Advocates in Chicago are renewing efforts to amend the city’s building code to allow residential buildings up to five stories to be constructed with a single staircase, instead of the current two-staircase requirement. Proponents argue that this adjustment would reduce construction costs and facilitate the development of smaller apartment and condominium buildings, helping to address the city’s growing housing shortage and improve affordability.

The proposal, introduced by Alderman Matt Martin of the 47th Ward in 2025, aims to stimulate the construction of multi-family housing on Chicago’s narrow lots, many of which have remained vacant following the demolition or conversion of several thousand small residential buildings since 2013. Martin highlighted rising rents in the city—up 51% over the past decade compared to a 37% increase in wages—and stressed the need to remove regulatory barriers that hinder housing development.

Supporters emphasize that the ordinance includes safety requirements such as sprinkler systems, advanced fire-resistant doors, and mandates that front doors be located within 20 feet of a stairwell. They point to precedents in cities like Seattle, New York, and Denver, which have adopted single-staircase policies without increases in fire-related deaths. Steven Vance, co-lead of Abundant Housing Illinois, noted that new constructions with modern fire safety features provide a safer environment than many existing older buildings that are grandfathered under current rules.

However, the proposed changes have met firm resistance from the Chicago Fire Department and firefighters’ unions. Firefighters warn that two staircases are critical life safety features that provide redundancy in emergencies, ensuring multiple evacuation routes if one path is compromised. Erik Steinmetz, president of Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2, cited past fire incidents where inadequate exits contributed to fatalities and underscored the limitations of aerial rescues in dense neighborhoods. Chicago Department of Buildings Commissioner Marlene Hopkins echoed concerns about removing this redundancy, cautioning that the city's fire safety codes are designed to prioritize multiple escape routes for residents and first responders.

Economic considerations also underpin the debate. Construction management experts estimate that installing a second concrete-and-steel stairwell in a five-story, 10-unit building can add approximately $250,000 to development costs while reducing rentable square footage, impacting project feasibility, especially in lower-income neighborhoods. Advocates argue that allowing single-staircase designs could unlock thousands of new housing units citywide, particularly benefiting areas where affordability is most strained.

The proposal remains under consideration as the City Council’s Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards weighs input from diverse stakeholders. Alderman Martin’s office has engaged the Department of Buildings and the mayor’s office in ongoing discussions and plans further consultations with the Fire Department before revising the ordinance. Several aldermen have expressed tentative support, while others emphasize that safety concerns must not be compromised.

A design competition organized by the Congress for the New Urbanism aims to demonstrate the practical application of single-staircase buildings on Chicago’s urban lots, with winners to be selected later this year. Proponents view this effort as an opportunity to align Chicago’s housing policies with those of peer cities and to facilitate the construction of family-sized affordable units in neighborhoods historically dominated by small multifamily buildings.

The debate highlights the challenge of balancing fire safety with the pressing need to expand affordable housing in one of the nation’s most densely populated cities. While the conversation continues, both advocates and officials have underscored the imperative to ensure that any code changes maintain or enhance overall resident safety.