[Amended 11-9-1982 by Ord. No. 822]
The lawful use of a building or structure or the lawful use of any land as existing and lawful at the time of the enactment of a zoning ordinance, or in the case of an amendment of an ordinance, then at the time of such amendment, may, except as hereinafter provided, be continued although such use does not conform with the provision of such ordinance or amendment.
A. 
Regulations controlling uses of land.
(1) 
Enlargement. No nonconforming use shall be: a) enlarged or extended off the lot occupied by such use at the time of the adoption of this chapter; or b) shall be enlarged or extended to occupy any part of the required yard area in the district in which said use is located, unless to provide for the natural expansion and accommodation of increased trade and does not interfere with the health, safety and welfare of the community.
(2) 
Changes. Once changed to a conforming use, no land shall be permitted to revert to a nonconforming use. No new nonconforming use may be added to or substituted for an existing nonconforming use.
(3) 
Fencing junkyards. Regardless of any other provisions of this chapter, every junkyard existing as a nonconforming use shall, within two years after becoming nonconforming, be completely enclosed within a continuous solid fence or evergreen hedge found on a determination of the Zoning Hearing Board to be by such height and character as to screen all operations of such establishments, and which fence or hedge shall be maintained in full conformity with any conditions attached to such approval.
(4) 
Cessation of land use. If any nonconforming use of land ceases for any continuous period of not less than six months for any reason other than direct participation of owner or tenant in military service or act of God, any subsequent use of such land shall be in conformity to the regulations specified by this chapter for the district in which such land is located.
(5) 
In any residence district on a lot of record on the effective date of this chapter, a one-family structure may be established regardless of the size of the lot, provided that, on a lot which is less than 50 feet in width, the total of the side yards shall in no case be less than 10 feet and no one side yard shall be less than five feet, and provided that all other requirements of this chapter are met. If on the effective date of this chapter two or more lots contiguous to each other and facing a common public right-of-way are in common ownership, any one or each of which said lots are less then prescribed hereinafter, the aforementioned shall be considered as one lot and must comply to the lot requirements of the district wherein it is located.
B. 
Regulations controlling nonconforming structures and nonconforming uses of building.
(1) 
Alteration, reconstruction. No existing building occupied by a nonconforming use shall be enlarged, extended, reconstructed or structurally altered in order that a nonconforming use may be continued unless to provide for the natural expansion and accommodation of increased trade and does not interfere with the health, safety and welfare of the community. Repairs to satisfy rehabilitation standards set on any building located in any urban renewal project, or to satisfy code standards as required by a public officer under Borough codes will also be permitted.
(2) 
Movement. No nonconforming building shall be moved, in whole or part, to any other portion of the lot and continued to be used unless the Zoning Hearing Board shall make a determination that such movement is in keeping with the spirit of this chapter and contributes to public safety or welfare, and shall give a special permit therefor.
(3) 
Cessation of building use. If any nonconforming use of a building ceases for a continuous period of not less than six months for any reason other than direct participation of the owner or tenant in military service, or if the building in or on which the use, if conducted or maintained, is moved from any district without approval of the Zoning Hearing Board, then any future use of such building shall be in conformity to the regulations specified by this chapter for the district in which such building is located.
(4) 
Destruction of nonconforming building. If at any time a building in existence or maintained at the time of the adoption of this chapter and not conforming to the regulations for the district in which it is located shall be destroyed by any means to the extent that the remaining value is less than 50% of the assessed valuation in the immediate area occupied by said building, the same shall thenceforth be subject to all the regulations of this chapter for the district in which such land and building are located.
(5) 
Construction started prior to adoption. Nothing herein contained shall require any change in plans, construction or use of a building, the actual construction of which shall have begun prior to the adoption of this chapter and which entire building shall be completed according to such original plans within six months of such time of adoption.
(6) 
Removal of nonconforming signs. A nonconforming sign may not be enlarged, added to or replaced by another nonconforming sign or by a nonconforming use of structure, except that the substitution or interchange of poster panels and painted boards or nonconforming signs shall be permitted.