Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed an executive order Thursday to study the idea of allowing single-stair construction for certain residential buildings higher than three stories. Currently, state ...

Fire codes have long required two staircases in mid-rise apartment buildings. But advocates worry that drives up construction costs. So the state will study doing away with one.

By rethinking the building code and allowing single-stair apartment buildings, the city made small-lot, mid-rise apartments ...