If a lawful use involving individual structures exists on the effective date of adoption or amendment of this Zoning Code that would not be allowed in the district under the terms of this Zoning Code, 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 Zoning Code 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, except as provided for in subsection (c) hereof.
(b) Any nonconforming use may be extended throughout any parts of a building which were manifestly arranged or designed for such use at the time of adoption or amendment of this Zoning Code, but no such use shall be extended to occupy any land outside such building.
(c) If no structural alterations are made, any nonconforming use of a structure may, upon appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals, be changed to another nonconforming use, provided that the Board shall find that the proposed use is equally appropriate or more appropriate to the district than the existing nonconforming use. In permitting such change, the Board may require appropriate conditions and safeguards in accordance with other provisions of this Zoning Code.
(d) Any structure in which a nonconforming use is superseded by a permitted use shall thereafter conform to the regulations for the district, and the nonconforming use may not thereafter be resumed.
(e) When a nonconforming structure is discontinued or abandoned for more than two years (except when government action impedes access to the premises), the structure or structure and land in combination shall not thereafter be used, except in conformity with the regulations of the district in which it is located.
(f) Where nonconforming use status applies to a structure and land in combination, removal or destruction of the structure shall eliminate the nonconforming status of the land.
(Ord. 2712. Passed 8-1-78.)