Pennsylvania Statutes Title 16 P.S. Counties § 5233. Nonconforming uses

(a) The lawful use of a building or structure or the lawful use of any land as existing and lawful at the time of the enactment of a zoning ordinance, or in the case of an amendment of an ordinance, then at the time of such amendment, may, except as hereinafter provided, be continued, although such use does not conform with the provisions of such ordinance or amendment. Such use may be extended throughout the same building, provided no structural alteration of such building is proposed or made for the purpose of such extension. The county commissioners may provide in any zoning ordinance for the restoration, reconstruction, extension or substitution of nonconforming uses upon such terms and conditions as may be set forth in the zoning ordinance. The county commissioners may in any zoning ordinance provide for the termination of nonconforming uses, either by specifying the period or periods in which nonconforming uses shall be required to cease, or by providing a formula or formulae whereby the compulsory termination of a nonconforming use may be so fixed as to allow for the recovery or amortization of the investment in the nonconformance.

(b) If the county acquires title to any property by reason of tax delinquency and such property is not redeemed or sold as provided by law, the future uses of such property shall be in conformity with the then provisions of the zoning ordinance of the county or with any amendment of such ordinance equally applicable to the other like properties within the district in which the property acquired by the county is located.