CO HB1273

HB 25-1273: Residential Building Stair Modernization

• Municipalities with populations of 100,000+ served by accredited fire departments must adopt building codes by December 1, 2027 allowing multifamily residential buildings up to 5 stories to have a single exit stairway instead of two.

• Single-stair buildings must meet specific safety requirements including automatic sprinkler systems throughout, maximum 20 feet travel distance from any unit door to the stairway, no more than 4 dwelling units per story, and maximum floor sizes of 4,000-6,000 square feet.

• Buildings must include two-hour fire-rated stair construction, smoke detection in all common areas, emergency escape openings on every floor, and a fire-resistant key box with signage indicating single-stair design.

• Subject jurisdictions must coordinate with fire departments to ensure aerial apparatus can reach the building's highest point, and must report annually to the State Demography Office on permits issued and emergency incidents at these buildings.

• The law is repealed effective July 1, 2037, and does not require municipalities to change zoning codes or prevent them from enforcing additional life safety standards.