Humber/Ontario Real Estate Course 2 Exam Practice

Which of the following actions should a homeowner take when their house is found to extend one foot too close to the street?

1. File an application with the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal

2. Leave it as is since it predated the homeowner's acquisition

3. Request approval for a minor variance through the committee of adjustment

4. Shorten the front of the house to meet zoning set-back requirements

The correct answer is: Request approval for a minor variance through the committee of adjustment

When a homeowner's house is found to extend one foot too close to the street, they should request approval for a minor variance through the committee of adjustment. This is the correct action because minor variances allow for small deviations from the specific requirements of a zoning bylaw if certain conditions are met. In this case, the homeowner may be able to seek approval to keep the house in its current position despite being one foot too close to the street. Option A, filing an application with the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, is not the appropriate course of action in this scenario. The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal typically deals with appeals related to land use planning decisions, not minor zoning variances like the one being discussed here. Option B, leaving the house as is since it predated the homeowner's acquisition, does not address the issue of the house being non-compliant with zoning set-back requirements. Ignoring the zoning violation could lead to potential legal and financial consequences in the future. Option D, shortening the front of the house to meet zoning set-back requirements, is not the only solution and may not be necessary if the homeowner can obtain approval for a minor variance. Making such structural changes to the house should not be the first step considered when dealing with zoning compliance issues.