While reforming those regulations would go a long way toward improving both the availability affordability of housing, it would provide another benefit as well: preventing fire deaths.
The Pew Charitable Trusts recently conducted the first-ever analysis of U.S. fire deaths by building type and age. The results are compelling: Modern apartment buildings, those constructed since 2000, are by far the safest form of housing when it comes to fire deaths. In fact, these buildings, equipped with now-required safety features such as sprinkler systems, self-closing doors for each apartment, fireproof stairwells and fire-resistant construction techniques and materials, are six times safer than either single-family homes or older apartments.
Pew’s analysis of all fire deaths in the United States in 2023, the most recent year for which extensive data is available, expands on and corroborates previous research by the National Fire Protection Association and other researchers showing that modern apartment buildings have become much safer over the past four decades. Combined with Pew’s past research on the safety of modern apartment buildings up to six stories with only a single staircase, the data shows that modern multifamily buildings — which generally cost less per unit than single-family homes — are the safest of all residential options.
The fire death rate in 2023 for apartments built prior to 2000 was 7.7 deaths per million residents, and for all single-family homes it was 7.6. By contrast, the rate of fire deaths for apartments built since 2000 was 1.2 deaths per million residents. These findings hold true across the board — in large states and small ones in every region.
Any fire death is a tragedy, and applying the lessons from this data can help reduce them. The findings are good news for policymakers who are trying to ease the housing shortage. They show that removing some of the regulatory barriers that now block construction of apartments and condos can simultaneously improve fire safety. Those barriers include requiring two staircases in small apartment buildings, excessive mandates for off-street parking and rules that allow stores and offices on main streets and near transit stops, but not apartments.
Many states are already taking action. In the last legislative session, states passed new laws to allow smaller lot sizes, lift restrictive mandates on the number of parking spots, permit construction of small backyard homes, simplify permitting procedures and allow the construction of apartments near commerce — including those with just one staircase. States that passed especially strong laws this year included California, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Texas and Washington.
That’s good news for addressing the housing shortage and for overall fire safety. The U.S. housing stock is the oldest it has ever been, and the age of a home is the strongest predictor of fire death risk — 17 times higher for residents of a pre-1970 home than a post-2010 apartment.
The bipartisan momentum to deal with the housing shortage is clearly growing. And Pew’s new analysis shows that the paths to improving housing affordability and fire safety are the same: allow more new apartments and condos. States and localities have the power to slow the growth in rents and put the dream of homeownership in reach for more American families, while keeping them safer in the bargain. They should use it.
Alex Horowitz directs the Pew Charitable Trusts’ housing policy initiative.
Governing’s opinion columns reflect the views of their authors and not necessarily those of Governing’s editors or management.
