Whenever title to two or more contiguous lots, one or more of which does not contain a principal building, is held by the same owner, regardless of whether or not each of the lots may have been approved as portions of a subdivision or acquired by separate conveyance or by other operation of law, and one or more of the individual lots does not conform with the minimum lot area, yard and dimension requirements for the zone in which it is located, the contiguous lots of the owner shall be considered as a single lot.