A lawful nonconforming use in existence on the effective date of this chapter may be continued, so long as it remains otherwise lawful.

Nothing in this article shall be deemed to prevent normal repairs to buildings, structures, or equipment utilized in connection with a lawful nonconforming use in existence on the effective date of this chapter.

Nonconforming noncommercial uses shall be prohibited from expanding, enlarging, increasing, or extending to cover a greater land area than that covered by such use on the effective date of this chapter.

A nonconforming commercial use may be expanded when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board upon the Board's determination, after public hearing, that the expansion is necessary to accommodate the reasonable growth of the business or the reasonable needs of the business to modernize to meet current market requirements and the expansion is not inconsistent with the public interest.

No such nonconforming use of lands shall be enlarged or increased nor extended to cover a greater land area than that covered at the date of adoption or amendment of this article, except when authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board upon the Board's determination that the enlargement, increase or extension is necessitated by the natural growth or expansion of the use, provided that no expansion of a nonconforming use shall take place on land acquired after the nonconforming use was created.

In permitting such expansion, the Zoning Hearing Board may attach such reasonable conditions and safeguards, in addition to those expressed in this chapter, as it may deem necessary to implement the requirements of any statute or Township ordinance or regulation.

A nonconforming use of land or structures may be changed to a conforming use. When such nonconforming use has been changed to a conforming use, the conforming use shall not thereafter revert back to a nonconforming use.

If no structural alterations are made, any nonconforming use of a structure, or structure and premises may be changed to a different nonconforming use, provided that the Zoning Hearing Board, by making findings in the specific case, shall find that the proposed use is equally or more appropriate to the district than the existing nonconforming use. In permitting such a change, the Zoning Hearing Board may require appropriate conditions and safeguards in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

Where a nonconforming use has been changed to another, the nonconforming use in existence on the date of application to change uses shall not be retained and the nonconforming use that replaces the existing use shall have no right to expand.

No existing structure or structure and premises in combination devoted to a use not permitted by this chapter in the district in which it is located shall be enlarged, extended, constructed, reconstructed, moved or structurally altered, except in changing the use of the structure to a use permitted in the district in which it is located, unless the Zoning Hearing Board, after a public hearing, determines that the enlargement or extension is necessitated by the natural expansion and growth of the trade of the nonconforming use. Approval of the Zoning Hearing Board shall not be required for routine maintenance, repairs to strengthen or restore the structure to a safe condition or any other cosmetic alteration which does not change the use of the structure or increase the area of the structure devoted to the nonconforming use.

Except in the case of natural expansion approved by the Zoning Hearing Board, a repaired or reconstructed nonconforming building or structure shall occupy no greater lot area and contain no greater cubic content than the building or structure in existence at the time of the casualty or occurrence of damage.

A nonconforming building or structure damaged by fire, collapse, explosion, act of God, or other casualty to the extent that 50% or more of the total square footage of the nonconforming building or structure is damaged may not be repaired or reconstructed except in conformity with this article.

A repaired or reconstructed nonconforming building or structure shall occupy no greater lot area and contain no greater cubic content than the building or structure in existence at the time of the casualty or occurrence of damage.

Unless otherwise approved by the Zoning Hearing Board, repair or reconstruction of a damaged nonconforming building or structure shall commence within two years of the date of damage thereto and shall be completed within three years of the date of damage.

A nonconforming building or structure which has been razed or demolished must be reconstructed or rebuilt in conformity with this article.

A nonconforming building or structure shall not be moved or relocated in whole or in part to any other portion of the lot or parcel occupied by such use on the effective date of this chapter.

If a nonconforming building or structure is moved or relocated for any reason from the lot upon which it was located on the effective date of this chapter, the building or structure shall thereafter conform to the regulations of the district in which it is relocated.

A nonconforming use which has been voluntarily abandoned shall not be resumed and any subsequent use shall be in conformity with this article.

The intent to abandon a nonconforming use shall be presumed when any one of the following conditions exists:

The Zoning Officer shall act upon all requests for registration of nonconforming uses within 30 days of receipt of an application for registration and shall maintain a register of all applications for registration of nonconforming uses.

The Zoning Officer may prepare a register of all nonconforming uses existing as of the effective date of this chapter. Such register shall include a general description of the nature and extent of the nonconformity and may include photographs. The register shall be maintained as a public record.