A use legally occupying a structure or a site on the effective date of the zoning ordinance or amendments thereto which does not conform with the use regulations for the district in which the use is located shall be deemed a legal, nonconforming use and may be continued, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

A structure legally occupying a site on the effective date of the zoning ordinance or amendments thereto which does not conform with the standards of coverage, setbacks, height, or distances between structures prescribed in the regulations for the district in which the structure is located shall be deemed a legal, nonconforming structure and may be continued, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

A sign or outdoor advertising structure legally occupying a site on the effective date of the zoning ordinance or amendments thereto which does not conform with the standards for message content, location, size, height, placement, lighting, or movement prescribed in § 25-47 (Signs) for the district in which it is located shall be deemed to be nonconforming, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

Routine maintenance and repairs may be performed on a nonconforming site, a nonconforming structure or a nonconforming sign or outdoor advertising structure. Improvements in the design or appearance of these nonconforming features may be made so long as the discrepancy between the existing conditions of the use, structure, sign, or advertising structure and the current district standards is not increased.

Alterations and additions to uses that are nonconforming shall be prohibited unless required by law or unless the moving, altering, or enlargement will result in the elimination of the nonconforming use.

Alterations and additions to structures, signs and outdoor advertising structures shall be prohibited unless required by law or unless the moving, altering or enlargement will result in the elimination of the nonconforming structure, sign, or outdoor advertising structure.

Whenever a nonconforming use, structure, sign, or outdoor advertising structure has been abandoned, discontinued, or changed to a conforming use for a continuous period of six months, the nonconforming use shall not be reestablished and the nonconforming structure, sign or outdoor advertising structure shall be removed.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed or applied so as to require the termination, discontinuance, or removal or so as to prevent the expansion, modernization, replacement, maintenance, alteration, reconstruction or rebuilding and continued use of a public building or public utility buildings, structures, equipment, and facilities.