This article shall apply to all nonconforming uses, structures and lots, as defined by this chapter. Nothing contained herein shall require any change in the overall layout, plans, construction, size or designated use of any development, building, structure or part thereof for which official approval and required permits have been granted prior to the effective date of this chapter or any amendment thereto.
These regulations shall apply to any use of a structure or lot in any zoning district that is a nonconforming use, as defined by this chapter. Whenever the boundaries of a zoning district shall be changed so as to transfer an area from one zoning district to another zoning district of a different classification, these regulations shall apply to any uses that thereby become nonconforming.
A. 
Continuation and sale. Where, at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this chapter, a lawful use of a lot or structure exists that is made no longer permissible under the terms of this chapter as enacted or amended, such use may be sold or otherwise transferred to other owners and may be continued as long as it remains otherwise lawful in accordance with the provisions of this article.
B. 
Enlargement or expansion.
(1) 
Single-family dwellings that are nonconforming uses in any C-1, C-2, C-3, I-1 or I-2 Zoning District may be enlarged or expanded to occupy a greater area of the lot or to increase the height of the dwelling, provided all applicable area and bulk regulations of the zoning district in which the property is located are met.
(2) 
No other nonconforming use of a lot or nonconforming use of a structure shall be enlarged or increased or extended to occupy a greater area of the lot or structure than was occupied at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this chapter, unless the Zoning Hearing Board, after public hearing, shall interpret that the enlargement or extension is necessitated by the natural expansion and growth of the nonconforming use. Any such enlargement or expansion shall conform to the area, height and yard requirements of the zoning district in which it is located.
(3) 
No nonconforming use shall be moved, in whole or in part, to any other portion of the lot occupied by such use at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this chapter.
(4) 
Any nonconforming use may be extended throughout any part of a structure that was designed for such use at the time the use became nonconforming; however, a nonconforming use shall not be extended to occupy any structure, lot or portion of a lot that was not owned by the owner of the nonconforming use at the time the use became nonconforming.
C. 
Change of use.
(1) 
A nonconforming use shall not be changed to any use other than a conforming use, except as permitted as a use by special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board in accordance with the following standards:
(a) 
The new use will more closely correspond to the uses authorized in the district as permitted uses, conditional uses or uses by special exception.
(b) 
The new use will be in keeping with the character of the neighborhood in which it is located and will have an equal or lesser impact on the neighborhood than the existing nonconforming use.
(2) 
Any change from one nonconforming use to another shall comply with the parking requirements of Article XVII for the new use and shall be subject to the area, bulk and buffer area regulations for such use in the zoning district where such use is authorized as a permitted use, conditional use or use by special exception.
(3) 
When a nonconforming use is changed to a conforming use, the use thereafter shall not be changed to a nonconforming use.
(4) 
Where a nonconforming use exists on a lot, a conforming use shall not be established on the same lot unless the nonconforming use is discontinued.
D. 
Abandonment.
(1) 
When a nonconforming use of a structure and/or lot is discontinued or abandoned for 12 consecutive months, the structure and/or lot shall not thereafter be used, except in conformance with the regulations of the zoning district in which it is located.
(2) 
A nonconforming use shall be considered abandoned under the following circumstances:
(a) 
When the intent of the owner to discontinue the use is apparent.
(b) 
When the characteristic equipment and furnishings of the nonconforming use have been removed from the premises and have not been replaced by similar equipment within 90 days, unless other facts or circumstances show a clear intention to resume the nonconforming use.
(c) 
When a nonconforming use has been discontinued for a period of 12 months, unless the owner is actively marketing the property for the continuation of the nonconforming use.
(d) 
When it has been replaced by a conforming use.
(e) 
When it has been changed to another use under permit from the Zoning Hearing Board or the Zoning Officer, consistent with applicable provisions of this chapter.
E. 
Damage or destruction. When the structure in which the nonconforming use is conducted is damaged or destroyed by fire or other means, repairs or reconstruction may be undertaken, provided that such restoration is started within 18 months of the date of destruction. No enlargement or expansion of the nonconforming structure shall be undertaken unless the provisions of § 245-195A are met.
These regulations shall apply to all nonconforming structures, as defined by this chapter, in all zoning districts.
A. 
Structural alteration. A nonconforming structure may be enlarged or structurally altered, provided the enlargement or alteration does not encroach any further into a required yard setback than the existing nonconforming structure does, and further provided that no new nonconformities are created. All other alterations or enlargements shall require review by the Zoning Hearing Board and, after public hearing, the Zoning Hearing Board may determine undue hardship and may authorize a variance for the reasonable modification of such structure.
B. 
Damage or destruction. Any nonconforming structure that has been partially or completely damaged or destroyed by fire or other means may be rebuilt or repaired on the footprint of the original foundation, even though the original foundation may violate the setback requirements for the zoning district in which the structure is located, provided that the repair or reconstruction of the structure occurs within 18 months of the date that the original structure was damaged or destroyed. No enlargement or expansion of the nonconforming structure shall be undertaken unless the provisions of Subsection A are met.
C. 
Moving. Should a nonconforming structure be moved for any reason for any distance whatever, it shall thereafter conform to the requirements of the zoning district in which it is located.
D. 
Signs.
(1) 
Nonconforming signs may be repaired or reconstructed, provided that no structural alterations are made that increase the gross surface area of the sign; however, nonconforming signs that are damaged or destroyed to an extent of more than 51% of their replacement cost at the time of destruction shall not be reconstructed except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. Replacement cost shall be determined by the Township Engineer upon request by the Township. The Engineer shall inspect the sign and submit a report to the Zoning Officer within five working days of the Township's request. The cost of the services of the Township Engineer shall be borne by the applicant. Said cost shall not exceed the amount established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
(2) 
Nonconforming signs shall not be enlarged, added to or replaced by another nonconforming sign, use or structure, except that the interchange of advertising panels shall be permitted, subject to obtaining the sign permit required by § 245-188K.
E. 
Nonconforming billboards. Nonconforming billboards are regulated by § 245-192G of this chapter.
F. 
Repair or maintenance. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of any structure or part thereof declared to be unsafe by any official charged with protecting the safety of the public, provided all other requirements of this section are met.
The following regulations shall apply to nonconforming lots, as defined by this chapter:
A. 
Lot area or lot width. Any lot of record existing at the effective date of this chapter may be used for the erection of a structure conforming to the use regulations of the zoning district in which it is located, without a lot area or lot width variance, even though its lot area and width are less than the minimum required by this chapter; however, such lot must comply with the front, rear and side yards, height and lot coverage standards of the zoning district wherein it is located.
B. 
Front, rear or side yard setbacks. Where structures exist on adjacent nonconforming lots of record that have front, rear or side yards less than the minimum depth required, the minimum front, rear or side yard for an adjacent vacant nonconforming lot of record proposed to be developed shall be the average depth of the nonconforming front, rear or side yards on the adjacent nonconforming lots in the same block on the same side of the street; however, in no case shall any yard be less than five feet.
A. 
If the owner of a nonconforming use makes an application for registration of the nonconforming use, upon presentation of documentation acceptable to the Zoning Officer that the use was lawfully in existence prior to the effective date of this chapter or any amendment that created the nonconformity, the Zoning Officer shall include the use in the list of legal nonconforming uses that the Zoning Officer maintains.
B. 
In the course of administering this chapter and reviewing applications for zoning certificates, certificates of occupancy or variances, the Zoning Officer shall register all nonconforming structures and nonconforming lots as they become known through the application process.