Maryland committee backs study on single‑stair apartment buildings, weighing safety and housing gains

Delegate Bonser, sponsor of House Bill 489, urged the House Environment and Transportation Committee on Feb. 11 to order a neutral study of single‑stair residential buildings.

"This is a nice, study bill for you to kick off the day," Delegate Bonser said, framing the bill as an expert review rather than an immediate code change. He told the committee the study would ask the Maryland Department of Labor to consult with the International Association of Fire Fighters and local fire marshals and consider fire suppression measures, including sprinklers.

The bill would direct the Department of Labor to examine construction and safety practices in other U.S. jurisdictions and abroad and recommend whether Maryland could permit single stair egress in buildings of up to six stories while protecting residents and firefighters. "I don't wanna make any changes to the building code if it's gonna put tenants or firefighters at risk," Bonser said.

Supporters told the committee single‑stair designs can reduce construction costs and allow more units with windows on multiple sides, improving ventilation and daylighting. Ryan Dorsey of the Baltimore City Council said Baltimore is already pursuing similar changes under the International Existing Building Code and that the city has secured buy‑in from its fire and housing departments. "We're already doing this, in Baltimore City," Dorsey said, describing recent adaptive reuse projects made viable by single‑stair allowances.

Housing and design advocates, including Dan Reed of Greater Greater Washington and Seva Radnowski of the Pew Charitable Trusts, called for a data‑driven study. Reed said the state needs more homes that meet modern fire‑safety standards and noted two‑thirds of Maryland homes were built before 1990. Radnowski summarized Pew's research finding that fire death rates in modern single‑stair buildings in New York City and Seattle were not higher than in other multifamily housing and that sprinklered multifamily buildings are the safest.

Committee members asked whether the study charge should specify unit counts, square footage limits, or other technical thresholds. Bonser said those details are often part of the International Existing Building Code and that the study's scope could be clarified by amendment. Several witnesses suggested the study should evaluate additional interventions — for example, limiting units per floor, mechanical smoke control, and early detection.

The bill as presented is a study only; no code changes were proposed at the hearing. Bonser said he plans a sponsor amendment to ensure the study covers fire suppression techniques and to keep the fiscal note modest so the work can proceed without blocking appropriations.

The committee hearing included municipal and nonprofit witnesses, designers and housing advocates who described single‑stair allowances as a tool for affordable urban infill and adaptive reuse, while fire professionals and the sponsor emphasized the need for thorough, expert analysis before any code change.

The committee will consider the sponsor's amendment and recommendations from the Department of Labor once the draft study charge is finalized.