Definition
A provision allowing a pre-existing condition to continue even after a new rule would otherwise prohibit it.
A grandfather clause lets something that already existed before a rule change continue, even though the new rule would otherwise forbid it. For instance, if a community bans a certain fence type, existing compliant fences may be "grandfathered in."
Grandfathering balances fairness (owners relied on the old rules) against the desire for uniform standards. Boards should document what's grandfathered and under what conditions — such as whether the exception ends when the property is sold or the feature is replaced — to avoid confusion later.