Opinion ID: 2374771
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Cause of Hardship

Text: The hardship relied upon by the Sibleys before the Board was the fact that if they could not build their house on lot # 29 the property would be worth only $1,000, as opposed to the $4,200 that they paid for it. The Sibleys claim that the hardship is not the result of their own action because the lot was established before the zoning ordinance was enacted. However, when a landowner purchases land with actual or constructive knowledge of the zoning restrictions, he may not be granted a variance on the grounds of undue hardship. 3 Anderson, supra, § 18.42. The Sibleys were charged with knowledge, when they bought lot # 29, of the zoning ordinance provisions that would create problems both because of the lot size and because of the deed restriction contained in their deed to the lot. [4]