A legally existing land use that was permitted when established but no longer complies with current zoning regulations due to subsequent changes in zoning laws. These uses are typically allowed to continue as 'grandfathered' activities but may face restrictions on expansion or modification.
From 'non-' (not) + 'conforming' (Latin 'conformare,' meaning to shape according to) + 'use.' This concept emerged in early 20th century American zoning law to balance property rights with community planning goals.
The legal time machine: that corner grocery store in your residential neighborhood might be operating under laws from 1925! Nonconforming uses create fascinating frozen-in-time pockets where a gas station can legally exist in a residential zone, but if it closes for too long or burns down, it can never be rebuilt—making some properties legal zombies.
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