Bill 43-26 Would Require Smoke Escape Hoods in High-Rise Apartments
StewartSep 15, 2026
Councilmember Kate Stewart introduced Bill 43-26 on Sept. 15, 2026, which would require high-rise apartment buildings (five stories or higher) in Montgomery County to stock smoke escape hoods accessible to firefighters during emergencies. The bill sets a minimum threshold of hoods equal to five percent of a building's occupancy, with the Department of Permitting Services authorized to raise that to 10 percent. All eight other councilmembers are cosponsors, and a public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, 2026.
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Source: Councilmember Kate Stewart, “Councilmember Stewart Introduces New Fire Safety Measure for High-Rise Apartments”, received Sep 15, 2026.
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Key dates
2026-09-15
effective — Bill 43-26 introduced by Councilmember Stewart
2026-10-06
hearing — Public hearing on Bill 43-26, Fire Safety - Smoke Escape Hoods in Multifamily Residential Rental Buildings
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