Is your lot zoned for mult-family or will you be removing the existing smaller home? Never mind – I just read that you’re keeping the existing house.
The 30 feet high is part of the code to protect views, etc. They are very strict about it. One of the contractors we interviewed talked about having to measure to the inch to get the railings on top of his roof deck within that 30 feet. Just squeaked in… and yes – the inspectors specifically measured that.
