Eastampton Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE V
Nonconforming Uses, Buildings and Lots
§ 540-14 Nonconformity.
A.
Any nonconforming use, building or structure existing at the time of the passage of an ordinance may be continued upon the lot or in the building or structure so occupied and any such building or structure may be restored or repaired in the event of partial destruction thereof. The expansion of the nonconforming use or structure shall be prohibited.
B.
Any nonconforming lot and the structures and improvements made thereon existing at the time of passage of an ordinance may be continued. The expansion of the structures or improvements on the nonconforming lot shall be prohibited.
§ 540-15 Abandonment.
A nonconforming use shall be adjudged as abandoned when there occurs a cessation of any use or activity by an apparent act or failure to act, on the part of the tenant or owners, to reinstate such use within a period of one year from the date of cessation or discontinuance. Such use shall not thereafter be reinstated, and the structure shall not be reoccupied, except in conformance with this chapter.
§ 540-16 Restoration of damaged building, structure or use.
A.
If any nonconforming building, structure or use is destroyed by reason of wind storm, fire, explosion or other acts of God or the public enemy, and the foundation and at least two walls of the building or structure survive, a permit shall be issued for the reconstruction of a nonconforming building, structure or use. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of any wall, floor or roof which has been declared unsafe by the Construction Official.
B.
If any nonconforming sign is destroyed by reason of wind storm, fire, explosion or other acts of God or the public enemy, a permit shall be issued for the reconstruction of a nonconforming sign. Nothing in this subsection shall prevent the strengthening or restoring to a safe condition of any part of the nonconforming sign which has been declared unsafe by the Construction Official.
§ 540-17 Reversion.
No nonconforming use shall, if once changed into a conforming use, be changed back again into a nonconforming use.
§ 540-18 Alterations.
A nonconforming building, structure or sign may be reconstructed but shall not enlarged or extended, unless said building is changed to a building conforming or more nearly conforming to the requirements of this chapter.
§ 540-19 Effect on preapproved plans, construction and uses.
Nothing herein contained shall require any change in the plans, construction or designated use of a building, structure or sign for which a building permit has been heretofore 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 this chapter.
§ 540-20 Zone changes.
Whenever the boundaries of a zone shall be changed as to transfer an area from one zone to another of a different classification, the foregoing provisions shall also apply to any nonconforming uses existing therein or created thereby.