Zoning Variance

A zoning variance is a special permission granted by a local government that allows a property owner to deviate from the usual zoning regulations. Zoning laws dictate how land can be used, such as what types of buildings can be constructed or how tall they can be. A variance is requested when a property owner has a unique circumstance that makes strict compliance difficult or impossible, such as irregular lot shape or size. If approved, the variance enables the owner to use the land in a way that typically wouldn’t be allowed under current zoning rules.