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Garage Placement

R

redhat

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Joined
Jan 31, 2025
Messages
1
Location
MTV
Hi,

Has anyone successfully filed for a variance for garage placement? On our block, 3 lots have garages in the back, 2 in the front, and 1 corner lot also has a front garage but faces the other street. Based on contextual placement in the code, we have to put the garage in the back, but our lot isn’t wide or deep enough, and it messes up our floor plan. Any advice on the best way to request a variance? The current building has a car port at front. But we are going to tear down and build new.
 
From a building code standpoint, there are ways to put your garage on any side of the house, or attach it to the house. I don't think the building code is what you are asking about. Building codes are adopted from a national standard, so all of our codes are similar and it is likely we could help you with a building code question.

This likely a zoning question, so the answer depends entirely on the city you live in. Zoning codes are not a national standard, they are written by your city (although they might have ripped off someone else's originally). We don't know what the zoning codes are in your area because they are likely to be radically different than ours.

Variances get approved sometimes in my city, it's always worth a shot. Some cities will almost never give variances, some don't care at all. Just don't build it before you get a variance... that doesn't always help them decide in your favor. Best is to talk to the local zoning office and they can direct you to the proper form to fill out. What department the zoning office is in also varies widely from city to city, so can't really help you there either...

Good luck!
 
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This is a zoning issue, not a building code issue. Unlike building codes, which are (mostly) uniform throughout each state, zoning ordinances are generally adopted at the municipal (sometimes county) level -- so they are not state-wide, and they aren't based on a national model code such as the IBC, so there's no uniformity for zoning requirements, even within one state.

Variances are granted by zoning boards of appeal, because a variance is a one-time exception that allows NOT following some provision of the zoning regulations. Whether or not anyone here might have successfully obtained a variance for garage location, unless they are in your jurisdiction it doesn't help you.

At least in my state, variances are to be granted only when there is a physical hardship that prevents fully complying with the regulations. You have a hardship -- your lot isn't wide enough or deep enough. Your path is to submit a request for a variance, being certain to clearly state what the hardship is, and hope for the best.
 
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