Housing: codes; single exit stairway in multiple-family dwellings; allow under certain conditions, the official text

Act No. 28

Public Acts of 2026

Approved by the Governor

July 21, 2026

Filed with the Secretary of State

July 21, 2026

EFFECTIVE
DATE: July 21, 2026

state of michigan

103rd Legislature

Regular session of 2026

Introduced by Reps. Fairbairn, Longjohn, Wooden, Martus,
Hoskins, Andrews, Aragona, Pohutsky, Rheingans, Beson, Markkanen, Grant,
Liberati, McKinney and VanderWall

ENROLLED HOUSE BILL No. 5570

AN ACT to amend 1972 PA 230,
entitled “An act to create a construction code commission and prescribe its
functions; to authorize the director to promulgate rules with recommendations
from each affected board relating to the construction, alteration, demolition,
occupancy, and use of buildings and structures; to prescribe energy
conservation standards for the construction of certain buildings; to provide
for statewide approval of premanufactured units; to provide for the testing of
new devices, materials, and techniques for the construction of buildings and
structures; to define the classes of buildings and structures affected by the
act; to provide for administration and enforcement of the act; to create a
state construction code fund; to prohibit certain conduct; to establish
penalties, remedies, and sanctions for violations of the act; to repeal acts
and parts of acts; and to provide an appropriation,” (MCL 125.1501 to 125.1531)
by adding section 4j.

The People of the State of
Michigan enact:

Sec.
4j. Subject to section 4k, a multiple-family
dwelling that has not more than 4 levels above grade plane may have a single
interior exit stairway if all of the following conditions are met:

(a)
The dwelling has not more than 4 units on each level.

(b)
The net floor area of each level of the dwelling is not more than 4,000 square
feet.

(c)
The exit access travel distance is not more than 125 feet measured from the
most remote point within a level of the dwelling along the natural and
unobstructed path of egress travel.

(d)
Openings to the interior exit stairway enclosure are limited to all of the
following openings:

(i) Openings required for exit access into the enclosure from
normally occupied spaces.

(ii) Openings required for egress from the enclosure.

(iii) Openings to the exterior.

(e)
An elevator does not open into the interior exit stairway enclosure.

(f)
The dwelling has a manual fire alarm system and an automatic smoke detection
system that activates an occupant notification system. The manual fire alarm
system, automatic smoke detection system, and occupant notification system all
must be installed in accordance with the building code.

(g)
Smoke detectors are located in common spaces outside of the dwelling units,
including, but not limited to, all of the following areas:

(i) Gathering areas.

(ii) Laundry rooms.

(iii) Mechanical equipment rooms.

(iv) Storage rooms.

(v) Interior corridors.

(vi) Interior exit stairways.

(vii) Exit passageways.

(h)
Regardless of the stairway construction type in the dwelling, automatic
sprinkler locations in the interior exit stairway comply with the requirements
for combustible stairways under the “Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler
Systems”, as adopted by the director as part of the code, developed by the
National Fire Protection Association. If a standard described in this
subdivision is revised after the effective date of the amendatory act that
added this section, the department shall take notice of the revision and the
department shall promulgate rules to incorporate the revision by reference.

(i)
An electrical receptacle is not located in an interior exit stairway.

(j)
The interior exit stairway is not less than 48 inches wide.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act does not
take effect unless House Bill No. 5571 of the 103rd Legislature is enacted
into law.

This act is ordered to take
immediate effect.

Clerk of the House of
Representatives

Secretary of the Senate

Approved___________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Governor