§ 154.018 NONCONFORMING USES AND BUILDINGS.
   (A)   The lawful use of a building or land existing at the time of the passage of this chapter, although such use does not conform to the provisions hereof for said land, may be continued, but if such nonconforming use is discontinued for a period of six months, it is then declared abandoned, and any future use of said building or land shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
   (B)   (1)   The lawful use of a building or land existing at the time of the passage of this chapter may be continued, although such use does not conform with the provisions of this chapter for such building or land, and such use may be continued provided only reasonable repairs and alterations are made.
      (2)   A nonconforming use of a building or land may not be changed to another nonconforming use.
      (3)   Whenever a nonconforming use of a building or land has been changed to a conforming use, such use shall not thereafter be changed to a nonconforming use.
   (C)   An existing building or land designed, arranged, or intended for or devoted to a use not permitted under the regulations of this chapter for the district in which such building or land is located shall not be enlarged, extended, reconstructed, or structurally altered unless such building and such enlargement, extension, reconstruction, structural alterations, and further use thereof conform in every respect with the regulations specified by this chapter for such district in which said building or land is located. Nothing herein shall prohibit any reasonable repairs or alterations in a building or land used for such existing purposes.
   (D)   If at any time any building or land in existence or maintained at the time of the adoption of this chapter, which does not conform to the regulations for the district in which it is located, shall be destroyed by fire or other cause to the extent of 50% of its remaining value as determined by three competent appraisers, then and without further action by the Council the said building and the land on which said building was located or maintained shall from and after the date of such destruction be subject to all the regulations specified by this chapter for the district in which such land and building are located.
   (E)   Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted as authorization for or approval of the continuance of the use of a building or land in violation of zoning regulations in effect at the time of the effective date of this chapter.
(Zoning Code, Art. I Part II)