Final answer:
To build higher than the zoning allows, the property owner must file for a variance, a process which requires demonstrating hardship and could involve a public hearing.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a property owner wishes to build a six-story office building in an area that has a zoning regulation which limits building heights to four stories, they must file for a variance. A variance is a request to deviate from current zoning requirements. If granted, it allows the owner to use the land in a manner that is ordinarily not permitted by the zoning ordinance. The property owner must demonstrate that the zoning regulation causes unnecessary hardship due to characteristics of the property that distinguish it from others in the area. The grant of a variance typically requires a public hearing, and the decision to grant a variance will consider the impact on the community and whether or not it will be in harmony with the general purpose and intent of the zoning plan.