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At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by and edited by , who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions an individual will ever make. Our real estate reporters and editors focus on educating consumers about this life-changing transaction and how to navigate the complex and ever-changing housing market. From finding an agent to closing and beyond, our goal is to help you feel confident that you're making the best, and smartest, real estate deal possible. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. is the process of designating what kind of property can be built in a specific area or neighborhood. Counties and municipalities enact zoning ordinances to dictate what sort of buildings should be put where, and to prevent inappropriate types of from being built in certain areas — like a manufacturing plant next to a school, or a shopping mall in a historic downtown district. What happens if you need an exception to your area’s zoning rules? That’s where a zoning variance comes into play. What is a zoning variance
Normal zoning laws require that a property matches the classification for a certain area, aka zone. A zoning variance is an exception to those laws that’s granted on a case-by-case basis by a local government. Examples of zoning variances
There are many situations that may require a zoning variance. These include: Engaging in construction or some other alteration so that the building or property qualifies for a new zoning classification, like modifying a to be a . Intent to change the use of an existing property or building, like turning a house into an antiques store. Intent to build a structure on vacant property. Intent to change to a different zoning classification, like from low-density residential to high-density residential, prior to selling it. How do you get a zoning variance
The process to apply for a zoning variance will depend on your county or municipality zoning office. Their procedures will vary, but you can expect to pay a fee for the process and fill out documentation explaining the need for the variance. You’ll also likely need to wait for a lengthy community comment period when members of the public can hold or attend meetings to argue against or for the variance. The government authority may also require you to pay for a new survey to plot , a traffic study, or an environmental impact study depending on the property. How common are zoning variances
Zoning variances are the exception, not the rule. Even if you follow your due diligence and submit the required documentation, you still may not be granted a zoning variance. Zoning restrictions are in place in most communities in order to protect the property values of homes. Zoning variances can threaten the interests of nearby properties. Municipalities can give zoning variances to businesses or persons who present a valid reason for requiring the exemption. If a business owner can prove that the business will not reduce the value of the adjacent properties, then the zoning variance may be granted. Sometimes business owners must appear before city councils or other local governing bodies to present their cases. Controversy over zoning variances
Zoning itself is a controversial subject. Proponents of zoning believe that it preserves , neighborhood character and quality of life. Opponents argue that it can be biased and inhibit progress or responses to crises, population shifts or other economic changes in a community. For example, single-family zoning ordinances prevent from being built, which contributes to shortages in inventory in general and affordable residences in particular. Zoning plans that completely separate commercial districts from residential districts often increase car dependency, which can cause environmental concerns and strain infrastructure. So often, any major request for a zoning variance renews these conflicts. If nothing else, it disrupts the established order, and vested interests in preserving that order. For example, in 2021 California passed , which allows up to four units of housing to be built on land zoned for single-family homes — the state’s effort to deal with its lack of affordable housing construction. Fearing for the of homeowners’ residences, several individual cities, including Pasadena, quickly enacted ordinances that would make it difficult or cost-prohibitive to build multiple-unit dwellings. SHARE: Rae Hartley Beck is a writer and editor with over eight years of experience in personal finance. Her work has most recently appeared in Bankrate, MoneyWise and Investopedia. Rae specializes in credit card rewards, investing, real estate, home improvement, lending and financial advice for millennials, Gen Z, Gen Alpha and their parents. Troy Segal is Bankrate's Senior Homeownership Editor, focusing on everything from upkeep and maintenance to building equity and enhancing value. Related Articles