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Grant County BZA grants variance for outbuilding constructed without permit
Summary
The Grant County Board of Zoning Appeals voted to grant a front-yard setback variance for an outbuilding that was constructed without a building permit; staff said inspections and a building permit cannot proceed until the variance is finalized and noted potential fines for beginning work without a permit.
The Grant County Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously to grant a front-yard setback variance for an outbuilding that had been erected without a building permit.
At the meeting staff described the structure as located about 21 feet, 2 inches forward of the front plane of the dwelling and roughly 70 feet from the road in an agricultural area where few nearby neighbors live. Board members heard from the county building official that because the variance had not been granted the building had not been inspected and no permit had been issued, despite the applicant having paid associated fees.
The board debated enforcement options and fines for commencing construction without authorization; staff described a notice-of-violation/stop-work notice followed by an initial $240 charge for construction commenced without an improvement location permit and separate per-inspection fines of about $250 for missed inspections. The official said fines are imposed after the variance is resolved.
After discussion the board made a motion to grant the variance. The clerk recorded Mr. Webb as the mover and Mr. Duke as the seconder; a roll-call vote produced a majority in favor and the board granted the variance. The board directed staff to proceed with the standard inspection sequence once the variance is in place, including a probe of the footings when the ground thaws.
The granting of the variance allows the owner to proceed with the building-permit process and inspections, though staff reiterated that any outstanding administrative enforcement actions remain subject to the county’s code and fine schedule.
