Sean Jursnick

This week, the 'Kentucky Housing Task Force' issued a Final Report recommending key building code reforms to bring down construction costs

Included is a suggestion to change state building code to allow single-stair housing(although it is already allowed up to 3-stories)
www.klc.org/News/13091/k...

Another new member of the Parking + Single Stair Reform club just dropped. Congrats to Denver! Who's next?

Here's video of the vote last night (starting at 57:50). The single dissenting vote, CM Flynn, believes the bill doesn't create new potential for housing but creates risk.

denver.granicus.com/player/clip/...

Council Bill 1634 is the ordinance that passed on a 9-1 vote
denver.legistar.com/LegislationD...

The building code changes are marked up in Section 1006.3.4 of the Denver Building Code
denver.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=...

Denver City Council approves single-stair building ordinance Denver City Council approves ordinance for 5-story single-stair buildings, promoting affordable housing and flexible building options.

It's official, last night Denver City Council adopted a local single-stair ordinance!

Beginning December 31, 2025, 5-story single-stair housing will be permitted in Denver!

www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/11/24/d...

With a unanimous city council vote, Culver City becomes California's first city to allow taller single-stair buildings

www.usnews.com/news/best-st...

Somebody in the audience pointed out something that I didn’t know, which is that Queensbridge Houses, the largest NYCHA project in the city (and thereby largest public housing complex in North America), is single-stair. platform-affordable-dwelling.bk.tudelft.nl/database/201...

The people writing urban building codes aren't actually familiar with urbanism ↓↓↓

Culver City's single stair ordinance has been approved by the state, so you can now build single-stair apartment buildings up to six stories

Denver’s single-stair building measure poised to go beyond state minimum It's about balancing a desire for higher density with resident safety.

to get around the paywall
archive.is/2025.11.17-1...

Denver’s single-stair building measure poised to go beyond state minimum It's about balancing a desire for higher density with resident safety.

Denver’s chief building official was interviewed about the upcoming change to the City's building code to allow taller single-stair housing that exceeds the state's minimum requirements by also allowing Type III construction

businessden.com/2025/11/17/d...

Building for People

alright folks - you have until midnight pacific time on 11/16 to snag my book, Building For People, for 50% off. grab an extra for your favorite mayor, council member, or legislator!

and not just mine - numerous other
@islandpress.bsky.social books are on sale.

islandpress.org/books/buildi...

The staircase rule that’s limiting housing growth Revisiting the two-stair requirement in building code could improve spatial efficiency and expand housing options.

The Reason Foundation is latest organization promoting better housing policy through single-stair code reform.

reason.org/commentary/t...

Policy - Allow Single Staircase Buildings — Pro-Housing Pittsburgh Building codes that seek to keep people safe, but that were created in a time of lesser fire suppression technologies, have created a two staircase requirement for most buildings. This makes small bui...

Pro-Housing Pittsburgh:

Removing the two-staircase requirement in the building code is key to tackling Pittsburgh's housing crisis by lowering construction costs, unlocking smaller lots, and allowing more family-sized units @prohousingpgh.org

www.prohousingpgh.org/blog/policy-...

Making Seattle neighborhoods more accessible by design Four case studies on how new zoning incentives align with demographic shifts to meet housing demand.

This is a great article by @matthutchins.bsky.social on how Seattle’s new missing middle allowances can lead to a broad range of new housing options on lots previously sequestered for 1 single home.

medium.com/@matthutchin...

Don't dismay, it can be done. Denver's city council was able to bring the Fire Chief to the table in Denver to collaborate on a bill with the building department.

bsky.app/profile/sean...

Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge competition winners revealed! Winners chosen from Lebanon, France, United States, Turkey and Netherlands.

The Building Department’s slide deck even featured apartment designs from the Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge that I organized earlier this year.

CPD did not city credit their sources but at least one city council member gave me a shoutout.
architecturecompetitions.com/pointaccessb...

0 members of the public testified in opposition to the single-stair code changes.

5 members of the public testified in support of the proposal at the hearing including members of SWEEP who noted that the change will encourage more infill housing where housing is in most demand and that infill housing is one of the best strategies for the city to reduce emissions and fight sprawl

The proposed code change language outlines safety measures required for single-stair buildings above and beyond standard multifamily projects with multiple egresses.

Council members were interested in safety measures with requests that the city track new projects developed under the code change.

The proposed code change has four City Council sponsors

This week’s committee hearing featured testimony by DFD & Denver’s Chief Building Official who made recommendations to approve single-stair code changes, making Denver the first jurisdiction to comply with the state’s single-stair legislation

🏠 Denver just got closer to building more housing!

This week, City Council's seven member Housing Committee unanimously advanced a bill allowing 5-story single-stair buildings in a decisive 7-0 vote.

Final Full Council vote: 11/24

Effective Date: 12/31/25

Small building code could unlock thousands of new Utah homes Utah could ease its housing shortage and lower construction costs by making one small change to its building code.

The next pro-housing state eyeing architectural innovation through single-stair reform: Utah

kslnewsradio.com/utah/small-b...

yes, if the unit opens to a yard or court that opens to a public way

for additional details on the small lot prototype

kgarch.com/reviving-a-f...

For decades, a prime but isolated corner parking lot at 4th & Broadway in Denver's Baker neighborhood was too small for traditional development.

Thanks to Denver's forthcoming single-stair code updates, KGA Architects is proposing a 5-story single-stair apt on this "forgotten lot"

Why do builders put up giant McMansions, when zoning allows a fourplex? TLDR: A host of regulations make fourplexes lose money.

I read the eye-opening report. Now I'm looking forward to the podcast.

I'm in a Home Rule state so any adjustments to the building code here in CO are fought tooth-and-nail by local jurisdictions pushing back on any type of state intervention.

I'd love to see a progressive state adopt a performance based code.

Montana is also great candidate because of how they have pushed pro-housing changes recently and their state building code is essentially run by a single code official who could make a unilateral (bold) change.

so livable!