatever the report concludes, the matter has become a flashpoint regarding how far policymakers will go to support investment models for affordable multifamily housing in an era of stubbornly high costs. Changing singlestair regulations could add a new dimension to the state's yearslong effort to address acute affordability challenges and spark new solutions. The efforts and ones like it are bubbling up amid intensifying national debates over how building codes can either unlock or continue to choke off new supply."
California officials are considering whether to permit single-stair multifamily buildings above three stories and under what conditions. The decision could shape building codes, capital investment, and affordable multifamily housing models amid high construction costs. Several states and cities, including Colorado, Montana, Texas, New Hampshire, Tennessee, New York City, Seattle, and Minnesota, have adopted or studied six-story single-stair construction with fire-safety conditions. Culver City legalized six-story single-stair apartments in September 2025 as a local affordability tool and pilot for regulators and capital markets. The debate intersects national concerns about whether codes enable or restrict housing supply.
Read at www.housingwire.com
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