In the provisions established by this ordinance, there exist uses of land, buildings, structures, lots of record and signs that were lawfully established before this ordinance was adopted or amended, that now do not conform to its terms and requirements. The purpose and intent of this section is to regulate the continued existence of those uses, buildings, structures, lots, and signs that do not conform to the provisions of this ordinance, or any amendments thereto. Nonconformities are classified as either:

(a)

Nonconforming uses;

(b)

Nonconforming buildings or structures; or

(c)

Nonconforming lots.

Under certain circumstances more than one (1) of the above classifications may apply. Nonconformities are allowed to continue, expand and reconstruct in accordance with the requirements of this section. The burden of establishing that a nonconformity lawfully exists shall be on the owner of the land on which the purported nonconformity is located. (Ord. No. 12-16, Jan. 2013)