Except as otherwise provided in this article,
the lawful use of land or buildings existing at the date of the adoption
of this chapter may be continued although such use of land or buildings
does not conform to the regulations specified by this chapter for
the zone in which such land or building is located; provided, however:
A. That no nonconforming lot shall be further reduced
in size.
B. That no nonconforming building shall be enlarged,
extended or increased unless such enlargement would tend to reduce
the degree of nonconformance.
C. That no nonconforming use may be expanded.
A nonconforming use shall be adjudged as abandoned
when there occurs a cessation of any use or activity by an apparent
act or failure to act on the part of the tenant or owners to reinstate
such use within a period of six months from the date of cessation
or discontinuance. In any civil or quasi-criminal action for the enforcement
of this chapter, such cessation of use or activity shall be prima
facie proof of abandonment.
No building damaged by fire or other causes
to the extent of more than 50% of its assessed valuation shall be
repaired or rebuilt except in conformity with the regulations of this
chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the strengthening or
restoring to a safe condition of any wall, roof or floor which has
been declared unsafe by the Building Inspector.
No nonconforming use shall, if once changed
into a conforming use, be changed back again to a nonconforming use.
A nonconforming building may not be reconstructed
or structurally altered during its life to an extent exceeding in
aggregate cost 50% of the assessed value of the building unless said
building is changed to a conforming use.
Nothing herein contained shall require any change in plans, construction or designated use of a building for which a building permit has been heretofore issued and the construction of which shall have been diligently prosecuted within three months of the date of such permit and the ground story framework of which, including the second tier of beams, has been completed according to such plans as filed within one year from the date of this chapter. If such conditions are not met, any building permit shall be held to be in violation of this chapter, subject to the penalties in §
220-130.
Whenever the boundaries of a district shall
be changed so as to transfer an area from one district to another
of a different classification, the foregoing provisions shall also
apply to any nonconforming uses existing therein or created thereby.