Except as provided in §§
240-79 and
240-80, the lawful use of any building or land existing at the time of the enactment or amendment of this chapter may be continued although such use does not conform to the provisions of this chapter.
When a nonconforming use has been discontinued
for a period of one year, such use shall not thereafter be reestablished,
and any future use shall be in conformity with the provisions of this
chapter.
No nonconforming use shall be changed to other
than a conforming use for the district in which it is situated. Once
changed to a conforming use, no building or land shall be permitted
to revert to a nonconforming use.
Any nonconforming structure or part thereof
may be restored to a safe condition.
A nonconforming building damaged by fire or other causes may be repaired or rebuilt, provided that the nonconformity shall not be increased and that construction starts within a period of one year. Any unsafe building, however, may be required to be removed within the time frames and in accordance with the provisions of Chapter
94, Buildings, Unsafe, of this Code.
A nonconforming building may be reconstructed
or structurally altered only to the extent of its prior nonconformity.
A nonconforming use shall not be extended. The
extension of a lawful use to any part of a nonconforming building
shall not be deemed the extension of such nonconforming use.
Nothing herein contained shall require any change
in plans or construction of a nonconforming building for which a building
permit has been issued.