If a lawful use involving buildings with a replacement cost of $1,000 or more, or involving building and premises in combination, exists on November 20, 1975, or on the effective date of any applicable amendment of this chapter, that would not be allowed in the district under the terms 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, extended, constructed, reconstructed, moved or structurally altered, except in changing the use of the structure to a use permitted in the district in which it is located.
(b) Any non-conforming use may be extended throughout any parts of a building which were manifestly arranged or designed for such use on November 20, 1975, or on the effective date of any applicable amendment of this ordinance, but no such use shall be extended to occupy any land outside such building.
(c) If no structural alterations are made, any non-conforming structure or use of a structure may be changed to any conforming use or with approval of the County Commissioners, to any use more in character with uses permitted in the district. In permitting such a change, the Board of Commissioners must find that the proposed use is more appropriate or equally as appropriate to the district as the existing non-conforming use and shall require appropriate conditions and safeguards necessary to ensure that the change is in keeping with the provisions and spirit of this chapter.
(d) Any structure, or structure and land in combination, in or on which a non-conforming use is superseded by a permitted use, shall thereafter conform to the regulations for the district, and the non-conforming use may not thereafter be resumed.
(e) When a non-conforming use of a structure, or structure and premises in combination, is discontinued or abandoned for ten consecutive months, except when government action impedes access to the premises, the structure, or structure and premises in combination, shall not thereafter be used, except in conformity with the regulations of the district in which it is located.
(f) Where a non-conforming use status applies to a structure and premises in combination, removal or destruction of the structure shall eliminate the non-conforming status of the land. Destruction, for the purpose of this subsection, is defined as damage to an extent of more than 50% of the replacement cost at the time of destruction. (11-20-75, art. 5, 5.02)