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Complete glossary lessonNational exam concept

Zoning variance

A zoning variance is official permission to depart from a specific zoning requirement when the applicant satisfies the ordinance's legal standard, commonly involving a property-specific hardship rather than personal convenience.

Official area

Land Use Controls and Regulations

Knowledge cluster

Land use controls

Learning sequence

Define, distinguish, apply, retrieve

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Exam purpose

Recognize the rule, then reject the nearest look-alike.

Georgia lens

Apply the state distinction only when the facts call for it.

Connected terms

Connected to 4 terms and one official content area.

What does Zoning variance mean in real estate?

A zoning variance is official permission to depart from a specific zoning requirement when the applicant satisfies the ordinance's legal standard, commonly involving a property-specific hardship rather than personal convenience.

How is Zoning variance different from the closest exam answer?

A variance grants relief from a current rule. A nonconforming use was lawful before the rule changed.

What is the Georgia-specific rule?

Local Georgia ordinances and boards control procedure and standards. A variance ordinarily does not rewrite zoning for the whole district.

Worked exam example

Scenario

An unusually shaped lot cannot meet the standard side setback, so the owner seeks limited relief for that dimensional requirement.

Decision rule

A variance grants relief from a current rule. A nonconforming use was lawful before the rule changed.

What is the most common exam trap?

Trap correction

Wanting a more profitable project is not automatically the hardship required for a variance.

Memory cue: Wanting a more profitable project is not automatically the hardship required for a variance.

Original exam check

Apply the definition

Which statement correctly explains Zoning variance?

Mastery tracker

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Recommended next complete lesson

Continue with Land Use Controls and Regulations complete lesson. It places this term inside the full rule, worked examples, exam traps, and mixed practice required for mastery.

Zoning variance quick answers

Facts checked against the current PSI Candidate Information Bulletin and GREC sources. Editorial standards.

What is Zoning variance?

A zoning variance is official permission to depart from a specific zoning requirement when the applicant satisfies the ordinance's legal standard, commonly involving a property-specific hardship rather than personal convenience.

What is Zoning variance commonly confused with?

A variance grants relief from a current rule. A nonconforming use was lawful before the rule changed.

How does Georgia treat Zoning variance?

Local Georgia ordinances and boards control procedure and standards. A variance ordinarily does not rewrite zoning for the whole district.