(A) Except as herein provided, no building, structure, or land or part thereof, shall be used, altered, constructed, or reconstructed except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter which apply to the district in which it is located.
(B) The lawful use of a building, structure, or land existing at the time of the adoption of this chapter (January 3, 1984) may be continued although the use does not conform with the provisions hereof, and the use may be extended throughout a building, provided no structural alterations or changes are made therein, except those required by law or ordinance, or any as may be required for safety. If a nonconforming use is discontinued for a period of one year or more, any further use of the building, structure, or land shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter; provided, however, that this division shall not apply to the discontinuance of a use which arises as a result of the existence of a state of war and in that event, a discontinuance of use not to exceed one year from termination of hostilities shall be permitted without working a forfeiture of the use.
(C) If no structural alterations are made, a nonconforming use of a building may be changed to a use of the same or higher classification according to the provisions of this chapter. Whenever a nonconforming use of a building has been changed to a higher classification or to a conforming use, the use shall not revert or be changed to a use of a lower classification.
(D) Whenever a district shall hereafter be changed, any then existing nonconforming use in the changed district may be continued or changed to a use of a similar or higher classification, provided in any case all other regulations governing the new use are complied with.
(E) No building which has been damaged by fire or other causes to the extent of more than 75% of its value shall be repaired or rebuilt except in conformity with the regulations of the district in which it is located.
(1993 Code, § 154.050)
(F) When a building or structure is nonconforming solely because it did not meet the front yard setback requirement at the time of the adoption of this chapter, it shall be lawful to make structural alterations or changes therein, provided that the structural alterations or changes are in conformity with all other provisions of this chapter, including any structural alterations or changes [that] do not further infringe upon the front yard setback requirement.
(Ord. 84-1, passed 1-3-1984; Ord. 99-05, passed 12-6-1999)