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Letter V
property

Variance

In zoning law, an exception allowing a property owner to use land in a way not otherwise permitted by zoning regulations, based on undue hardship.

Encyclopedia entry: Variance

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variance

A variance is an officially granted exception to a zoning ordinance . Such exceptions may be granted on a case-by-case basis for some persuasive reason shown. See: real property

A variance is also the difference between two statements or other pieces of evidence that usually would be expected to indicate the same thing. 

See, e.g. Williamson County Regional Planning Comm'n v. Hamilton Bank of Johnson City, 473 U.S. 172 (1985) (in zoning) and Kotteakos v. United States, 328 U.S. 750 (1946) (between indictment and proof).

[Last reviewed in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team

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Encyclopedia content from Cornell LII Wex (CC-BY-NC-SA 2.5).

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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.