| I have a follow-up question. I live in Monrovia, California, My house is officially one story, but it has a finished attic with a bathroom. They city says I may not rent the attic space as a bedroom, because of low ceiling heights. Fine. But they also say I have to have an exterior staircase, in addition to the interior staircase that already serves the attic. But in the same breath, their code says that if the attic were an actual granny suite, an exterior staircase would be prohibited. Their code's exact words: "Exterior stairs leading to a second unit located on the second level of a primary unit shall be prohibited." Dies it make sense that if I have people living up there, I cannot give them a second staircase, but if I just have storage up there, I must have an egress? I can't find anything written that says a one story house with a finished attic must have an exterior staircase in addition to the interior one. Heck, most attics have ladders, not full staircases. An exterior staircase would be prohibited if the attic were a granny suite. There is nothing at all about stairs in the rest of the document. So why on earth should I believe the city when they say I have to tear down this old decrepit exterior stairway and build a new one, after getting zoning approval? Does it sound like I am required to rebuild the old stairway, or do you think I might be able to demolish it after sealing the attic door to which it leads? Thanks for your opinion, or better yet, knowledge. Anyone out there live in a two story home with no exterior staircase? (I should add that there are four doors to the outside on the main floor of the house. Four!) |
