For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADVERTISING SIGN. A sign or billboard which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than on the premises.
ALLIED BUSINESS. Same or similar business with common name such as new and used auto sales.
AREA IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A ground sign that identifies the name of a commercial, industrial, or business park development complex consisting of two or more businesses.
AREA OF SIGN. That area within the marginal lines or extreme outside edge of the surface which bears the advertisement, or in the case of messages, figures or symbols attached directly to any part of a building, that area which is included in the smallest rectangle which can be made to circumscribe any message, figure or symbol displayed thereon. For a sign with not more than two back-to-back faces, only the area of one side is computed in determining the sign area.
AWNING. An attached canopy or similar structure designed to provide cover for entrances, walkways and windows.
BALLOON SIGN. An inflatable balloon or device used to draw attention to a business or product.
BANDED AREAS. That portion of a building generally located along the front which is constructed for purposes of attaching building signs in a consistent and coordinated manner.
BANNER. A temporary display of information on material such as canvas or plastic.
BENCH SIGN. A sign attached to or a part of a sitting bench.
BILLBOARD SIGN. See ADVERTISING SIGN.
BUILDING SIGN. A sign attached to and not projecting more than two feet from the exterior wall or roof of a building.
BUSINESS SIGN. A sign which directs attention to the business or profession conducted on the premises. A “For Sale,” “For Lease” or “Information” sign shall also be deemed a BUSINESS SIGN. In order to be considered a BUSINESS SIGN rather than an advertising sign, all of the gross surface area of the sign must pertain to the major functions or name of the business, the trade names of primary products or goods manufactured or sold on the premises.
CHANGEABLE SIGN.
A sign or portion of a sign that has copy which recurrently changes or is intended to be recurrently changed for different message text or graphics. Changeable signs include readerboard signs, electronic message signs, and electronic graphic display signs as defined herein.
CIVIC EVENT SIGN. A temporary sign which promotes a special school, city or other civic event, celebration or festival.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN. A sign used temporarily at the construction site identifying the contractors and builder.
COPY AREA. The smallest vertical rectangle that can be drawn around the message on a sign.
DEVELOPMENT COMPLEX. An area containing more than one building on either a single parcel or on separate, but contiguous lots of record which was improved pursuant to a unified site design and overall land use plan approved by the city.
DEVELOPMENT SIGN. A temporary sign located on the site of a new development, listing owners, developers, builders and similar identifying information.
DIGITAL OR LED DISPLAY SIGN. Any sign or a portion of a sign, of which letters, numbers or other characters are changeable and visible only due to electronic, digital or LCD/LED display methods.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN. A sign erected upon private property to provide pedestrian or traffic directions and which bears no advertising information.
DRIVEWAY MEDIAN. A raised median intended to divide or channel vehicular traffic.
DOUBLE FACE SIGN. A sign displaying identical information on opposite sides.
ELECTRONIC GRAPHIC DISPLAY SIGN.
A sign that electronically displays images, graphics, or pictures, with or without alphanumeric characters, utilizing a display sign area, in which the characters consist of and are created by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, light bulbs, or other illumination devices within the display area or transmitted digital copy to the display area which may be a plasma display or other monitor screen.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN.
A sign that electronically displays non-pictorial, alphanumeric characters utilizing a display sign area, in which the characters consist of and are created by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, light bulbs or other illumination devices within the display area or transmitted digital copy to the display area which may be a plasma display or other monitor screen.
FLASHING SIGN.
Any illuminated sign on which the artificial light is not maintained both stationary and constant in intensity and color at all times when a sign is in use. An electronic message sign does not constitute a flashing sign.
FREESTANDING SIGN. A pylon or ground sign that is not part of the principal structure.
GASOLINE PUMP ISLAND CANOPY. A structure that provides shelter over gasoline pump islands.
GRADE OF SIGN. The lowest point of elevation of the finished surface of the ground, paving or sidewalk within the area between the sign and a line ten feet from the sign.
GROUND SIGN. A sign erected upon or supported by ground and not attached to any building.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign which bears the name and/or address of the occupant of the building.
ILLUMINATED SIGN.
Any sign that has any illumination directed upon or within or around the sign or structure.
INFORMATIONAL SIGN. A sign that identifies building functions and is attached thereto, such as car wash bay or drive-in window.
MAJOR ANCHOR/CENTER SIGN. A specially designed, masonry clad, freestanding sign used to identify single-tenant buildings that are in excess of 50,000 square feet or multi-tenant centers in excess of 100,000 square feet in building size. A conditional use permit is required for a MAJOR ANCHOR/ CENTER SIGN prior to issuance of a sign permit.
MENU BOARD. A sign listing drive-up items in conjunction with a business serving customers in a car.
MONUMENT SIGN. A ground sign intended to permanently identify by name a residential development.
MOVING DEVICE. A device which moves or rotates to attract attention for advertising purposes.
MULTI-OCCUPANCY BUILDING. A building designed to be occupied by two or more separate businesses.
NON-COMMERCIAL SIGNS. Any sign that presents a message that is political, philosophical, social or personal and does not advertise or sell a service, product or other commercial undertaking.
PENNANT. A small flag used for decorative purposes or to attract attention.
POLITICAL SIGN. A temporary sign which displays information pertaining to an upcoming governmental district, city, county, state or national election.
PORTABLE SIGN. A sign so designed as to be movable from one location to another and not permanently attached to the ground or to any immobile structure. A PORTABLE SIGN may consist of a mobile structure such as a semi-truck trailer or other device whose primary function during a specific time period is to serve as a sign.
PROJECTING SIGN. A double- sided sign that is either supported in a cantilever fashion by a bracket, pole, or beam from the side of a building or hanging from the underside of a roof or overhang so that the sign hangs over and positioned perpendicular to a pedestrian walkway and viewable in both directions of the walkway. A projecting sign is also referred to as a “blade sign.”
PROMOTIONAL SIGN. A temporary sign which shall not exist for more than 30 days which promotes civic events or promotions limited to city celebrations, Christmas tree sales, Fire Department’s Booya and special school events.
PYLON SIGN. A ground sign erected upon a single post or posts or shafts that converge at a common base with the posts not more than 15 feet apart, with the display portion mounted on top thereof.
READERBOARD SIGN.
A sign in which the copy consists of alphanumeric characters and is created or modified manually.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. A sign intended to aid on the sale, rental or lease of real property.
REAR IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign located adjacent to the rear entrance to individual businesses to clearly identify the location for “deliveries.” This identification sign shall not be considered in computing the maximum permitted sign area for a business.
REVOLVING SIGN. A sign which rotates at a constant rate of revolutions per minute.
ROOF LINE. That line at which an exterior wall surface of a building structure departs from a vertical plane.
SETBACK. The term “setback” shall have the same definition as that set forth in the zoning regulations in this code. Pylon signs, exclusive of the supporting structure, may project three feet into the minimum required setback.
SIGN. A name, identification, description, display, illustration, structure, device which is affixed to, or painted, or represented directly or indirectly upon a building or other outdoor surface or a piece of land, and which directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization or business.
STORY. That portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above.
TEMPORARY SIGN. Any sign which is erected for a limited time and/or special purpose.
TRAFFIC DIRECTIONAL SIGN. A sign erected by a public agency for the purpose of guiding vehicular and pedestrian traffic in a safe and convenient manner and which bears no advertising information.
(‘81 Code, § 6-103) (Ord. 495, passed 9-20-90; Am. Ord. 504, passed 2-28-91; Am. Ord. 790, passed 4-27-06; Am. Ord. 876, passed 12-22-09; Am. Ord. 958, passed 12-26-13; Am. Ord. 964, passed 4-24-14; Am. Ord. 1058, passed 3-28-19; Am. Ord. 1091, passed 6-10-21; Am. Ord. 1110, passed 4-14-22)