Zoning codes have long prohibited single-stair residential buildings due to safety concerns, but changing that could lower the cost of construction and allow for more flexible housing designs.

Multifamily buildings with a single staircase don’t put residents at greater risk than double-staircase construction, according to a new study from Pew, contradicting a common belief that has led to restrictive zoning codes that outlaw single-stair buildings in most U.S. cities.
According to the Congress for New Urbanism’s Public Square, double stairwell requirements are “partly responsible for the dull, generic streetscapes” of most mid-rise neighborhoods because they “create large, long facades on a block that may suck the vibrancy out of streetscapes” and limit the amount of light that can enter the building.
Single-stairwell buildings can be built at a small-to-medium size in walkable neighborhoods. Single-stairwell buildings can fit onto small, irregularly shaped infill lots, contributing to missing middle housing.
In the past, “Cities required two stairwells for fire safety, but modern fire safety advancements and new building materials make the requirements superfluous.” Today, New York City, Seattle, and Honolulu are the only major U.S. cities to allow single-stair construction up to six stories, but the movement to legalize single-stair construction is growing, with bills to reform stair requirements proposed in jurisdictions including the Washington, D.C. region.
FULL STORY: Single stairs do not put residents at risk

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Rebuilding Smarter: How LA County Is Guiding Fire-Ravaged Communities Toward Resilience
Los Angeles County is leading a coordinated effort to help fire-impacted communities rebuild with resilience by providing recovery resources, promoting fire-wise design, and aligning reconstruction with broader sustainability and climate goals.

When Borders Blur: Regional Collaboration in Action
As regional challenges outgrow city boundaries, “When Borders Blur” explores how cross-jurisdictional collaboration can drive smarter, more resilient urban planning, sharing real-world lessons from thriving partnerships across North America.

Philadelphia Is Expanding its Network of Roundabouts
Roundabouts are widely shown to decrease traffic speed, reduce congestion, and improve efficiency.
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