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March 2025
GUIDELINES USED BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS
TO DETERMINE WHETHER A VARIANCE SHOULD BE GRANTED
Although the statutes contain a number of qualifying phrases, the main statutory test of whether a variance
may be properly granted is whether an “unnecessary hardship exists”.
The leading Wisconsin case on variances is SNYDER v WAUKESHA COUNTY (1976), 74 Wis. (2nd) 468, 247 NW
(2nd) 468. In this case, the court set forth the following guidelines for granting variances:
1) An unnecessary hardship means that the property cannot yield a reasonable return when used for the
permitted purposes or where no feasible use can be made of the land without a variance.
2) The changes in the character of the neighborhood that would be caused by the variance are
important.
3) The hardship must be unique to the property in question and may not apply equally to similar lots.
4) The hardship must be unique to the lot, not personal to the owner of the lot.
5) A variance cannot be granted in the case of a self-created hardship.
IN ADDITION, the courts have made it clear that a variance CANNOT be granted in the following situations:
1) Where there is a self-created hardship, that is, where the application is due to a problem created by
the owner/applicant.
2) Where there is a personal hardship, and the variance would continue to affect the character of the
neighborhood after title to the property has passed.
3) Where there is an economic hardship, a purely financial hardship, for example, restriction of the
property to a less profitable use.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
The City of Oshkosh Board of Appeals meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 3:30 P.M. in Room 404
of City Hall, 215 Church Avenue, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Application deadline is approximately 20 da ys prior to a
meeting at 12:00 NOON. Please confirm the deadline with staff.
The following must be submitted in order for your application to be accepted:
Complete the attached application form. Both the owner and applicant must sign the application
form.
Answer all questions on the application form.
A site plan drawn to scale showing all structures, lot lines, streets and distances from the structures to
the lot lines and street.
Any other supporting documentation you feel is necessary or as may be required by staff.
It is recommended for the applicants and/or a representative for the applicant to attend the meeting to
answer questions of the Board and present their variance request. If the applicant and/or representative fail
to appear, the Board may choose to act on the item, or to postpone action until the next meeting. A meeting
notice and staff report will be sent to the applicant and/or owner prior to the scheduled meeting.
If for any reason the owner/applicant withdraws the application , it must be done so in writing. If the
owner/applicant wishes to reapply they must file a new application form, site plan, supporting
documentation, and filing fee. Filing fees are non-refundable.
If you have any questions about the variance application form, or the process of obtaining a variance, please
contact the Planning Services Division at (920) 236-5059.
YOUR APPLICATION IS DUE BY: ________________________________________AT 12:00 NOON
YOUR VARIANCE HEARING DATE: ________________________________________AT 3:30 P.M.
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March 2025
Please Type or Print in BLACK INK Return to: Department of
Planning Services
215 Church Ave.
P.O. Box 1130
Oshkosh, WI 54903-1130
CITY OF OSHKOSH
APPLICATION FOR VARIANCE
Please submit a complete reproducible site plan (maximum size 11” x 17”). (A complete site plan
includes, but is not limited to, all structures, lot lines and streets with distances to each.) Please refer
to the fee schedule for appropriate fee. FEE IS NON-REFUNDABLE. The fee is payable to the City of
Oshkosh and due at the time the application is submitted.
Address of Parcel Affected: ________________________________________________________________________
Petitioner: Home Phone: _______________________
Petitioner’s Address: Work Phone:_______________________
Petitioner’s Email: ___________________________________________
Signature Required: Date: _________________
Owner (if not petitioner): Home Phone:______________________
Owner’s Address: Work Phone:_______________________
Owner’s Email: ______________________________________________
Signature Required: Date:________________
In order to be granted a variance, each applicant must be able to prove that an unnecessary
hardship would be created if the variance is not granted. T he burden of proving an unnecessary
hardship rests upon the applicant. The attached sheet provides information on what constitutes a
hardship. (Attach additional sheets, if necessary, to provide the information requested. Additional
information may be requested as needed.)
1. Explain your proposed plans and why you are requesting a variance :
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March 2025
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2. Describe how the variance would not have an adverse effect on surrounding properties :
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3. Describe the special conditions that apply to your lot or structure that do not apply to
surrounding lots or structures:
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4. Describe the hardship that would result if your variance were not gran ted:
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