[Ord. 281, 1/5/1976, Art. IX, § 9.1]
1. 
Within any district established by this chapter or amendment that may later be adopted there exist:
A. 
Lots;
B. 
Structures;
C. 
Uses of land and structures;
D. 
Characteristics of use;
which were lawful before this chapter was passed or amended, but which would be prohibited, regulated, or restricted under the terms of this chapter or future amendment. It is the intent of this chapter to permit these nonconformities to continue until they are removed. It is further the intent of this chapter that nonconformities shall not be used as grounds for adding other structures or uses prohibited elsewhere in the same district.
2. 
Nonconforming uses are declared by this chapter to be incompatible with permitted uses in the districts involved. A nonconforming use of a structure, a nonconforming use of land, or a nonconforming use of a structure and land in combination shall not be extended or enlarged after passage of this chapter by the addition of other uses of a nature which would be prohibited generally in the district involved.
3. 
To avoid undue hardship, nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to require a change in the plans, construction, or designated use of any building on which actual construction was lawfully begun prior to the effective date of adoption or amendment of this chapter and upon which actual building construction has been carried on diligently. "Actual construction" is hereby defined to include the placing of construction materials in permanent position and fastened in a permanent manner. Where excavation or demolition or removal of an existing building has been substantially begun preparatory to rebuilding, such excavation or demolition or removal shall be deemed to be "actual construction."
[Ord. 281, 1/5/1976, Art. IX, § 9.2]
1. 
In any district a permitted building and customary accessory buildings may be erected on any single lot on record at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this chapter, not withstanding limitations imposed by other provisions of this chapter. Such lot must be in separate ownership. This provision shall apply even though such lot fails to meet the requirements for area or width, or both, that are generally applicable in the district; provided, that yard dimensions and requirements other than those applying to area or width, or both, of the lot shall conform to the regulations for the district in which such lot is located. Variance of yard requirements shall be obtained only through action of the Zoning Hearing Board.
2. 
If one or more lots are on record in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Lebanon County and have been duly approved by the Township Commissioners, they may be developed according to the recorded plan even though said lots may not conform with the requirements for area or width or both that are generally applicable in the district. However, no portion of said lots or parcels shall be used or sold in a manner which further diminishes compliance with lot width and area requirements as established by this chapter.
[Ord. 281, 1/5/1976, Art. IX, § 9.3]
1. 
Where at the time of passage of this chapter lawful use of land exists which would not be permitted by the regulations imposed by this chapter, and where such use involves no individual structure with a replacement cost exceeding $1,000, the use may be continued so long as it remains otherwise lawful, provided:
A. 
If any such nonconforming use of land ceases for any reason for a period of more than 90 continuous days, any subsequent use of such land shall conform to the regulations specified by this chapter for the district in which such land is located.
B. 
No additional structure not conforming to the requirements of this chapter shall be erected in connection with such nonconforming use of land.
C. 
No such nonconforming use shall be enlarged or increased, nor extended to occupy a greater area of land than was occupied at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this chapter.
[Ord. 281, 1/5/1976, Art. IX, § 9.4]
1. 
Where a lawful structure exists at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this chapter that could not be built under the terms of this chapter by reason of restrictions on area, lot coverage, height, yards, its location on the lot, or other requirements concerning the structure, such structure may be continued so long as it remains otherwise lawful, subject to the following provisions:
A. 
No such nonconforming structure may be enlarged or altered in a way which increases its nonconformity, but any structure or portion thereof may be altered to decrease its nonconformity.
B. 
Should such nonconforming structure or nonconforming portion of structure be destroyed by any means, it shall not be reconstructed in a manner which increases its nonconformity.
C. 
Should such structure be moved for any reason for any distance whatever, it shall thereafter conform to the regulations for the district in which it is located after it is moved.
[Ord. 281, 1/5/1976, Art. IX, § 9.5]
1. 
If a lawful use involving individual structures with a replacement cost of $1,000 or more, or of structure and premises in combination, exists at the effective date of adoption or amendment of this chapter, the lawful use may be continued so long as it remains otherwise lawful, subject to the following provisions:
A. 
No existing structure devoted to a use not permitted by this chapter in the district in which it is located shall be enlarged or extended, except on contiguous property owned at the time of adoption of this chapter, provided that all other requirements of this chapter are satisfied for such extension.
B. 
Any nonconforming use may be extended throughout any parts of a building which were manifestly arranged or designed for such use at the time of adoption or amendment of this chapter.
C. 
Any nonconforming use of a structure, or structure and premises, may as a special exception be changed to another nonconforming use provided that the Zoning Hearing Board, either by general rule or by making findings in the specific case, shall find that the proposed use is equally appropriate or more appropriate to the district than the existing nonconforming use. In permitting such change, the Zoning Hearing Board may require appropriate conditions and safeguards in accord with the provisions of this chapter.
D. 
Any structure, or structure and land in combination, in which or on which a nonconforming use is destroyed or eliminated and then superseded by a permitted use, shall eliminate the nonconforming status of the land. "Destruction" for the purpose of this subsection is defined as damage to an extent of 100% of the replacement cost at the time of destruction.
[Ord. 281, 1/5/1976, Art. IX, § 9.6]
Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent any repairs, maintenance, or remodeling of a nonconforming building or structure provided that such use does not make the building or structure more nonconforming in terms of the regulations of this chapter.
[Ord. 281, 1/5/1976, Art. IX, § 9.7]
Any use which is permitted as a special exception in a district under the terms of this chapter (other than a change through Zoning Hearing Board action from a nonconforming use to another use not generally permitted in the district) shall not be deemed a nonconforming use in such district, but shall without further action be considered a conforming use.
[Ord. 281, 1/5/1976, Art. IX, § 9.8; as added by Ord. 295, 10/1/1979]
The Zoning Administrative Official shall establish, maintain and at all times keep current a record identifying and registering all nonconforming uses and nonconforming buildings and structures in the Township.