Doylestown City Zoning Code
PART 9
NONCONFORMITIES
§ 901 Definition.
[Ord. 1972-10, 10/16/1972, Art. IX, § 900; as amended by Ord. 1983-2, 5/16/1983, § 4; and by Ord. 1991-3, § 2]
1.
Nonconforming Lot. A lot the area or dimension of which was lawful prior to the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance, but which fails to conform to the requirements of the zoning district in which it is located by reasons of such adoption or amendment.
2.
Nonconforming Structure. A structure or part of a structure manifestly not designed to comply with the applicable use or extent of use provisions in a zoning ordinance or amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such structure lawfully existed prior to the application of such ordinance or amendment to its location by reason of annexation. Such nonconforming structures include, but are not limited to nonconforming signs.
3.
Nonconforming Use. A use, whether of land or of structure, which does not comply with the applicable use provisions in a zoning ordinance or amendment heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such use was lawfully in existence prior to the enactment of such ordinance or, amendment to its location by reason of annexation.
§ 902 Continuation.
[Ord. 1972-10, 10/16/1972, Art. IX, § 901]
The lawful use or existence of a building or structure or the lawful use of any parcel of land as existing and lawful at the time of the enactment of this Chapter or any amendment thereto, may, except as provided in this Chapter, be continued, although such use does not conform with the provisions of this ordinance or subsequent amendments.
§ 903 Alteration or Extension.
[Ord. 1972-10, 10/16/1972, Art. IX, § 902; as amended by Ord. 1981-2, 7/2/1981, § 1]
1.
A use of land or structure which does not conform to the regulations of Part 4, Use Regulations, shall not be altered, reconstructed, extended, nor enlarged, except in accordance with the following provisions:
A.
Such alteration or extension shall be permitted only by special exception under the provisions of Part 11 and only upon the same lot as in existence at the date the use became nonconforming which lot shall have then been arranged, intended and designed for such nonconforming use as of the effective date of the zoning Chapter creating the nonconformity.
B.
Any increase in volume, area, or extent of the nonconforming use shall not exceed an aggregate of more than 25% during the life of the nonconformity.
2.
A structure which does not conform to the regulations of this Chapter other than Part 4, Use Regulations, may be altered, reconstructed, or enlarged, provided that no such nonconformity is increased beyond its extent on the date that it became nonconforming, provided that if the use or structure also falls under § 903(1) any change shall be subject to the provisions of that paragraph.
§ 904 Restoration.
[Ord. 1972-10, 10/16/1972, Art. IX, § 903]
No structure damaged by fire or other causes to the extent of more than 75% of its fair market value shall be repaired, reconstructed, or used except in conformity with the regulations of this Chapter. Structures with damage to the extent of 75% or less of the fair market value may be reconstructed, repaired, or used for the same nonconforming use subject to the following provisions:
1.
The reconstructed structure shall not exceed the height, area, or volume of the damaged structure except as provided in § 903.
2.
Reconstruction shall begin within one year from the date of the damage and shall be carried on without interruption.
§ 905 Abandonment.
[Ord. 1972-10, 10/16/1972, Art. IX, § 904]
Whenever a nonconforming use has been discontinued for a period of one year and such use has been abandoned, such use shall not thereafter be re-established, and any future use shall be in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter.
§ 906 Changes.
[Ord. 1972-10, 10/16/1972, Art. IX, § 905; as amended by Ord. 2001-1, 1/22/2001, § 1; by Ord. No. 2024-5, 7/15/2024]
Once changed to a conforming use, no structure or land shall be permitted to revert to a nonconforming use. A nonconforming use, together with the specific activity conducted or otherwise lawfully proposed and permitted to be conducted thereunder, may be changed to a specific activity to be conducted under another nonconforming use only by obtaining a variance from the Zoning Hearing Board due to an unnecessary hardship pursuant to Section 27-1119.
§ 907 Displacement.
[Ord. 1972-10, 10/16/1972, Art. IX, § 906]
No nonconforming use shall be extended to displace a conforming use.
§ 908 District Changes.
[Ord. 1972-10, 10/16/1972, Art. IX, § 907]
Whenever the boundaries of a district shall be changed so as to transfer an area from one district to another of a different classification, the foregoing provisions shall also apply to any nonconforming uses or structures existing therein.
§ 909 Registration of Nonconforming Uses.
[Repealed by Ord. 1991-3; Ord. 1972-10, 10/16/1972, Art. IX, § 908; and repealed by Ord. 1991-3, 2/18/1991, § 3]
