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HB 5570

Housing: codes; single exit stairway in multiple-family dwellings; allow under certain conditions. Amends 1972 PA 230 (MCL 125.1501 - 125.1531) by adding sec. 4i.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joey Andrews and 14 co-sponsors

Allows smaller multi-family buildings (up to 4 levels) to use a single interior exit stairway under strict safety, egress, and sprinkler rules.

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Bill Summary · HB 5570

Summary of House Bill 5570 (2025-2026) – Michigan

Purpose

HB 5570 would amend the Stille-DeRossett-Hale Single State Construction Code Act to allow certain multi-family dwellings to use a single interior exit stairway, under a defined set of conditions. The bill focuses on safety requirements and structural limitations to permit a single interior exit stair for smaller, lower-rise buildings.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Scope (buildings covered):
    • Applies to multiple-family dwellings with up to 4 levels above grade plane (or up to 3 levels above grade plane if the building has an occupiable roof).
  • Conditions for a single interior exit stairway:
    • The dwelling has no more than 4 dwelling units on each level.
    • The net floor area of each level is not more than 4,000 square feet.
    • Exit access travel distance is no more than 125 feet from the farthest point on a level, along the natural, unobstructed path of egress.
    • Interior exit stairway enclosure openings are limited to:
    • Openings for exit access into the enclosure from normally occupied spaces.
    • Openings for egress from the enclosure.
    • Openings to the exterior.
    • An elevator does not open into the interior exit stairway enclosure.
    • The dwelling has:
    • A manual fire alarm system.
    • An automatic smoke detection system that activates an occupant notification system.
    • All of the above installed according to the building code.
    • Smoke detectors are located in common spaces outside dwelling units, including:
    • Gathering areas, laundry rooms, mechanical rooms, storage rooms, interior corridors, interior exit stairways, and exit passageways.
    • Sprinkler requirements: automatic sprinkler locations in the interior exit stairway must comply with the 2025 NFPA “Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems” requirements for combustible stairways, regardless of stair construction type.
    • No electrical receptacle may be located inside the interior exit stairway.
  • Relation to other bills (5571):
    • HB 5570 is paired with HB 5571, which would extend similar allowances to five-level (or four-level with occupiable roof) dwellings, but HB 5571 can take effect only if HB 5570 (or its Senate equivalent) is enacted.
    • HB 5571 includes additional requirements for higher-rise buildings, notably fire department accreditation and Insurance Services Office (ISO) public protection classification (PPC) ratings, and aerial apparatus considerations.
  • Effective timing and location requirements:
    • For five-level buildings (under HB 5571), the building must be in a city or township served by a fire department/district/authority meeting:
    • Accreditation by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International, and
    • A PPC rating of Class 1 or Class 2, plus applicable aerial apparatus requirements.
  • Electrical and safety integration:
    • If an interior stairway is used, it must not contain electrical receptacles, and all life-safety systems (manual alarms, automatic smoke detection, occupant notification) must be properly integrated per code.

Who or What Is Affected

  • Affected buildings:
    • Eligible multiple-family dwellings in Michigan, subject to the specified limits (≤4 levels above grade plane; or ≤3 levels with an occupiable roof for HB 5570; higher-rise provisions contemplated in HB 5571).
  • Stakeholders:
    • Homeowners or landlords of smaller multi-family buildings.
    • Building designers, developers, and code enforcement officials.
    • Local fire departments and fire authorities (due to safety coordination and potential fire department accreditation considerations for higher-rise scenarios).
    • Tenants in affected buildings.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: Introduced February 24, 2026; referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
  • Legislative notes:
    • HB 5570 and HB 5571 are designed to work in tandem; 5571’s changes are contingent on enactment of 5570 (or Senate equivalent).
  • Fiscal impact:
    • The House Fiscal Agency reports no net fiscal impact on state or local governments from either bill.

Practical Implications

  • The bills aim to increase housing options by permitting a single interior exit stair in smaller multifamily buildings, provided stringent life-safety systems, egress, and sprinkler requirements are met.
  • The added safety standards reflect contemporary fire code practices and ensure that any consolidation of exits does not compromise occupant safety.
  • For higher-rise buildings, enhanced fire department accreditation and PPC ratings would be prerequisites, potentially limiting applicability to jurisdictions with strong fire protection resources.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with current code requirements or a quick FAQ for building owners and tenants.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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