Variance Review Board

The Variance Review Board (VRB) receives its direction from Chapter 17.5.  The VRB is able to grant variances to portions of Chapter 13 (Tree and Landscape), Chapter 20.5 (Signs) and Chapter 27 (Zoning).  The VRB also hears appeals from decisions rendered by the administrator of the aforementioned chapters.

The VRB usually meets the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM. 

For variance, the VRB is authorized to grant variances in cases involving practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships. When reviewing a variance application, the VRB shall base its decision on substantial competent evidence in the official record and shall consider the following criteria:

(1) The alleged hardships or practical difficulties are unique and singular with respect to the property, or with respect to a structure or building thereon, of the person requesting the variance and are not those suffered in common with other properties, structures or buildings similarly located.

(2) The alleged hardships or practical difficulties which would result from failure to grant the variance extend to the inability to use the land in question for any reasonable legal use which is consistent with the surrounding properties and in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter and included substantially more than mere inconvenience and inability to obtain a higher financial return.

(3) The variance, if granted, will not substantially interfere with or injure the health, safety, or welfare of others whose property would be  affected by allowance of the variance.

(4) The variance is in harmony with, and serves the general intent and purpose of, this Chapter and the adopted Tampa Comprehensive Plan.

(5) Allowing the variance will result in substantial justice being done, considering both the public benefits intended to be secured by this Chapter and the individual hardships that will be suffered due to a failure of the Board to grant a variance.

The VRB also grants the right to remove grand and protected trees and to reduce the required setback from a tree.

Any decision of the VRB can be appealed to the City Council for their review.

The VRB can not grant a use variance.  If the use is not permitted in a zoning district, the property owner would need to seek a zoning change, not a variance.