Hello,
I am planning on building my garage into a bedroom with a bath.
Currently there is no bathroom in the garage, it will have to be
built. We just got done getting a pool house approved recently and we
are worried that they will come up with some reason that we cannot
have another bedroom in the house or on the property. I am looking for
information in regards to Chico, California Building code that would
apply to my situation so that I may submit my plans to the Building
Department accourdingly. Also, the project is fairly simply, however I
would like to know if hiring a licensed contractor to handle the
project completely would make the Building Department more willing to
approve the project. This is in lou of being an owner/builder. The
hard parts like plumbing, tile, carpet, and electrical would all be
handled by licenced contractors. In the past I have heard of people
calling there room additions offices instead of calling them bedroom,
does this make it get approved easier and why?

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Clarification of Question by mdman-ga on 29 Dec 2005 01:59 PST

Hello,
There are currently four bedrooms in the house with a 1 bedroom 1 bath
behind the house. The bedroom in the garage would make the main house
have 5 bedrooms and the total number of bedrooms on the property 6. It
is a city lot in the city of chico. It is a small lot! Like I stated
in the question, I could call it an office if necessary, however this
is not something we want to do if we dont have to.

Hi,
This is a free comment and no "answer" to your question, which only a
G-A Researcher can post  - one with a blue name.  I am sure one can
give you a detailed answer.

Just to get the ball rolling, here is the Chico Building Code:
http://www.chico.ca.us/Municipal_Code/Title_16.pdf

My personal experience with Cal. building codes is that in some areas,
a maximum no. of bedrooms is a restriction.  This is usually the case
if a septic system has been approved for the property since capacity
is based on an assumed number of residents.  I have also heard of room
additions being defined as an office for this reason.  I expect that a
licensed contractor will be able to tell you immediately what you can
get away with, before you hire him, and also expect that he won't be
willing to submit plans for a bedroom if he thinks it will get
rejected (but he may know the best way to justify an additional bath 
- x no. of people don't use more water just 'cause they have an
additional bathroom).

As I said, this is just a personal opinion.  I hope a Researcher will help you.
Regards, Myoarin

Hi,
I forgot my usual approach to real estate questions:  ask a RE agent. 
If they are in the office and not on the phone, they have nothing
better to do than to try to be helpful:  you or a friend might want to
sell or buy one day, it's good PR.
Furthermore, you can ask a couple of them to get a consensus, and you
just need to drop by their offices  - cold calling, low key.  You
might start by asking what effect your project would have on the value
of your home in order to open the conversation in terms that they
like.
I don't see a problem with calling it an office, even if one day in
the distant future you want to sell.  I expect that a realtor will
tell you that advertising a house with four bedrooms and an office
will be understood that the latter could be an additional bedroom, and
maybe an office with a door to the outside is an enhancement.

But this is all just one man's opinion (who used to own some land
behind the airport at Paradise).
Good luck and regards, Myoarin