Point-Access Housing Guidelines Act of 2025
Officially: “Point-Access Housing Guidelines Act of 2025” Read the full text
What it does
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1Short title
This section would let the Act be called the 'Point-Access Housing Guidelines Act of 2025.'
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1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Point-Access Housing Guidelines Act of 2025 .
2Federal guidelines for point-access block buildings
This section would require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to issue guidelines, within 18 months after this section becomes law, giving states, territories, Tribes, and local governments model code language, best practices, and technical guidance they could use to make it easier to permit point-access block residential buildings. In developing these guidelines, the Secretary would have to consider fire safety factors such as sprinkler coverage, smoke detection, ventilation, and how well people could get out of the building; construction costs and effects on housing affordability, including the potential to increase housing supply in high-cost areas; flexibility for different family sizes, unit layouts, and accessibility needs; examples from states, cities, and international standards that have adopted or considered single-stair codes; research and model code language from organizations that focus on point-access block building design and building-code reform; consultation with experts such as developers, architects, fire marshals, researchers, economists, housing authorities, and officials from states that have enacted or piloted single-stair reforms; and alternative ways to meet safety requirements, including options that use extra passive or active safety features. The Secretary would have to coordinate with the International Code Council to encourage adding provisions about point-access block buildings to the International Building Code. The Secretary could award competitive grants to eligible entities to carry out pilot projects that evaluate, demonstrate, or confirm the safety, feasibility, or cost-effectiveness of point-access block residential buildings. Nothing in this section could be read to override a state or local building code. A point-access block building would be defined as a Group R-2 occupancy residential structure, as defined in the International Building Code, that is no more than five stories tall and in which a single internal stairway provides access and exit for every dwelling unit in the building. An eligible entity for the grants would be a state, a unit of local government, a Tribal government, a public housing agency, a nonprofit housing or community development organization, a private developer or construction firm, a qualified design or engineering firm, an academic or research institution, or any partnership or group made up of two or more of these types of entities.
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2. Federal guidelines for point-access block buildings (a) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall issue guidelines to provide States, territories, Tribes, and localities with model code language, best practices, and technical guidance that could be used to facilitate the permitting of point-access block residential buildings. (b) Contents When developing the guidelines under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consider— (1) fire safety considerations, including sprinkler coverage, smoke detection, ventilation, and building egress performance; (2) construction costs and impacts on housing affordability, including the potential for increasing housing supply in high-cost jurisdictions; (3) flexibility for diverse consumer needs, including family sizes, unit configurations, and accessibility; (4) examples from jurisdictions that have adopted or considered single-stair codes, including States, cities, and relevant international standards; (5) research and model language produced by organizations focused on point-access block building design and building-code reform; (6) consultation with experts, including developers, architects, fire marshals, researchers, economists, housing authorities, and officials in States that have enacted or piloted single-stair reforms; and (7) alternative methods of compliance, incorporating options that utilize additional passive or active safety features. (c) Coordination with the International Code Council The Secretary shall coordinate with the International Code Council to encourage the incorporation of provisions about point-access block buildings into the International Building Code. (d) Grants The Secretary may award competitive grants to eligible entities to implement pilot projects that evaluate, demonstrate, or validate the safety, feasibility, or cost-effectiveness of point-access block residential buildings. (e) Rule of construction Nothing in this section may be construed to preempt a State or local building code. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Point-access block building The term point-access block building means a Group R–2 occupancy residential structure, as such term is defined by the International Building Code, in which a single internal stairway provides access and egress for all dwelling units in a building that is not greater than five stories in height. (2) Eligible entities The term eligible entity means a State, unit of local government, Tribal government, public housing agency, nonprofit housing or community development organization, private developer or construction firm, qualified design or engineering firm, academic or research institution, or any partnership or consortium composed of 2 or more such entities.
Where it is
In the House.