CITY OF OAKLAND
VARIANCE FINDINGS FOR SIGNS
A Variance for a sign is permission to depart from the development standards for signs- such as sign height, display area, and number
of signs. Variances provide the discretion and flexibility to resolve difficulties or hardships that may be inappropriate where special
or extraordinary circumstances occur on the property. These circumstances do not mean economic hardship; rather, they refer to
topographic or physical attributes of the site that do not allow for the development standards of the Zoning District to be applied.
Sign proposals requiring a Variance may only be granted upon determination that the proposal conforms to the following Variance
criteria set forth in Section 17.148.050:
Please indicate the way in which the proposal meets the following required criteria. Attach additional sheets if
necessary.
1. Strict compliance with the specified regulation would result in practical difficulty of unnecessary hardship
inconsistent with the purposes of the zoning regulations, due to unique physical or topographic circumstances or
conditions of design; or, as an alternative in the case of a minor variance, that such strict compliance would preclude
an effective design solution improving livability, operational efficiency, or appearance:
2. Strict compliance with the regulations would deprive the applicant of privileges enjoyed by owners of similarly zoned
property; or as an alternative in the case of a minor variance, that such strict compliance would preclude an effective
design solution fulfilling the basic intent of the applicable regulations:
3. The variance will not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with limitations imposed on similarly zoned
properties or inconsistent with the purposes of the zoning regulations:
L:\Zoning Forms\Variance findings for signs Revised 03/21/07
