Yes building codes can be a pain in the Ass. For the most part building codes are there for a reason. In this hole in the wall I an renting there is a heat pump. The ice dripping from the gutters right onto the pump will kill it. The landlord who was a former coworker of mine is still blissfully ignorant concerning this. Before I move out you better believe he will know what going on.
In a situation like this there is hope. Take pantyhose and cut the legs. Fill both legs full of ice melt and ley them on top of the gutters. The icemelt will melt off the ice. all the way down to the bottom of the gutter. If you have to you can also create a valley where the roof can channel off the melting snow and ice off the roof. Strech out the pantyhose from the top of the roof to the bottom of the gutter.
It will create a channel.
