Any lawful use of land or buildings existing at the date of adoption of this ordinance or amendments thereto and located in a district in which it would not be permitted as a use under the regulations of this ordinance including amendments thereto is hereby declared to be a "non-conforming use" and not in violation of this ordinance provided, however, that a non-conforming use shall be subject to, and the owner shall comply with, the following regulations.

A non-conforming use of land or a non-conforming building which existed as of the date of adoption of this ordinance or amendments thereto, may be continued provided that:

(1)

No such use of non-conforming land or buildings shall in any way be expanded or extended with the following exceptions.

(2)

If such use of non-conforming land or buildings or any portion thereof is discontinued or changed, any future use of such land shall be in conformity with provisions of this ordinance and all amendments thereto.

Any non-conforming use of land or building which has become unused, vacant or remains unoccupied due to abandonment or discontinuance of use for a period of 180 days shall thereafter conform to the provisions of this ordinance and all amendments thereto.

No building which houses a nonconforming use which has been destroyed or damaged by fire, explosion, act of God, or by public enemy to the extent of 50 percent of its market value—exclusive of the foundation at the time such damage occurred—shall thereafter be made to conform with the provisions of this chapter. If such damage is less than 50 percent of its market value before said damage occurred, exclusive of the foundation, then such structure may be restored to the same nonconforming use as existed before such damage, provided however, that a building permit to initiate restoration must be obtained within six months of the occurrence of damage; otherwise the provisions of Section 17.03 will apply.

There may be a change in tenancy, ownership, or management of an existing non-conforming use of land provided the non-conformity is not abandoned or discontinued for more than 180 days.