EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0436*
SENATE BILL 436
E4, C9 5lr2072
CF HB 489
By: Senator Waldstreicher
Introduced and read first time: January 21, 2025
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
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
(1) survey and document a representative sampling of state and local laws, 19
ordinances, and policies from across North America; 20
(2) analyze best practices for state and local governments when drafting 21
building code requirements for single–staircase buildings up to six stories above grade, 22
taking into consideration the following factors: 23 2 SENATE BILL 436
(i) the availability of an adequate water supply; 1
(ii) the presence and response capability of a professional fire 2
department; 3
(iii) the practicability or feasibility of compliance with modern fire 4
codes, including a comparison to the safety of the existing housing supply; 5
(iv) the practicability or feasibility of building in urban or infill 6
settings; 7
(v) the viability of redevelopment or adaptive reuse of historic 8
properties; 9
(vi) any impacts of laws, ordinances, or policies on: 10
1. housing development; or 11
2. the cost of housing; and 12
(vii) any other relevant factors, as determined by the Department; 13
and 14
(3) make legislative and regulatory recommendations, including potential 15
amendments to the Maryland Building Performance Standards, to authorize the 16
construction of single–staircase buildings up to six stories above grade plane in the State 17
for the purpose of increasing the affordable housing supply by reducing barriers to 18
multifamily housing development. 19
(d) In carrying out the study, the Department shall consult with: 20
(1) a fire engineer who is a faculty member at a public institution of higher 21
education that has a fire protection program; and 22
(2) a representative of a union that represents firefighters. 23
(e) On or before December 1, 2025, the Department shall report its findings and 24
recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 25
Government Article, the General Assembly, the Senate Education, Energy, and the 26
Environment Committee, and the House Environment and Transportation Committee. 27
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 28
1, 2025. 29