Baltimore Legalized Family-Friendly Apartments
Single-stair reform, parking relief, and zoning tweaks just made Maryland's largest city more livable.
You may have missed it back in November, but Baltimore narrowly passed major reforms for building family friendly housing in the city. The provisions include the legalization of single-stair buildings up to six stories, making Charm City one of only four cities in the nation to have done so. Here are the monumental housing ordinances that city council passed:
25-0062 — Building Code: Single Exit from Residential Occupancy.
Lets certain residential buildings (up to ~6 stories) use one protected, sprinklered stair when specific life-safety conditions are met. This unlocks small-lot, mid-rise infill.25-0064 — Zoning: Bulk and Yard Requirements (Amendments).
Updates setbacks/lot-coverage and related standards in residential districts. This is aimed at making small and mid-sized infill projects (like existing Baltimore rowhouses) legal to build oncemore.25-0065 — Zoning: Eliminating Off-Street Parking Requirements.
Repeals parking minimums and sets some maximums, reducing project costs and letting parking be right-sized by context.25-0063 — Zoning Administrator: Transfer to Department of Planning.
Moves zoning administration from Housing & Community Development to the Department of Planning to align code writing and enforcement, streamlining reviews for most future projects.This piece was written by student fellows in collaboration with Single Stair NC. Each semester, CITYBUILDER provides fellowship opportunities for aspiring student urbanists in the Triangle. This semester we’re focused on single-stair apartments. Single Stair NC is a new publication committed to advancing the pursuit of single-stair buildings in North Carolina. Read more in our series:
Building Smarter: Why North Carolina Should Consider Single-Stair
Bringing Sunshine into North Carolina’s Homes
How reform prevailed
The pro-reform coalition’s argument was simple: let modern safety systems (sprinklers, protected/pressurized staircases) govern the core; stop forcing two staircases that make small-lot projects financially infeasible, and remove parking mandates that add cost without guaranteeing availability. The National Fire Protection Association’s recent symposium and reports gave officials a credible safety framework for single-exit, mid-rise structures.
What these reforms mean for Baltimore
We can expect more 12–24 unit infill on the city’s many oddly shaped and narrow parcels. These new, single-stair homes will have more natural light and cross-ventilation instead of deep, double-loaded corridors.
Despite the successful passage of the four reform bills mentioned above, a fifth bill has stalled before city council. Bill 25-0066 would legalize duplexes and quadplexes by-right in most of the city. If passed, this final reform would truly unleash the potential of the entire housing package. Baltimore’s mayor has championed these housing reforms:
“[They] will allow everybody to find a home in Baltimore that meets their needs. Families looking for more space, empty nesters and retirees looking to downsize, young people looking for their first place on their own or with their friends.”
- Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott
What the South can learn from Charm City
Fix the form bottleneck. Create a clear, safety-first single-exit path in code; publish a simple reviewer checklist.
Unbundle parking. End minimums citywide; let projects develop right-size parking by context and manage the curb instead.
Tune zoning for small lots. Follow Baltimore’s lead with low-density multifamily updates so gentle density can fit typical Southern parcels.
The bottom line
Baltimore is showing real leadership by legalizing single-stair apartment buildings with modern safety and clear rules. With this reform, the city is inviting growth on small lots, lowering costs, and delivering family-friendly homes with natural light and better ventilation. Southern cities, especially in North Carolina, can follow this practical path to solve real housing problems while strengthening neighborhoods.
Julie Powers is a Bachelor of Architecture Student at NC State University, with a LAEP minor. Additional graphic and illustration support was provided by NC State Undergraduate College of Design in Architecture major Brenna Belcher.