Definition
An approved exception to the community's standard rules, granting a specific owner permission to deviate from them.
A variance is a formal exception the board or architectural committee grants, allowing a particular owner to deviate from the community's normal standards — for example, a fence taller than the guideline allow, given a specific circumstance.
Variances should be granted carefully, in writing, and for good reason, because they set precedent: approving one owner's exception makes it harder to deny a similar request later. Documenting the rationale and any conditions keeps variances consistent and defensible.