The Point-Access Housing Guidelines Act of 2025 directs the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to create federal guidelines within 18 months to help states, cities, tribes, and localities build and permit "point-access block" residential buildings—a housing type where a single stairway serves all units in buildings up to five stories tall. The guidelines will address fire safety concerns (sprinklers, smoke detection, ventilation, and emergency exits), construction costs and affordability impacts, housing diversity, and alternative safety methods, developed in consultation with developers, architects, fire officials, and housing experts. The bill also allows HUD to award competitive grants to organizations and communities that want to pilot these buildings to test their safety and cost-effectiveness. Importantly, the legislation does not override existing state and local building codes, meaning communities can choose whether to adopt these guidelines. The bill aims to increase housing supply and affordability in expensive areas by streamlining the permitting process for this building type through standardized federal guidance.
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