HF4545

Purpose

The bill would amend Minnesota’s State Building Code to allow single-exit stairway apartment buildings and guide related updates to building standards. It also makes a number of other targeted changes to how various building-related requirements are applied or interpreted.

Main Provisions (Key changes to the State Building Code)

The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 326B.106, subdivision 4, to include a new set of “Special requirements” affecting multiple areas. Highlights include:

• a) Parking for commuter vans: parking ramps and facilities must include enough spaces for seven- to sixteen- passenger commuter vans used to shuttle workers to/from work or transit stops.
• b) Smoke detection: dwellings, lodging houses, apartment houses, and hotels must comply with smoke detection requirements tied to a separate statute.
• c) Doors in nursing homes/hospitals: a sleeping or patient room door need not be self-closing if there is an approved complete automatic fire extinguishing system.
• d) Child care in churches: a licensed daycare serving fewer than 30 preschoolers located in a belowground church space is exempt from a ground-level exit requirement if the facility has more than two stairs to the ground.
• e) Day care standards: the current International Residential Code (as adopted in the State Building Code) continues to apply to family and group family day care homes until new standards are enacted.
• f) Enclosed stairways: existing two-story-or-less multiple dwellings may not be required to enclose their stairways.
• g) Dead bolt locks: double-cylinder dead bolts may not be prohibited in existing single-family homes, townhouses, or first-floor duplexes used only as residences; any recommendation to use them must include warnings about fire dangers.
• h) Relocated residential buildings: a residential building moved within the state need not comply with the State Energy Code or related energy provisions if an energy audit is conducted.
• i) Automatic garage doors: residential buildings must comply with specific standards for automatic garage door opening systems.
• j) Exterior wood decks, patios, balconies: decking and upper portions may be built with certain wood types (including heartwood species like redwood and cedar) or treated wood; building officials must have access to the wood-species options before final construction approval.
• k) Bioprocess piping: no municipal permit fees for bioprocess piping; such permits are handled by the Department of Labor and Industry, with nonpublic data on materials and processes.
• l) Ungraded lumber: the code must allow use of ungraded lumber in areas where the code did not apply as of April 1, 2008, to the same extent as before 2008.
• m) Window cleaning safety: the commissioner must use expedited rulemaking to require window-cleaning safety features that meet a nationally recognized standard for both new windows and certain alterations.
• n) Adult-size changing facilities: rules to require adult-size changing facilities as part of the Building Code.
• o) Single-exit stairway apartments: beginning April 1, 2027, the Commissioner must adopt rules to allow single-exit stairway apartment buildings, with specific requirements to be determined through the rulemaking process, guided by the final recommendations of the 2025 Minnesota Single-Exit Stairway Apartment Building Study.

Rulemaking and Study

• Several provisions call for expedited or standard rulemaking processes to implement the above changes (including window safety, adult-size changing facilities, and others).
• The single-exit stairway apartment building change hinges on final recommendations from the 2025 Minnesota Single-Exit Stairway Apartment Building Study, with rulemaking to follow and a target to allow such buildings starting April 1, 2027.

Notable Changes to Existing Law and Administrative Details

• The bill adds targeted exemptions or modifications to existing requirements (e.g., stairway enclosure for small multi-story buildings; certain door and lock requirements; energy-code and relocation provisions).
• It introduces specific financial and data handling provisions for certain permit areas (bioprocess piping) and permits the use of specific wood and lumber practices in exterior building components.
• It ties several provisions to the adoption of the International Residential Code as part of the State Building Code and to related state energy provisions.

Timeline

• April 1, 2027: The commissioner must adopt rules to allow single-exit stairway apartment buildings, with detailed requirements to be shaped by the 2025 study’s final recommendations.

Relevant Terms - State Building Code - Minnesota Statutes 326B.106 subdivision 4 - Single-exit stairway apartment buildings - International Residential Code - 2025 Minnesota Single-Exit Stairway Apartment Building Study - Rulemaking (including expedited rulemaking under section 14.389) - Parking ramps for commuter vans - Smoke detection devices - Automatic fire extinguishing system - Ground-level exit exemptions for daycare in churches - Enclosed stairways exemption (two stories or less) - Double-cylinder dead bolt locks - Relocated residential buildings and energy audit - Automatic garage door opening systems - Exterior wood decks, patios, balconies (heartwood wood and treated wood) - Ungraded lumber - Bioprocess piping permits (nonpublic data) - Window cleaning safety features - Adult-size changing facilities - State Energy Code (326B.439)