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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho authorizes single-stairway apartment buildings up to six stories with safety conditions
Last action · April 2, 2026: Reported Signed by Governor on April 10, 2026 Session Law Chapter 320 Effective: 07/01/2026
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What This Bill Does
Local governments in Idaho are now authorized to allow apartment buildings of up to six stories to be served by a single interior stairway, provided specific fire safety, construction, and design standards are met. The law also revises local building code enforcement rules and takes effect on July 1, 2026.
Changes development standards for multi-family housing across Idaho cities and counties, affecting apartment design options, construction costs, and fire safety requirements for structures up to six stories.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
residential group R-2 apartment building developers
Developers gain the option to construct apartment buildings up to six stories with a single stairway provided they meet detailed safety and construction specifications.
local governments
Local jurisdictions are authorized to permit single-stairway apartment buildings and must enforce the accompanying structural, fire, and safety mandates.
Key Facts
- Local governments may allow residential group R-2 apartment buildings to be served by one single stairway if the building has no more than six stories above grade plane without an occupiable roof, or five stories with an occupiable roof and one basement level.
- Single-stairway buildings are limited to no more than four dwelling units on any floor with a maximum gross floor area not exceeding 6,000 square feet per story.
- Buildings utilizing a single stairway must install an automatic sprinkler system throughout in accordance with NFPA 13 standards.
- Interior exit stairways and elevator shafts must have a fire resistance rating of not less than two hours.
Show all 8 facts
- The width of the exit stairway must be at least 48 inches, and travel distance between the exit stairway and any dwelling unit entry door cannot exceed 20 feet.
- An automatic smoke and fire detection system and compliant signage stating 'THIS BUILDING CONTAINS ONLY ONE STAIR' must be installed near the fire alarm control panel.
- There can be no more than two single-exit buildings, or two single-exit areas in a single building, per lot.
- The act takes effect as an emergency measure on July 1, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the height and size limits for apartment buildings using a single stairway under this law?
Are fire sprinklers required in single-stairway apartment buildings?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
17 actions- Apr 2, 2026EnrolledReported Signed by Governor on April 10, 2026 Session Law Chapter 320 Effective: 07/01/2026
- Apr 2, 2026Delivered to Governor at 4:24 p.m. on April 2, 2026
- Apr 2, 2026Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
- Apr 2, 2026Signed by President; returned to House
- Apr 2, 2026Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
- Apr 2, 2026Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
Show 11 earlier actions
- Apr 1, 2026FloorReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
- Apr 1, 2026FloorRead third time in full – Rules Suspended (2/3 Vote - Read in full as required) – PASSED - 18-17-0 AYES – Bernt, Blaylock, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Hart, Kohl, Lenney, Nichols, Rabe, Ricks, Semmelroth, Shippy, Toews, VanOrden, Wintrow, Zito, Zuiderveld NAYS – Adams, Anthon, Bjerke(Bjerke), Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Keyser, Lakey, Lent, Okuniewicz, Ruchti, Taylor, Ward-Engelking, Woodward Absent and excused – None Floor Sponsor - No sponsor data. Title apvd - to House
- Apr 1, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Mar 30, 2026CommitteeReported out of Committee and referred to: Local Government & Taxation
- Mar 25, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time; referred to: Commerce & Human Resources
- Mar 25, 2026FloorReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Mar 24, 2026FloorRules Suspended: Ayes 67 Nays 0 Abs/Excd 3, read in full as required – PASSED - 63-7-0 AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), Dygert, Egbert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Fuhriman, Furniss, Galaviz, Gannon, Garner, Green, Hall(Stone), Handy, Harris, Hawkins, Haws, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Manwaring, Marmon, Mathias, McCann, Mickelsen, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Petzke, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Rubel, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Tanner(13), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker NAYS – Berch, Church, Crane(13), Mendive, Palmer, Skaug, Tanner(14) Absent – None Floor Sponsor - Redman Title apvd - to Senate
- Mar 24, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Mar 23, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
- Feb 17, 2026CommitteeReported Printed and Referred to Business
- Feb 16, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy30Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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