Adding a unit

[Evan J.]

We purchased a single family unit in Fredericksburg VA. The property has an unfinished basement that the previous owner apparently started finishing/improving but never completed. There is some framing and drywall that was put up, but that's about it.

There are a few obvious things that would need to be done in order to bring the basement rooms up to code, e.g. widow wells in bedrooms and a walk-out to qualify as a second unit.  The one glaring issue is the ceiling, which is definitely below the typical 7 foot height or so required by many jurisdictions.

I haven't been able to find any such requirement for Fredericksburg.  Is there really no such height restriction?  Does anyone have any experience with this?