Except as otherwise provided in this chapter the lawful use of the land or a building existing at the date of the adoption of this chapter may be continued although such use or building does not conform to the regulations specified by this chapter for the zone in which such land or building is located; provided, however, that no nonconforming lot shall be further reduced in size and no nonconforming use may be expanded. The following regulations shall apply to nonconforming uses and structures.
Whenever the boundaries of a district shall be changed so as to transfer an area from one district to another district of a different classification, the provisions of this chapter shall also apply to any nonconforming uses existing therein or created thereby.
A. 
A nonconforming use shall be deemed to be abandoned where there is an intention to abandon as well as an external act (or omission to act) by which such intention is carried into effect.
B. 
It shall be prima facie evidence that a nonconforming use has been abandoned when there occurs a cessation of such use on the part of a tenant or owner for a continuous period of at least 12 consecutive months.
C. 
When a nonconforming use has been abandoned, such use shall not thereafter be reinstated and any structure shall not thereafter be reoccupied, except in conformance with this chapter.
A. 
If any nonconforming structure shall be more than partially destroyed, then the structure may not be rebuilt, restored or repaired, except in conformity with this chapter.
B. 
Destruction to the extent that rebuilding, repair or restoration requires removal or demolition of any remaining portions of the damaged part of the structure such that the only major components of the original structure utilized in such building, repair or restoration are the foundation or exterior walls shall be prima facie evidence that the structure has been more than partially destroyed.
C. 
Nothing in this chapter shall prevent the strengthening or restoring of any portion of a structure which has been declared unsafe by the Construction Official.
Upon application, a certificate, certifying the legality of a preexisting nonconforming use, lot, building or structure, may be issued by the Land Use Officer or Board of Adjustment, pursuant to this chapter.
A. 
Alterations, as applied to a nonconforming building or structure, shall only include a change or rearrangement in the structural supports or a change in exterior appearance.
B. 
No nonconforming building or lot shall be enlarged, extended or increased, unless such enlargement will not increase the degree of nonconformance.
C. 
A nonconforming building, or an existing building on a nonconforming lot may be altered, repaired, enlarged or extended, provided that the use is permitted and provided that the enlargement or extension does not project any farther than the existing building beyond a required setback line or create any new setback or lot coverage violations.
D. 
Accessory buildings or structures may not be constructed on nonconforming lots and/or on lots which contain a nonconforming principal building or structure unless:
(1) 
At the time and since the adoption of the Zoning Ordinance making such lot nonconforming the owner of the lot did not own any adjoining property.
(2) 
The new accessory structure or building conforms to all requirements of this chapter.
Nothing herein contained shall require any change in plans, construction or designated use of a building for which a building permit has been hereto before issued and the construction of which shall have been diligently prosecuted within three months of the date of such permit, and the ground story framework of which, including the second tier of beams, shall have been completed within six months of the date of the permit, and which entire building shall be completed according to such plans as filed within one year from the date of the adoption of this chapter.
Where two or more lots, created by the filing of a map pursuant to the Map Filing Law (N.J.S.A. 46:23-9.9 et seq.) prior to establishment of the Planning Board, have any contiguous lines and are in single ownership and one or more of the lots is nonconforming in any aspect, the lots involved shall be considered to be an undivided parcel for the purposes of this chapter, and no portion of said parcel shall be conveyed or divided except through the filing of an approved subdivision in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.