Culver City Approves Single-Stair Apartment Building Design, Pioneering Housing Reform in California
Culver City, California, has become the first city in the state to formally legalize the construction of apartment buildings up to six stories high with a single staircase, a move proponents say will unlock much-needed housing density.
The Culver City Council unanimously approved the ordinance late last month, allowing developers to utilize space currently dedicated to hallways and multiple stairwells for additional units, potentially creating larger, more family-friendly apartments. Councilmember Bryan “Bubba” Fish championed the change, stating, “We’re the only city in California to legalize it by ordinance,” and expressing hope that Culver City will serve as a model for other municipalities. This decision comes as California grapples with a severe housing shortage and rising costs.
The reform has faced opposition from fire safety advocates, who argue that single-stair buildings could hinder emergency response and resident evacuation. Sean DeCrane, assistant to the general president for health and safety at the International Association of Fire Fighters, emphasized the importance of two escape routes in buildings over three stories. However, proponents point to studies, such as one from the Pew Charitable Trusts, showing no increased fire death rates in modern single-stair buildings in New York City. The change will require new safety features like sprinklers and pressurized stairwells.
While several other California cities considered similar reforms, they missed a crucial October 1st deadline triggered by state law AB 130, which froze local building codes for six years. In Los Angeles, the City Attorney’s Office reportedly raised legal concerns about the proposal, delaying its passage. The move in Culver City could significantly impact housing affordability and availability in the region, potentially influencing future development across the state. For more information on housing development in Los Angeles, see LAist’s Building Your Block newsletter.
The ordinance will now be submitted to the state’s Building Standards Commission for approval, after which Fish anticipates a wave of innovative housing projects in Culver City.
