A property owner in a recently zoned area was permitted to continue to use his property in a manner that did not comply with the zoning requirements. This use is described as?

A nonconforming use refers to a situation where a property is utilized in a way that does not conform to the current zoning regulations, but the owner has been allowed to continue this use after the establishment of new zoning laws. This typically occurs when a property was lawfully used for a particular purpose before the zoning regulations changed, and the local government permits the continuation of that use even though it does not align with the current zoning classifications.

In the context of zoning, it is important to understand that nonconforming uses are often protected by zoning laws to ensure fairness to property owners who invested in properties based on earlier regulations. They may be allowed to continue their operations, as long as they do not expand or significantly alter their use. The goal of recognizing nonconforming uses is to avoid creating undue hardship for property owners while gradually advancing towards more conforming land uses within the community.