sorry that was never a rule 
YES, DMs can call for specific levels (e.g. this adventure is for level 5-8)
NO, you can only create a character at level 1, 3, 5, 11, or 17 … (you can use DM rewards though)
link to “VALUE Houserules #Starting Levels” 
here
the only way this would have worked is for closed home campaigns, or as a DM homebrew award
→ basically making such a character unplayable at other tables
yeah you were not aware of it, because this rule never existed^^ 
but I will put it into the questions box 
