Sec. 54-95Undue hardship
Plain English: what this chapter covers
This chapter creates the Ashburn Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and the Ashburn Local Historic District. If your property is a designated historic property or sits in the district, you need a 'certificate of appropriateness' from the HPC before making exterior changes, demolishing or moving a building. Ordinary repairs, interior work and paint colors don't need one.
Where, by reason of unusual circumstances, the strict application of any provision of this chapter would result in the exceptional practical difficulty or undue hardship upon any owner of a specific property, the HPC, in passing upon applications, shall have the power to vary or modify strict adherence to said provisions, or to interpret the meaning of said provisions, so as to relieve such difficulty or hardship; provided such , modifications, or interpretations shall remain in harmony with the general purpose and intent of said provisions, so that the architectural or historical integrity or character of the property, shall be conserved and substantial justice done. In granting variances, the HPC may impose such reasonable and additional stipulations and conditions as well, in its judgment, best fulfill the purpose of this chapter. Undue hardship shall not be a situation of the person's own making.
History: (Ord. No. 07-08, § V(O), 6-7-2007)
This is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. The official code is on Municode and at City Hall. Our copy is from April 30, 2026.
Online: https://jamesburgessleads.com/city-code/PTIICOOR_CH54HIPR_ARTIVCEAPARREHP_S54-95UNHA
Official version: https://library.municode.com/GA/Ashburn/codes/Code_of_Ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH54HIPR_ARTIVCEAPARREHP_S54-95UNHA
Paid for by James Burgess