(a) Except as provided in Chapters 1171, a use of a building or land lawfully existing on or prior to May 4, 1931, or for which a permit has lawfully been issued, may be continued even though such use does not conform to the provisions of such Zoning Code for the use district in which it is located, but no enlargement, expansion or addition shall be allowed or permitted except as a variance under terms set forth in Chapter 1127, and no substitution or other change in such nonconforming use to other than a conforming use shall be permitted except by special permit granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1127. Such permit may be issued only after notice by publication of a public hearing to be held thereon and after the Board finds, in such hearing, that such substitution or other change is no more harmful or objectionable than the previous nonconforming use in floor space or other space occupied, in volume of trade or production or kind of goods sold or produced, in daily hours or other periods of use, in the type or number of persons to occupy or to be attracted to the premises or in any other characteristic of the new use as compared with the previous use.
(b) The publication of notice as stated in subsection (a) hereof shall be made in two local newspapers and shall be published twice in a thirty-day period.
The hearing required shall be fixed for a day certain within two weeks following the final publication. All costs shall be borne by the applicant for a variance use.
(c) This section shall not in any way affect the force and legality of previous orders requiring the discontinuance of nonconforming uses nor extend the time limit already established for the discontinuance of existing nonconforming uses.
(d) Nonconforming signs shall be regulated under Chapter 1196.
(Ord. 115-60. Passed 6-6-60; Ord. 157-22. Passed 9-18-23.)