Committee weighs allowing smaller, lower‑cost elevators in small multifamily buildings
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Summary
House committee heard SB 5,156 on Feb. 18, which would let cities and counties allow smaller elevators for buildings up to six stories/24 units, convene a technical advisory group, and encourage limited international code harmonization; supporters said it would lower costs and increase accessibility while industry representatives warned of safety and legal risks from vague harmonization language.
The House Housing Committee considered Senate Bill 5,156 on Feb. 18, a bill to allow smaller, right‑sized elevators in certain small multifamily buildings and to convene a technical advisory group to study elevator hoistway openings and emergency communications.
Serena Dolly, staff to the committee, said the bill would require the State Building Code Council to adopt standards permitting apartment buildings with no more than six stories and 24 units to be served by elevators sized to meet federal accessibility standards rather than larger state dimensions, and to convene a technical advisory group that includes fire chiefs, elevator industry professionals, developers and disability‑advocacy groups.
Sponsor Senator Solomon described the bill as part of affordability efforts, arguing that high elevator costs discourage installation and reduce accessible housing options. “This is part of our affordability of housing efforts,” Solomon said, noting the bill had been refined with stakeholders and calling the proposal a modest, broadly worked compromise.
Several witnesses supported the bill on cost and accessibility grounds. Steven Smith, executive director of the Center for Building in North America, said U.S. elevators can cost three to four times what comparable equipment costs in Western Europe and that current requirements have led many small buildings to be built as walk‑ups. Marcus Johnson and Dan Berdelet (Sightline Institute) cited safety and access benefits, with Berdelet noting Seattle data showing two of three small multifamily buildings lack elevators and estimating roughly 34,000 homes are accessible only by stairs.
Opposition testimony came from Billy Taylor of the National Elevator Industry, who urged removal of language in Section 2, paragraph 2 that he said effectively encourages international code harmonization without guardrails. Taylor warned that vague harmonization language could produce confusion for manufacturers, requests for variances, multiple equipment standards in the field and potential lawsuits. When ranking member Lowe asked whether removing that provision would bring NEI to a neutral position, NEI replied it would.
Other supporters included CREDA Washington State, Futurewise and 1 Drop (a BIPOC developers collective), which said smaller, more common elevator models would lower initial purchase and lifetime maintenance costs, increase parts availability and speed repairs.
The committee closed the hearing on SB 5,156 without recording a vote. Witnesses and some members characterized the bill as a technical change aimed at reducing costs and improving access; industry groups urged clearer guardrails on any language referring to international harmonization.
