Can One Staircase Unlock More San Diego Apartments?

Culver City recently made headlines by becoming the first California city to legalize mid-rise apartment buildings with a single staircase, a move celebrated by housing advocates. This controversial change, known as “single-stair reform,” could be a key to boosting housing supply and affordability right here in San Diego, where the housing crisis continues to impact residents.

What is “Single-Stair Reform”?

For over a century, most American cities have required buildings taller than three stories to have at least two staircases, connected by a corridor, for fire safety. “Single-stair reform” challenges this standard, allowing for apartment buildings up to six stories to be built with just one central stairwell.

Culver City’s new ordinance comes with strict conditions: buildings must be on the smaller side (max 4,000 square feet per floor, no more than four units), and include enhanced fire prevention measures like pressurized stairwells or automatic sprinkler systems of the highest class.

The Promise: More Homes, Better Design

Reclaiming Space for Living

One of the biggest selling points for single-stair advocates is efficiency. According to a Pew Charitable Trusts study, an average American apartment building dedicates about seven percent of its floor space to additional staircases and their connecting corridors. Reclaiming this space means developers can build more units, make existing units larger, or achieve a combination of both, potentially lowering costs.

Enhanced Living Experience

Beyond numbers, single-stair designs can lead to better living spaces. By allowing buildings to wrap around a central staircase, architects can design units with windows on multiple sides, providing more natural light and better airflow. This design flexibility can move away from typical “efficiency apartments” towards roomier dwellings that might appeal more to families, creating buildings described as “nicer,” reminiscent of Brooklyn, Seville, or Paris.

Unlocking “Funky Little Lots”

San Diego, like many older cities, has numerous small or irregularly shaped urban lots that are currently unsuitable for standard multi-stair apartment blocks. Single-stair reform makes it feasible to build small, “boutique” apartment buildings on these overlooked parcels. This is particularly relevant as state laws like SB 79 aim to increase density near public transit, where lots tend to be smaller.

Addressing Safety Concerns: The Great Debate

The “two ways out” rule for mid-rise buildings is deeply ingrained in American fire protection policy, stemming from tragic fires of the past. Fire marshals, fire chiefs, and firefighter unions consistently voice concerns, arguing that multiple staircases provide essential escape routes and redundancy in emergencies.

However, proponents argue that modern fire prevention technology and design can make single-stair buildings just as safe. Culver City’s ordinance, for example, mandates the highest class of automatic sprinkler systems, fire-rated walls, alarm systems, and self-closing doors. A Pew study of residential fire deaths in New York City and Seattle (which have allowed single-stair buildings for decades) found low fatality rates, with no deaths directly attributable to the lack of a second staircase.

The debate also highlights a philosophical split: whether to focus solely on minimizing risk in new buildings, or to consider the broader public safety implications. If strict two-stair codes make new urban apartments too expensive, people might resort to older, more fire-prone buildings, single-family homes, or even long, risky commutes, all of which carry their own significant dangers.

What This Means for San Diego

While Culver City has become the first in California to adopt single-stair reform, a state law passed this summer freezes local building code changes for the next six years. This means San Diego cannot immediately follow suit, and cities like San Jose and San Francisco also missed the window. Culver City will serve as California’s primary test case for the next half-decade to demonstrate the impact of this change.

For San Diegans, the key watch will be the State Fire Marshal’s report on single-stair rules, which is due in January. This report could pave the way for future statewide changes or exemptions that would allow San Diego to consider similar reforms down the line.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is single-stair reform?
  It’s a change to building codes that allows mid-rise apartment buildings (typically up to six stories) to be built with a single main staircase, rather than the two usually required in the U.S. for buildings over three stories.
• Why is it considered a solution for housing?
  By reducing the space needed for stairwells, it frees up floor area for more or larger apartments, potentially making housing more affordable. It also enables development on smaller, urban lots previously considered too small for multi-unit buildings.
• Are single-stair buildings less safe?
  Proponents argue they can be just as safe with modern fire prevention technologies, such as enhanced sprinkler systems, pressurized stairwells, and fire-rated construction. Studies in cities like New York and Seattle, where they’re common, show comparable safety records.
• Can San Diego adopt single-stair construction now?
  Currently, no. A new state law imposes a six-year freeze on local building code changes. Culver City was able to pass its ordinance before this freeze went into effect.
• What’s next for this debate in California?
  Culver City will serve as a test case. Additionally, the State Fire Marshal is expected to release a study on California’s single-stair rules in January, which could influence future statewide policy discussions.

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Single Stair Reform Could Unlock San Diego Housing