Reports

Boston Indicators has long explored how zoning restrictions contribute to our region’s housing market challenges. Recent actions, like the 2021 MBTA Communities law and the Affordable Homes Act’s legalization of Accessory Dwelling Units, show some progress. But there’s a growing recognition that zoning reform alone won’t solve the housing crisis. That’s why Boston Indicators commissioned the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard and the design firm Utile to produce this report: Legalizing Mid-Rise Single Stair Housing in Massachusetts.

Among the non-zoning regulations that sometimes hamper new housing construction is the building code, an amalgam of regulations that should evolve with time and technology. But old concerns and considerations live on in the building code long after technological or architectural advances have overridden their safety value. For instance, engineered wood is restricted in taller buildings despite its proven safety, and overly large elevator requirements drive up costs. 

This report focuses on staircases and the code requiring two separate stairways in mid-rise buildings. Advances in materials, smoke detection, and sprinklers have sparked a reconsideration of this rule across North America, and we examine the potential for change in Massachusetts.