(A) A structure or the use of a structure or premises which was lawful before the passage or amendment of the ordinance but which is not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter may be continued subject to the following conditions.
(1) If such use is discontinued for 12 consecutive months, any future use of the building premises shall conform to this chapter. The Utility Department shall notify the City Administrator in writing of instances of nonconforming uses where utility services have been discontinued for a period of 12 months.
(2) Uses or adjuncts thereof which are or become nuisances shall not be entitled to continue as nonconforming uses.
(B) If any nonconforming use or structure is destroyed by any means, including flood, it shall not be reconstructed, if the cost is more than 50% of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred, unless it is reconstructed in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. This limitation does not include the cost of any alteration to comply with existing state or local regulations or the cost of any alteration of a structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places or a State Inventory of Historic Places.
(2000 Code, § 9-811)