Healey Explores Easing Stair Rules to Unlock Housing

Governor signs order to study allowing single-stair mid-rise buildings, a change advocates say could free up thousands of homes.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has signed an executive order to explore whether the state's long-standing two-stair mandate for mid-rise apartment buildings can be safely loosened. Supporters argue that letting some projects use a single stair could make small lots and "missing-middle" buildings financially viable, opening up new homes where the housing crunch is most severe. The new technical advisory group will weigh safety against the urgent need for more housing.

Why it matters

Boston and other Massachusetts cities face a severe housing shortage, and advocates argue that the two-stair rule makes many small-scale projects financially unworkable. Allowing single-stair construction could unlock thousands of new homes, but fire safety experts urge caution and a transparent process to fully assess the risks.

The details

The technical advisory group will compare the safety records of single-stair and multi-exit buildings, recommend specific code changes, and outline mitigation measures like sprinkler requirements and smoke-control strategies. A 2024 analysis found that allowing single-stair construction on nearly 5,000 underused parcels near transit could yield roughly 130,000 new units in Greater Boston.

  • On February 14, 2026, Governor Healey signed the executive order to create the technical advisory group.
  • The advisory group is expected to complete its work and provide recommendations within about a year.

The players

Maura Healey

The Governor of Massachusetts who signed the executive order to explore easing the state's two-stair mandate for mid-rise apartment buildings.

Ed Augustus

The Housing and Livable Communities Secretary in Massachusetts, who stated that "every safe, evidence-based strategy to build more homes is needed to meet the housing demands we're facing."

Boston Indicators

A research organization that commissioned a 2024 analysis finding that allowing single-stair construction on nearly 5,000 underused parcels near transit could yield roughly 130,000 new units in Greater Boston.

National Fire Protection Association

A fire-safety organization that has pushed for a transparent, inclusive process as the state explores changes to the two-stair rule.

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What’s next

The technical advisory group will be appointed in the coming weeks and is expected to convene as soon as possible. The group's recommendations, expected within about a year, will guide any eventual changes to the Massachusetts building code.

The takeaway

This effort to ease the two-stair rule reflects the urgent need to unlock new housing supply in Massachusetts, especially in transit-accessible areas. However, fire safety experts caution that any changes must be carefully considered to ensure residential buildings remain safe for occupants.