HB 25-1273

HB 25-1273, also known as Residential Building Stair Modernization, is a Colorado law that allows larger apartment buildings in certain cities (those with over 100,000 people and specific fire department accreditation) to have fewer exits if they meet safety conditions. This means these buildings can be up to five stories tall and only need one exit instead of multiple ones, as long as the city's building code is updated by December 2027. The law also requires cities to work with firefighters on access for emergency vehicles and report annually starting in 2028 about how many buildings are affected. This bill has been signed into law and will start affecting large apartment buildings in specific Colorado cities once the new codes are adopted.

Official Summary

The act defines a subject jurisdiction as a municipality with a population of 100,000 or more that is served by a fire protection district, fire authority, or fire department that is or was accredited by a specified organization. The act only applies to a subject jurisdiction and only to the area within a subject jurisdiction that is served by a single fire protection district or fire department. On or before December 1, 2027, the act requires the governing body of a subject jurisdiction to adopt a building code, or amend an existing building code, to allow up to 5 stories of a multifamily residential building that satisfies certain conditions to be served by a single exit. The act requires a subject jurisdiction to provide notice of the adopting or amending of the subject jurisdiction's building code to the local International Association of Fire Fighter's affiliate and the Colorado Professional Fire Fighters Association. In connection with multifamily residential buildings served by a single exit, the act requires: A subject jurisdiction to coordinate with a fire protection district, fire department, or fire authority concerning aerial apparatus access to these buildings and the site design of these buildings; These buildings to maintain their legal occupancy status, even if they would otherwise lose that status under future building codes; A subject jurisdiction to allow, with certain limitations, the reconstruction of these buildings according to the standards under which they were originally built after the buildings are damaged or destroyed; and A landlord, manager, or owner of one of these buildings to conduct inspections of the dwelling units of such a building. The act also requires a subject jurisdiction, beginning December 1, 2028, to report to the state demography office in the department of local affairs on the number of multifamily residential buildings served by a single exit and on certain qualities of those buildings. Similarly, in January 2032, the act requires the department of local affairs to report on the implementation of this act as part of the department's "SMART Act" hearing. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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