Variance

A discretionary, usually written exception to a stated standard, granted for a specific property and set of facts. A variance is not a precedent for other lots.

Covenant and governance terms come from the recorded documents that bind every lot: what may be built, what is owed, and how standards are administered.

Variance in Skyecroft practice

Estate lots with slopes, easements, or irregular shapes sometimes need relief from a standard — a setback, a height, or a material. A covenant variance from the review board is a different thing from a zoning variance from the county or town, and one does not grant the other. A neighbor's variance is not a precedent; each request is judged on its own facts.

What to verify

• Whether the relief needed is from the covenants, zoning, or both.
• The written variance and any conditions attached to it.
• Whether a prior owner's variance runs with the lot and is documented.

Where this term matters in the guide

• Architectural Review
• Renovations
• Union County, NC

For the wider treatment of this subject, read The Covenant Living Guide. Definitions here are general editorial explanations of common usage — they are not legal definitions and do not interpret any specific recorded document. See Disclosures.