Except as otherwise provided in this section, the lawful use of land, buildings or structures legally existing on the date of adoption of this chapter may be continued although such use does not conform to the regulations specified by this chapter for the zone in which the land, buildings or structures are located, provided that no legally existing building, structure or lot devoted to a use not permitted by this chapter in the district in which the land, buildings or structures are located shall be enlarged, extended, constructed, reconstructed, substituted, relocated, erected, converted to another use or structurally altered except in conformity with the regulations of this chapter for the district in which the land, buildings or structures are located, except as allowed in Article X, Exceptions to Requirements. Also, land on which a nonconforming building is located shall not be reduced in size, nor shall any lot already nonconforming be made more nonconforming in any manner.
A.
Abandonment. A nonconforming use as defined above shall be considered abandoned if the nonconforming use is terminated by the owner or tenant or, if the owner or tenant shall fail to use the property for a period of 12 consecutive months, this shall be presumptive evidence of abandonment, and thereafter the building, structure or land shall not be used in a nonconforming manner.
B.
Conversion to permitted use. Any nonconforming building or use which has been changed to a conforming building or use shall not be changed back again into a nonconforming building or use.
C.
Restoration. Any nonconforming building or use which has been damaged by fire, explosion, flood, windstorm or other acts of God shall be examined by the Construction Official to determine whether the building has been substantially destroyed. If in the opinion of the Construction Official the building has been substantially destroyed, the building or use shall be considered completely destroyed and may be rebuilt only upon approval of a use variance or such other variance as is provided by state statutes and this chapter.
D.
Repairs and maintenance. Such repairs and maintenance work as are required to keep a building in sound condition may be made to a nonconforming building or structure.
E.
Sale of nonconforming use. Any nonconforming use may change ownership and continue to function as a nonconforming use, provided that the other provisions of this section are met.