City council weighs single stairway proposal
The Los Angeles Times has reported that the Los Angeles City Council has voted to draft an ordinance allowing single stairways in apartment buildings up to six stories.
The proposed change would alter a rule in place since 1981 that requires two stairways, which supporters say has made it harder to build larger family apartments in the city.
The ordinance was backed on 20 August by a 13 to 1 vote.
Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Katy Yaroslavsky introduced the proposal with the aim of reducing costs and speeding up development.
Raman said the rule change would create space for larger units and help address the city’s shortage of family housing.
Arguments for the proposal
According to the Los Angeles Times, the City Planning Department said in a memo that allowing single stairways could increase the supply of three-bedroom apartments.
It explained that only 14% of Los Angeles rental units currently have three or more bedrooms.
The department noted that the second stairway requirement often results in narrow hallways with units that have limited natural light and ventilation.
Stephen Smith, executive director of the Center for Building in North America, said single stairways could make small-lot projects more practical.
Smith added that in cities such as New York, fire death rates in single stairway buildings were the same as in other residential properties.
Safety concerns raised
Firefighters and safety advocates have expressed concern about the proposal.
Frank Lima, Los Angeles firefighter and general secretary-treasurer of the International Association of Fire Fighters, said stairways are a life-and-death matter.
Lima said: “A single stairway forces building occupants to go down a stairwell while firefighters go up a stairwell. That delays fire attack, delays people getting out of a building — when seconds count.”
“When you try to cut corners to save money or make more units, it shouldn’t be at the price of children that die.”
Lima added: “I’d rather call it ‘only one way out.’”
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the proposal is under review by the city fire marshal.
Impact on building design
Architect Simon Ha said that the double stairway rule restricted apartment layouts and limited the potential for larger family-sized units.
Ha explained that single stairways could make it possible to design townhouses similar to those in New York, instead of the podium-style complexes common in Los Angeles.
He said that on smaller lots, second stairways consume much of the available building space.
Ha argued that reform could reduce the number of unused small parcels, which he described as “missing teeth” in the city’s urban fabric.
Wider context in housing policy
The Los Angeles Times reported that since 2022, at least 16 cities and states across the United States have proposed or passed measures allowing single stairways in mid-rise buildings.
The Pew Charitable Trusts study cited by the paper said the shift has been driven by affordability pressures in housing markets.
Other cities, including New York, Seattle and Honolulu, already permit single stairways in buildings of up to six stories.
Councilmember Adrin Nazarian, who voted in favour of drafting the ordinance, raised concerns about earthquake risk but said the city should consider options to increase housing supply.
Councilmember Traci Park opposed the motion, arguing that more exits improve safety.
Next steps for the ordinance
The Los Angeles Times reported that the council’s motion requests that staff draft a full ordinance.
The proposed ordinance would apply to buildings up to six stories with no more than four units per floor.
Additional safety measures, such as advanced sprinkler systems, would be required under the plan.
Councilmember Raman said she believed new building codes meant safety would not be reduced.
She said: “New fire safety standards in our building code have made it so new buildings are much safer overall.”
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
The debate highlights the balance between housing policy and fire safety standards.
If Los Angeles changes its stairway rules, it could influence other jurisdictions considering similar reforms.
Professionals will need to monitor how any new ordinance integrates fire safety measures such as sprinkler systems and escape planning.
The discussion may also affect how urban development, building codes and emergency response planning interact in U.S. cities.
Los Angeles stairway rules and the housing shortage explained: Summary
The Los Angeles City Council voted on 20 August to draft an ordinance allowing single stairways in apartment buildings up to six stories.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Councilmembers Nithya Raman and Katy Yaroslavsky introduced the proposal to speed development and reduce costs.
The Los Angeles Planning Department said the rule could expand the supply of three-bedroom apartments.
Architects said two stairways limit designs and result in smaller units.
Stephen Smith of the Center for Building in North America said single stairways could make small lots viable.
The International Association of Fire Fighters opposed the measure, citing safety concerns.
Frank Lima of the IAFF said single stairways delay evacuations and firefighting.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said the proposal is under review by the city fire marshal.
Councilmember Adrin Nazarian supported the draft despite earthquake concerns.
Councilmember Traci Park cast the only no vote.
The ordinance would restrict buildings to four units per floor and require high-end sprinkler systems.
Other cities, including New York, Seattle and Honolulu, already allow single stairways in mid-rise buildings.
The Pew Charitable Trusts study said fire death rates in such buildings matched other residential properties.
Since 2022, at least 16 U.S. cities and states have proposed similar rules.