North Station

Request for a public hearing

Hold hearing on single-stair mid-rise housing reforms

Last activity March 5, 2026 (7 months ago)

  1. Introduced

    February 27, 2026

  2. In committee

    The committee decides whether to send it to the full council.

  3. Council vote

  4. Adopted

Boston faces a housing shortage and rising costs. The hearing order asks the City Council to examine reforms to the state building code that would allow single-stair mid-rise residential buildings, aiming to boost housing supply while preserving safety. The committee will review impacts on affordability, design flexibility, and fire safety practices.

Filed by Brian Worrell, Benjamin Jacob Weber, Enrique Pepén, Julia Mejia, Ruthzee Louijeune, John FitzGerald, Miniard Culpepper, Gabriela Coletta Zapata, Henry Santana, Liz Breadon, and Sharon Durkan

Now with the Committee on Housing and Community Development

About Housing & Development and Public Safety

View the official record
Compare with the government's own wording

Official title

Order for a hearing to examine potential reforms to the Massachusetts State Building Code to allow for mid-rise single stair buildings. On motion of Councilors Durkan and Breadon, Rule 12 was invoked to include Councilor Santana as an original co-sponsor.

Timeline

  1. March 4, 2026

    Referred to

    City Council