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Why does Single stair matter in North Carolina?
Better apartments by design
Single stair buildings use one protected staircase along with modern fire-rated construction, and yes - an elevator, too. This design is common across Europe and parts of the US, but today it's not legal to build in North Carolina.
Homes that actually fit families
Single-stair buildings can offer more two and three bedroom apartments instead of only studios or one-bedroom units. This creates the kind of medium-size housing that many North Carolina families currently struggle to find.
Safe, Modern, & built for today
These buildings rely on high-quality sprinklers, fire-rated corridors, and strict life-safety requirements that meet or exceed national codes, while avoiding the long hotel-style hallways that can slow evacuation
More affordable, small-scale housing
Single-stair designs allow smaller buildings on smaller lots, making it easier for small developers and homeowners to create attainable housing without huge budgets or large multi-family projects
Why This Reform Matters Now
North Carolina is adding people faster than it is adding housing that ordinary families can afford. Construction costs are up, interest rates remain high, and current building rules make it difficult to build anything except large, expensive apartment projects. Single-stair allows for smaller, simpler apartment buildings that cost less to build, fit better in neighborhoods, and expand housing supply without changing zoning.
We have a Clear Opportunity
North Carolina Senate Bill 492 proposes a targeted update to the State Building Code that would allow single-stair apartment buildings under defined size and safety limits. Similar proposals have been discussed in the past, but SB492 represents a concrete opportunity to move from discussion to action.
A National Shift Is Underway
North Carolina is not alone in revisiting single-stair rules. Across the country, states and cities are updating building codes to reflect modern fire safety systems and changing housing needs. Twenty-one states and Washington, D.C. have taken steps toward studying or legalizing single-stair apartment buildings.
READY TO MAKE A
DIFFERENCE?
JOIN THOUSANDS OF NORTH CAROLINIANS ADVOCATING FOR BETTER HOUSING POLICY. YOUR VOICE CAN HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITIES.