A.
Except as provided herein, no structure shall be erected, moved, altered, rebuilt or enlarged, nor shall any land or structure be used, designed or arranged to be used, for any purpose or in any manner except in conformity with all regulations, requirements and restrictions specified in this chapter and for the district in which such structure or land is located.
B.
A use, lot, or structure existing at the effective date of this chapter which shall be made nonconforming by the passage of this chapter or of any amendments thereto may be continued, subject to the conditions enumerated in this article.
C.
The provisions regarding nonconformity shall apply only to a use, lot, building or structure legally established or erected, but not to any use established or building or structure erected in violation of law, regardless of the time of establishment or erection.
D.
Any lot with an area or width less than that prescribed for a lot in the district in which such lot is situated, when the owner thereof owned adjoining land on or after the effective date of this chapter or any subsequent amendment which increases the required lot area or width for such parcel, shall be deemed to have merged with said adjoining land to form a single parcel; provided, however, that such merger will not create a nonconforming use. Further, if the adjoining land has been divided into several substandard lots, merger shall occur only to the extent that the minimum lot width requirements of this chapter are met, but not necessarily the minimum lot area requirements.