Except as otherwise provided in this article, the lawful use
of land or buildings existing on June 30, 1969, may be continued,
although such use or building does not conform to the regulations
specified by this chapter for the zone in which such land or buildings
are 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 terminate upon abandonment at any
time. In the case of discontinuance of any nonconforming open land
use for a period of 12 consecutive months, the nonconforming open
land use shall be presumed to be abandoned and any subsequent use
of the land shall conform to the regulations for the district in which
such land is located. In addition, when a nonconforming use of a structure,
or structure and premises in combination, is discontinued for a period
of 24 consecutive months, the nonconforming use shall be presumed
to be abandoned and the structure, or structure and premises in combination,
as the case may be, shall not thereafter be used except in conformance
with the regulations of the district in which it is located.
A structure which, by reason of restrictions on area, lot coverage,
height, or yard, is nonconforming shall not be reconstructed except
in conformance with this chapter should the structure be destroyed
by any means to an extent of more than 75% of its replacement cost
at the time of destruction. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent
the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of any wall, floor
or roof which has been declared unsafe by the Construction Code Official.
No nonconforming use shall, if once changed into a conforming
use, be changed back again into a nonconforming use.
A nonconforming building, structure or sign may be reconstructed
but not enlarged or extended unless the building is changed to a building
conforming or more nearly conforming to the requirements of this chapter.
Nothing herein contained shall require any change in plans,
construction or designated use of a building, structure or sign 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, shall have been completed within
six months of the date of the permit, and which entire building shall
be completed according to such plans as filed within one year from
June 30, 1969.
Wherever the boundaries of a zone shall be changed as to transfer
an area from one zone to another of a different classification, the
foregoing provisions shall also apply to any nonconforming uses existing
therein or created thereby.