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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1392 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1542
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Meghan K. Kilcoyne
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to study single-stair residential buildings.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Meghan K. Kilcoyne12th Worcester1/14/2025Steven Owens29th Middlesex2/13/2025Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex2/13/2025John Francis Moran9th Suffolk2/13/2025Marjorie C. Decker25th Middlesex2/26/2025Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/26/2025Mike Connolly26th Middlesex2/26/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1392 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1542
By Representative Kilcoyne of Clinton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1542) of
Meghan K. Kilcoyne and others for legislation to establish a special commission to study and
define conditions under which single-stair multi-family residential buildings up to six stories
shall be legalized. Housing.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act to study single-stair residential buildings.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Section 1. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a
2special commission to study and define conditions under which Single-Stair Multi-Family
3Residential buildings up to six stories shall be legalized in Massachusetts. The commission shall
4produce a building code amendment that allows single-stair multi-family residential buildings of
5up to six stories, including measures for mitigating any adverse health and safety impacts unique
6to single-stair multi-family residential buildings.
7 (b) The commission shall consist of 1 member representing the Fire Chiefs Association
8of Massachusetts, 2 members of the American Institute of Architects, 1 member who is a
9practicing fire engineer representing the National Fire Protection Association, 2 members
10representing the Board of Building Regulations and Standards, 1 member representing the
11American Planning Association Massachusetts Chapter, 1 member representing the Home
12Builders and Remodelers Association, 1 member representing NAIOP, 1 member representing 2 of 2
13the Center for Building in North America, 1 member representing a building official employed
14by a municipality with a Class 1 Fire Department, and 1 member representing Abundant Housing
15Massachusetts.
16 (c) The study shall build on the report Legalizing Mid-Rise Single-Stair Housing in
17Massachusetts produced by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Boston Indicators, and
18Utile and shall include, but not be limited to: a technical study into the safety of single-stair
19residential buildings compared to two-staircase buildings, and a process map and timeline for
20implementation of the building code amendment.
21 (d) For costs associated with developing the study and its recommendations, $250,000
22shall be allocated from the General Fund.