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Los Angeles council asks staff to study single‑stair buildings to expand family housing
Summary
The City Council voted to direct staff to study changes to the building code that would permit single‑exit, single‑stairway apartment buildings as a way to enable larger, more affordable family units without changing zoning laws.
Councilmember Yaroslavsky asked the Los Angeles City Council to approve a motion instructing city departments to study updates to the building code that would allow single‑exit, single‑stairway apartment buildings.
The motion, which Yaroslavsky said would let the city produce “more affordable, livable, and larger units for families,” instructs the Department of Building and Safety to work with the Planning Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department on standards and a report back to the council. “By simply updating our building code to allow for single exit, single stairway buildings, they'll allow for units with more natural light and ventilation and buildings that have more green space for families,” Yaroslavsky said on the council floor.
The ordinance change would not alter local zoning or land‑use laws; instead, it would modify construction and life‑safety requirements so smaller, lower‑cost apartment buildings could be feasible. Councilmember Nithya Raman supported the motion, saying the requirement for two stairwells “has been found to be out of date” and that the city could “keep buildings safe with a single stairwell and get a different kind of building in Los Angeles.”
Some members raised safety concerns. Councilmember Nazarian cautioned the council to await the staff report because, he said, “I've already seen instances where individuals have been trapped, when there has been only 1 stairwell.” The motion explicitly directs Building and Safety, Planning and the LAFD to ensure fire and evacuation safety would not be compromised.
Supporters cited research and examples from other jurisdictions. Yaroslavsky referenced studies saying cities such as New York and Seattle that permit single‑stair buildings show comparable safety, and he said development cost reductions of 6–13% have made smaller apartment projects financially feasible elsewhere.
The council approved the motion on a 14‑aye vote. The instruction requires a staff report back; the motion does not itself change the building code. Councilmembers said the report will provide the technical and safety analysis needed before any regulatory change is adopted.
The item will return to the council after staff prepares the requested analysis and LAFD reviews life‑safety implications.
