Definition
Official permission to violate local zoning laws for your specific property, obtained by convincing bureaucrats that your unique situation justifies breaking the rules. It's a get-out-of-zoning-jail card that requires political finesse and often attorney fees.
Example Usage
They needed a zoning variance to convert the residential property into a mixed-use building with ground-floor retail.
Origin
Legal term combining 'zoning' (land use regulations) with 'variance' (deviation from standard)
Fun Fact
Getting a variance often requires proving 'undue hardship,' which has a much higher legal bar than simply wanting to do something profitable.
Source: Municipal planning and zoning terminology
Related Terms
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See “zoning variance” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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