General maintenance and repair. Except as otherwise provided for in this section, legal nonconforming structures may continue to exist and be maintained and repaired.

Structural alterations, renovations and additions. Alterations, renovations and additions to a legal nonconforming structure may be made upon issuance of a building permit and only to the extent that such alterations, renovations and additions do not increase the degree of nonconformity and only to the extent that any nonconforming use related to such structure is not expanded. Any structure may be altered to decrease its nonconformity upon issuance of a proper building permit.

Damaged structures. Legal nonconforming structures may be repaired and restored to their former condition after sustaining damage by casualty loss or deterioration due to the elements, except where the damage involves over 50% of the gross floor area of the structure or 50% of the floor area devoted to a nonconforming use or such damage exceeds 50% of the total replacement cost of the damaged structure as determined by a licensed insurance adjuster or other legal representative of the insuring company.

Except as otherwise provided herein, legal nonconforming uses may continue to exist.

A legal nonconforming use may not be enlarged to occupy additional floor area within an existing structure or additional lot space nor be converted to another use except in conformance with this chapter.

No nonconforming use, if changed to a conforming use, shall thereafter be changed back to a nonconforming use.

The provisions of the above § 240-21C relating to the repair and restoration of damaged structures shall apply to conforming structures containing a nonconforming use.

Any nonconforming use of a structure of land which has ceased for a consecutive period of six months, as certified by the Code Enforcement Officer, shall be deemed abandoned and may not be reestablished as a nonconforming use, and, thereafter, such structure or land or portion thereof shall be used in conformity with this chapter.

Parking (see Article VI, § 240-27). No modification of a structure, whether an addition or an internal renovation, which increases the floor area devoted to an otherwise conforming use shall be made if such modification introduces or increases the degree of nonconformity with respect to off-street parking requirements.

Signs: see Article VII, § 240-32.

Screening devices: see Article VIII, § 240-42.