SINS... the government is doing that here too... passing laws which are too generalized because that's about all they CAN do. Then, a government employee has to follow/interpret those laws. As everyone knows, the first rule in modern survival is Cover Your Ass. So... they do. That is when the problems start.

I am now told that if I want to make a basement apartment, I must provide a separate access with a one hour fire separation and I must provide a one hour fire separation between floors. I told the lad that the egress calculations for my design were 22 seconds for the basement and 12 seconds for the main floor. Doesn't matter. I told him I was gonna build it anyway and the only way the city would get their building permit money was if he issued the permit. He said that I would be liable to fines and might be estopped from renting.

I said there was a little known common law term that would allow me to proceed to improve the existing building. He said that there was no provision for any "Grandfather Clause" or anything else he knew of. I asked, "Have you ever heard of "Common sense." or "Go fuck yourself?"