They talked to the city plans clerk. Who informed him that they need an egress window in the basement ($1000+ to have done)....even if someone isn't living down there. They need to put up insulation, etc.... They would be required to submit a plan for a cost of $120, plus another fee of $40 for doing $10 worth of duct work changes.

At that point the father was tempted to walk over to the police station (which was 10 feet away) and ask the police officer to arrest the city clerk. Because the city clerk must be crazy if they think that they are going to pay that money and do that work. Just for one room.