The Zoning Inspector may upon his own initiative, or shall upon the request of any owner, issue a certificate for any lot, structure, use of land, use of structure, or use of land and structure in combination, that certifies that the lot, structure, or use is a valid nonconforming use. The certificate shall specify the reason why the use is a nonconforming use, including a description of the extent and kind of use made of the property in question, the portion of the structure or land used in the nonconforming use, and the extent that the dimensional requirements are non- conforming. The purpose of this section is to protect the owners of lands or structures that are or become nonconforming. One copy of the certificate shall be returned to the owner and one copy shall be retained by the Zoning Inspector, who shall maintain as a public record a file of all such certificates.