Which of the following is NOT an element of a zoning variance?

• A. Show undue hardship of current zoning
• B. Not decrease the value of neighboring land
• C. Decision by zoning board
• D. Administrative ruling

Answer: (D)

A zoning variance is relief from a specific zoning rule granted only when applying the rule would impose undue hardship due to the unique characteristics of the property. Crucially, the decision isn’t made by an administrative office or staff; it must come from the zoning board of appeals after a hearing, because a variance is a quasi-judicial action that weighs the property's particular circumstances against the public interest and the neighborhood impact.

So the element that is not part of a zoning variance is an administrative ruling. Variances are issued by the zoning board, not by an administrative decision from staff. The other elements—showing an undue hardship stemming from the property's condition and the board's formal decision-making process—are inherent to how variances are granted.