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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 804 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 964
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
John J. Cronin
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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 :John J. CroninWorcester and MiddlesexPatricia D. JehlenSecond Middlesex2/19/2025Mike Connolly26th Middlesex2/19/2025Manny Cruz7th Essex3/4/2025 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 804 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 964
By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 964) of John J. Cronin, Patricia D.
Jehlen, Mike Connolly and Manny Cruz for legislation to study single-stair residential buildings.
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 (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special
2commission to study and define conditions under which Single-Stair Multi-Family Residential
3buildings up to six stories shall be legalized in Massachusetts. The commission shall produce a
4building code amendment that allows single-stair multi-family residential buildings of up to six
5stories, including measures for mitigating any adverse health and safety impacts unique to single-
6stair 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.