EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb0489*
HOUSE BILL 489
E4, C9 5lr2071
CF SB 436
By: Delegate Stewart Delegates Stewart, Allen, Boyce, Foley, Holmes, Lehman,
R. Lewis, and Ziegler
Introduced and read first time: January 20, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 25, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Department of Labor – Study on Building Code Requirements for 2
Single–Staircase Buildings 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Labor to study and make 4
recommendations regarding building code requirements for single –staircase 5
buildings; and generally relating to building code requirements for single–staircase 6
buildings. 7
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
That: 9
(a) In this section, “Department” means the Maryland Department of Labor. 10
(b) The Department shall: 11
(1) conduct a study on building code requirements for single–staircase 12
buildings in the State and other states; and 13
(2) make recommendations regarding potential legislative or regulatory 14
changes to authorize the construction of single–staircase buildings up to six stories above 15
grade plane in the State for the purpose of increasing the affordable housing supply by 16
reducing barriers to multifamily housing development. 17
(c) The study shall: 18 2 HOUSE BILL 489
(1) survey and document a representative sampling of state and local laws, 1
ordinances, and policies from across North America; 2
(2) analyze best practices for state and local governments when drafting 3
building code requirements for single–staircase buildings up to six stories above grade, 4
taking into consideration the following factors: 5
(i) the availability of an adequate water supply; 6
(ii) the presence and response capability of a professional fire 7
department; 8
(iii) the practicability or feasibility of compliance with modern fire 9
codes, including a comparison to the safety of the existing housing supply; 10
(iv) the practicability or feasibility of building in urban or infill 11
settings; 12
(v) the viability of redevelopment or adaptive reuse of historic 13
properties; 14
(vi) any impacts of laws, ordinances, or policies on: 15
1. housing development; or 16
2. the cost of housing; and 17
(vii) any other relevant factors, as determined by the Department; 18
and 19
(3) make legislative and regulatory recommendations, including potential 20
amendments to the Maryland Build ing Performance Standards, to authorize the 21
construction of single–staircase buildings up to six stories above grade plane in the State 22
for the purpose of increasing the affordable housing supply by reducing barriers to 23
multifamily housing development. 24
(d) In carrying out the study, the Department shall consult with: 25
(1) the Office of the State Fire Marshal; 26
(2) a fire engineer who is a faculty member at a public institution of higher 27
education that has a fire protection program; and 28
(2) (3) a representative of a union that represents firefighters. 29
HOUSE BILL 489 3
(e) On or before December 1, 2025 2026, the Department shall report its findings 1
and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 2
Government Article, the General Assembly, the Senate Education, Energy, and the 3
Environment Committee, and the House Environment and Transportation Committee. 4
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 5
1, 2025. 6
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.