A. Construction.
1. All signs shall be constructed, erected and maintained to support the actual dead load, plus wind loads of not less than 40 pounds per square foot acting upon it, without exceeding the allowable stresses of the material.
a. The exposed area subject to wind pressure shall be the total area of all parts of the sign, including structural framing projected on a plane perpendicular to the direction of the wind.
b. In determining the stress in any member, the wind shall be assumed to blow from that horizontal direction and from that inclination from the vertical (but not to exceed 20 degrees above or below the horizontal) which produces the maximum stress in such member. No shielding effect on one element from another shall be considered where the distance between such elements exceeds four times the smaller projected dimension of the windward element.
2. The temporary occupancy of a sidewalk or street or other public property during construction, removal, repair, alteration, or maintenance of a sign is permitted subject to the approval of the jurisdictional authority, provided that the space occupied is roped off, fenced off, or otherwise isolated as directed by said authority.
3. No sign or any part thereof or sign anchor, brace, or guide rod may be attached, fastened, or anchored to any fire escape, fire ladder, or standpipe and no such sign or any part of any such sign or any anchor, brace, or guide rod may be erected, put up, relocated, or maintained so as to hinder or prevent ingress or egress through such door, doorway, fire escape, window, or opening designated by the contracted fire department, or so as to hinder or prevent the raising or placing of ladders against such building by the fire department as necessity may require.
4. Upon request of the Zoning Administrator, it is the responsibility of the applicant to establish by competent evidence that the sign meets any above stated standards or requirements.
B. Sign Maintenance. The owner of a sign shall keep it in good maintenance and repair which includes restoring, repainting, or replacement of a worn or damaged legally existing sign to its original condition; and shall maintain the premises on which the sign is erected in a clean, sanitary, and inoffensive condition, free and clear of obnoxious substances, rubbish and weeds.