Charlie is allowed to continue his business in a zoned office area because he has what type of use?

Charlie's ability to continue his business in a zoned office area stems from having a nonconforming use. Nonconforming use refers to a situation where a property or business was established before zoning laws were enacted or revised, allowing that business to operate legally despite not conforming to the current zoning regulations. This status often applies to businesses that were originally permitted in an area but may no longer meet the newly established zoning requirements.

In this context, a variance is a request to deviate from current zoning regulations, which would require an application process, and a special use permit allows specific uses that typically are not allowed in a certain zone, subject to approval. However, Charlie’s situation indicates that he can continue his operation without needing a variance or special permit, as he was in business prior to the zoning changes, which solidifies his nonconforming status. Thus, it is this nonconforming use that permits Charlie to keep running his business in the zoned office area.