Within any zoning district established by this Chapter 27 or any subsequent amendment thereto there exists:

Nonconforming uses are declared by this Chapter to be incompatible with permitted uses within the same zoning district. Any nonconforming use of a structure, of land, or structure and land in combination may be extended or enlarged only as provided within this Chapter. Extension or enlargement of a nonconforming use by the addition of uses not normally accessory to the existing nonconforming use shall not be permitted.

To avoid undue hardship, nothing in this Chapter shall be deemed to require a change in the plans, construction, or designated use of any building on which actual construction was lawfully begun prior to the effective date of adoption or amendment of this Chapter and upon which actual construction has been carried on diligently. Additionally, where excavation, demolition or removal of an existing building has begun preparatory to rebuilding, such activities shall be deemed actual construction provided that work is carried on diligently.

Following the effective date of adoption of this Chapter, a permitted principal structure and accessory structure(s) may be erected upon any single nonconforming lot of record. Said lot must be in separate ownership and not of continuous frontage with other lots in the same ownership at the time of adoption of this Chapter. This provision shall apply even though such lot fails to meet the requirements for area or width, or both, that are generally applicable in the district. However, yard dimensions and requirements other than those applying to area or width, or both, of the lot shall conform to the regulations for the district in which such lot is located. Variance of any prescribed requirements shall be obtained only through action of the Zoning Hearing Board.

If two or more contiguous nonconforming lots held under single ownership have been duly approved by the Township Supervisors and are on record in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Lebanon County for no more than three years before the date of adoption of this Chapter, such lots may be developed, as recorded, provided that yard dimensions and requirements other than those applying to area or width shall conform to the regulations for the district in which such lots are located.

If two or more contiguous nonconforming lots held under single ownership have been duly approved by the Township Supervisors and are on record in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Lebanon County for more than three years before the date of adoption of this Chapter, such lots may be developed, provided that:

No portion of a nonconforming lot shall be sold or used in a manner which further diminishes compliance with the lot area and lot width requirements of this Chapter, nor shall a portion of a conforming lot be sold or used in a manner which creates a nonconforming lot.

No such nonconforming use of land which is ceased, removed, discontinued or abandoned for a period of two years shall thereafter be reestablished. This cessation, discontinuance or abandonment time limit may be extended by a one-hundred-eighty-day time period where contracts or agreements are being negotiated, provided (1) the property owner makes written application for an extension, citing the reasons necessary for the extension and the length of extension requested and (2) the Zoning Administrator issues a temporary certificate of zoning compliance to register the reasons for extension, the length of extension and the nature of the nonconformity.

No principal structure shall be erected in connection with such nonconforming use of land.

Expansion of nonconforming uses shall be limited to a maximum aggregate enlargement of 50% of the area of land so used, as compared to the land in nonconforming use at the date of adoption of this chapter. Contiguous land owned at the effective date of this chapter may be used for expansion of the nonconforming use. However, for purposes of this chapter, approved streets or road rights-of-way define the limit of expansion of any nonconforming use of land, and such uses shall not extend across said streets or road rights-of-way.

Such nonconforming structure may be enlarged or altered on existing or contiguous property.

Reconstruction must commence within two years of destruction of the original nonconforming use. If, for any reason, reconstruction cannot be commenced within two years, a request for extension of the foregoing two-year period for the reconstruction of the nonconforming use must be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for consideration. If the two-year period for reconstruction passes and no extension is granted, then the nonconforming status terminates, and any further construction or use of the premises must be in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

Existing structures devoted to a use not permitted by this chapter in the district in which it is located may be enlarged or extended on existing or contiguous property, provided that all other requirements of this chapter are satisfied for such extension, such as yards and setbacks.

Any nonconforming use and premises may, as a special exception, be changed to another nonconforming use provided that the Zoning Hearing Board, either by general rule or by making findings in the specific case, shall find that the proposed use is equally appropriate or more appropriate conditions and safeguards in accord with the provisions of this chapter.

Any structure, or structure and land in combination, in or on which a nonconforming use is superseded by a permitted use, shall after the expiration of two years conform to the regulations for the district, and the nonconforming use may not thereafter be resumed.