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*hb0489*
HOUSE BILL 489
E4, C9 (5lr2071)
ENROLLED BILL
— Environment and Transportation/Education, Energy, and the Environment —
Introduced by Delegate Stewart Delegates Stewart, Allen, Boyce, Foley, Holmes,
Lehman, R. Lewis, and Ziegler
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
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 2 HOUSE BILL 489
(1) conduct a study on building code requirements for single–staircase 1
buildings in the State and other states; and 2
(2) make recommendations regarding potential legislative or regulatory 3
changes to authorize the construction of single–staircase buildings up to six stories above 4
grade plane in the State for the purpose of increasing the affordable housing supply by 5
reducing barriers to multifamily housing development. 6
(c) The study shall: 7
(1) survey and document a representative sampling of state and local laws, 8
ordinances, and policies from across North America; 9
(2) analyze best practices for state and local governments when drafting 10
building code requirements for single–staircase buildings up to six stories above grade, 11
taking into consideration the following factors: 12
(i) the availability of an adequate water supply; 13
(ii) the presence and response capability of a professional fire 14
department; 15
(iii) the practicability or feasibility of compliance with modern fire 16
codes, including a comparison to the safety of the existing housing supply; 17
(iv) the practicability or feasibility of building in urban or infill 18
settings; 19
(v) the viability of redevelopment or adaptive reuse of historic 20
properties; 21
(vi) any impacts of laws, ordinances, or policies on: 22
1. housing development; or 23
2. the cost of housing; and 24
(vii) any other relevant factors, as determined by the Department; 25
and 26
(3) make legislative and regulatory recommendations, including potential 27
amendments to the Maryla nd Building Performance Standards, to authorize the 28
construction of single–staircase buildings up to six stories above grade plane in the State 29
for the purpose of increasing the affordable housing supply by reducing barriers to 30
multifamily housing development. 31
HOUSE BILL 489 3
(d) In carrying out the study, the Department shall consult with: 1
(1) the Office of the State Fire Marshal; 2
(2) a fire engineer who is a faculty member at a public institution of higher 3
education that has a fire protection program; and 4
(2) (3) a representative of a union that represents firefighters. 5
(1) a fire engineer who is a faculty member at a public institution of higher 6
education that has a fire protection program; 7
(2) a representative of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland, 8
designated by the President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland; 9
(3) a representative of the Maryland State Firefighters Association, 10
designated by the President of the Association; 11
(4) a representative of the Maryland Fire Chiefs Association, designated by 12
the President of the Association; 13
(5) a representative of the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association, designated 14
by the President of the Association; 15
(6) a representative of the Office of the State Fire Marshall; and 16
(7) a representative of a Maryland nonprofit organization that advocates for 17
safe and affordable housing. 18
(e) On or before December 1, 2025 2026, the Department shall report its findings 19
and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 20
Government Article, the General Assembly, the Senate Education, Energy, and the 21
Environment Committee, and the House Environment and Transportation Committee. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 23
1, 2025. 24