What is the difference between Conditional Use Permits and Variances?
Conditional Use Permits and Variances are two types of legal documents issued by local governments in Texas that allow landowners to make changes to their land use. These documents are similar in that they both provide exceptions to the existing land use laws in specific areas. The primary difference between Conditional Use Permits and Variances is in the types of changes they authorize. Conditional Use Permits allow changes to land use laws that would not normally be allowed. This could include anything from allowing a development to be built in an agricultural area to allowing a new business to be opened in a residential area. Variances, on the other hand, are more limited and only allow for minor changes to existing land use laws. These changes could include allowing a residential development to be built one foot closer to the edge of the property line or allowing a business to have shorter signage than what is allowed by the local ordinance. Both Conditional Use Permits and Variances are subject to approval by the local planning board and can be revoked if the conditions of the document are not met. It is important to note that these documents apply only to specific properties and do not create broader changes to existing land use laws in the local area.
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