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1. What is "unnecessary hardship" within the context of a variance application?

"Unnecessary Hardship", in this context, means a problem created by some feature of the land rather than a personal problem of the applicant, such as not having as much living space as he or she would like.

2. What kind of supporting materials do I need to submit with my application?

Remember you are the most familiar with your project and property. The Planning Department and the Planning & Zoning Commission don’t know what the topography or layout look like. Therefore, it is important to be as detailed and thorough as possible. Some things to include may be:

• vegetation
• topographic features
• existing structures
• existing roads

3. Are variances always granted?

No, in order to grant a variance, the Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of County Commissioners must determine that there is something unusual about the lot that requires a variance, and that adjacent properties will not be adversely impacted. You will need to show there is a hardship to the property and why the structure can’t be "placed" anywhere else on the property.