2026-09-10 · Massachusetts · Regulation · Pending — not yet law

Pending. Massachusetts is studying whether to permit single-stair residential buildings above three storeys — a technical question that determines what kind of mid-rise condominium can be built or converted in the state.

Governor Healey signed an executive order in February 2026, catalogued as Executive Order No. 651, Facilitating Safe and Affordable Single-Stair Multifamily Residential Buildings.¹

What the order does

• Creates a Technical Advisory Group — fire services, building officials, national architecture experts, accessibility advocates and public safety representatives
• Charges it with evaluating whether and how single-stair residential buildings above three storeys can be safely permitted
• Requires a final report to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor within 12 months of the order's effective date

What it does not do

It mandates nothing. Abundant Housing Massachusetts, a participant, states that the order “does not force or mandate that the single stair code change be adopted.” A building code amendment would still be required, through the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards.

The bill that went nowhere

A parallel legislative vehicle, H.4699, An Act to study single-stair residential buildings — a new draft of H.1542 reported by the Joint Committee on Housing, carrying a $250,000 appropriation and a report due 31 July 2026 — was referred to House Ways and Means on 6 November 2025 and never emerged. No report was filed.²

1. Abundant Housing Massachusetts, on the Healey single-stair executive order ↩
2. H.4699, An Act to study single-stair residential buildings — bill page and history ↩
3. CHAPA, housing provisions in the House economic development bill ↩