1159.02 DEFINITIONS.

   The following definitions apply to terms and phrases used in this Ordinance:

   (a)   Accessory Sales Sign means a temporary sign relating to the sales of products on residential lots (see Section 1153.06 (c)(2)).

   (b)   Animated Sign means any sign that uses movement or change of lighting, including revolving, rotating, whirling, spinning, blinking, reflecting or flashing to depict action, create an image of a living creature or person, or create a special effect or scene. Animation shall be considered any change or movement more frequent than once every twenty-four (24) hours. An Electronic Display Sign, as defined herein, is not considered an animated sign.

   (c)   Awning Sign means one painted, attached, embossed or affixed to a permanent or retractable awning.

   (d)   Balloon Display means a balloon or grouping of balloons arranged to advertise a special event or promotion related to the commercial activities conducted on the premises.

   (e)   Banner Sign means a temporary sign made of fabric, cloth, paper, or other non-rigid material that is typically not enclosed in a frame, and is often used to highlight special offers or special events. A feather banner is a type of banner sign comprised of a metal or plastic frame, pole, and/or base to which a vinyl, nylon, canvas or polyester fabric sign face is attached (see illustration).

   (f)   Billboard means a sign which contains a message unrelated to a business or profession conducted or to a commodity, service, or activity sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.

   (g)   Business Complex means a commercial or industrial development that contains more than one business on a commercial or industrial parcel.

   (h)   Business Frontage means the total lineal feet of building fronting on a street, highway, shopping center parking lot or pedestrian walkway.

   (i)   Candela means the basic unit of measurement of light in the International System of Units.

   (j)   Candela per square meter (cd/m2) means the metric unit used to describe the luminance of a light source or of an illuminated surface that reflects light. Also, referred to as nits.

   (k)   Canopy Sign means a sign attached to the underside of a roof-like structure constructed of rigid materials.

   (l)   Changeable Copy Sign means a sign or portion thereof on which the copy or symbols change either automatically through electrical or electronic means (for example, time and temperature units), or manually through placement of letters or symbols on a panel mounted in or on a track system.

   (m)   Comparable Sign means a sign that is not specifically listed in this Ordinance as a permitted or prohibited sign, but is deemed to be similar in certain respects to one or more permitted signs.

   (n)   Construction Sign means a temporary sign that identifies the designer, contractor and sub-contractors, and suppliers participating in construction on the property on which the sign is located.

   (o)   Directional Sign means a sign that is intended to direct the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic to, from, and within a site.

   (p)   Director of Planning, Zoning & Building Division means the person designated by the City Council to be responsible for implementing the Zoning Ordinance. From time to time, this title may change at the discretion of the City Council.

   (q)   Electronic Display Sign means a sign that uses Electronic Display Technology to form a sign message in text, graphic, or video display form, where the sequence of messages is electronically programmed and modified. As used in this Ordinance, the following definitions shall apply to electronic display signs:

      (1)   Electronic Changeable Copy Sign means a sign on which text messages change automatically through the use of Electronic Display Technology. Electronic changeable copy signs may include, for example, time and temperature signs or a business bulletin board. Electronic changeable copy signs do not include electronic graphic display signs or video display signs or multi-vision signs, as defined herein.

      (2)   Electronic Graphic Display Sign means a sign that displays static electronic images, including static graphics or pictures with or without text by using Electronic Display Technology, immediately or by means of fade, repixalization or dissolve modes. An Electronic Graphic Display Sign may be combined with an Electronic Changeable Copy sign.

      (3)   Video Display Sign means a sign that displays a message characterized by motion, movement, or pictorial imagery. Video display signs may include text, moving objects, moving patterns, bands of light or expanding or contracting shapes. Video Display Signs use electronic display technology and may be combined with an Electronic Changeable Copy signs.

   (r)   Electronic Display Technology means computer programmable devices that control the display of images and messages onto a sign face.

   (s)   Festoon means a string of ribbons, tinsel, small flags, pinwheels or lights, typically strung overhead in loops.

   (t)   Flag sign means a sign configured and erected as a flag which is intended to advertise activities conducted on the premises, but excluding flags of the City of Aurora, the State of Ohio, the United States, or corporations when displayed for identification purposes.

   (u)   Garage Sale Sign means a sign advertising a garage sale, estate sale, yard sale, porch sale, auction, or similar activity.

   (v)   Ground Sign A permanent ground sign means a three-dimensional, self-supporting, base-mounted freestanding sign, consisting of two (2) or more sides extending up from the base, and upon which a message is affixed. A ground sign may also consist of a base-mounted cylindrical structure upon which a message is affixed, and which has a supporting base as an integral part of the sign resting totally or primarily on the ground.

A temporary ground sign is one that is not necessarily three-dimensional, and is placed on or anchored to the ground.

   (w)   Home Occupation Sign means a sign on a residential property that advertises a home occupation that has been approved as a conditional use on the property.

   (x)   Identification Sign means a sign identifying an individual business or group of businesses as follows:

      (1)   Business Complex Identification Sign means a sign identifying a business complex. Such a sign may list the names of the businesses in the complex.

      (2)   Business Identification Wall Sign means a wall sign identifying an individual business.

   (y)   Illegal Sign means a sign that does not meet the requirements of this Ordinance and has not received legal nonconforming status.

   (z)   Logos means a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote public recognition.

   (aa)   Incidental Sign means a small sign, emblem, or decal informing the public of goods, facilities, or services available on the premises. Examples of incidental signs are credit card signs, signs indicating hours of business, no smoking signs, and signs used to designate restroom locations.

   (bb)   Marquee Sign means any message or identification that is affixed to a marquee. A marquee is a permanent roof-like structure or canopy, supported by and extending from the face of the building.

   (cc)   Model Home Sign means a sign in a residential development on the site of a model home that identifies and advertises the model home.

   (dd)   Moving Sign means any sign in which the sign itself or any portion of it physically moves or revolves. A rotating sign is a type of moving sign.

   (ee)   Nameplate Sign means a sign on a residential parcel that indicates the name and/or address of the residents.

   (ff)   Neon Sign (see "Outline Tubing Sign").

   (gg)   Nonconforming Sign means either of the following:

      (1)   A sign that is prohibited under the terms of this Ordinance but was erected lawfully with a permit and was in use on the date of enactment of this Ordinance, or amendment thereto.

      (2)   A sign that does not conform to the requirements of this Ordinance, but for which a variance has been granted.

   (hh)   Obsolete Sign means a sign that advertises a product that is no longer made or that advertises a business that has closed.

   (ii)   Off-Premises Sign means a sign with a commercial message that directs attention to a business, product or service offered in a location other than where the sign is located.

   (jj)   Open House Sign means a sign that advertises and may give directions to a house being offered for sale.

   (kk)   Outline Tubing Sign means a sign consisting of glass tubing, filled with a gas such as neon, that glows when electric current is sent through it. An enclosed outline tubing sign is one that is enclosed in a box or cabinet with a clear plastic or Lexan cover that protects the sign's components from outside elements.

   (ll)   Parapet means a low wall or rail at the edge of a roof and that extends above roof level.

   (mm)   Pedestrian Blade Sign means a building-mounted pedestrian sign that contains two faces and which is perpendicular to the building on which it is mounted.

   (nn)   Pennant means a series of narrow, tapering flags, typically strung from pole to pole.

   (oo)   Pennant Display means multiple pennants arranged in sequence to draw attention to activities on a parcel.

   (pp)   Person means an individual, trustee, executor, fiduciary, corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization, or other legal entity acting as a unit.

   (qq)   Personal Interest Sign means a sign expressing the personal opinion of a property owner on any subject, including but not limited to religion, politics, social viewpoints, and sports, but excluding commercial messages.

   (rr)   Planter Sign means a freestanding business identification and advertising sign that utilizes plants and stones, wood and other building materials to screening the supporting structure of the sign and that is designed to enhance the appearance of the building and premises to which it pertains and the community in general.

   (ss)   Pole Sign means a sign supported by a pole or poles where the sign face is either placed on top of or is suspended from the pole or poles.

   (tt)   Post Sign means a sign supported by a post (for example, a wooden post) where the face of the sign is either placed on top of or is suspended from the post.

   (uu)   Political Sign means any sign used for the purposes of endorsing, supporting, advocating, or opposing any candidate for any elected office or any issue that will be placed before the electorate at any general, primary, or special election.

   (vv)   Project Sign means a sign that offers information about and promotes a development project on the property on which the sign is located.

   (ww)   Projecting Sign means a sign, other than a flat wall sign, that projects more than twelve (12) inches from the face of the building or structure on which it is located and is designed to attract the attention of drivers.

   (xx)   Public Sign means a sign erected in the public interest by or upon orders from a local, state or federal official. Examples of public signs include legal notices, traffic signs, memorial plaques, and signs of historical interest.

   (yy)   Quasi-Public means an organization or place that is accessible or visible to the public at large, but is not a part of government. Examples of quasi-public organizations include civic organizations (e.g., Rotary), service clubs, community theater group, and religious institutions.

   (zz)   Real Estate Sign means a sign related to the sale or lease of the property on which the sign is displayed, and is further defined as follows:

      (1)   Residential Real Estate Sign means a sign related to the sale or lease of residentially-used property on which the sign is located.

      (2)   Commercial and Industrial Real Estate Sign means any sign related to the sale or lease of commercially or industrially-used property on which the sign is located.

   (aaa)   Residential Entranceway Sign means a sign that marks the entrance to a subdivision, apartment complex, condominium development, or other residential development.

   (bbb)   Sandwich Board Sign means an "A-frame" shaped sign that consists of two sign boards that are hinged together at the top. The message can be factory imprinted on the boards, handwritten, or manually changed.

   (ccc)   Sign means any device, fixture, or placard that uses words, names, figures, graphic designs, illustrations, logos or trademarks for the purpose informing and/or attracting attention of persons. The definition of Sign includes interior and exterior signs that are visible from any public street, sidewalk, alley, park, parking lot, or public property.

   (ddd)   Special Community Event Sign means a sign relating to special activities sponsored by public entities or quasi-public entities, or a sign that relates to public, quasi-public, or civic special events.

   (eee)   Streamer means a long narrow banner, flag, or pennant.

   (fff)   Supplemental Commercial Sign means a temporary, portable sign relating to the activities on a commercial property.

   (ggg)   Temporary Sign means a sign not constructed or intended for long-term use. Examples of temporary signs are signs that announce a coming attraction, a new building under construction, a community or civic project, or other special events that occur for a limited period of time.

   (hhh)   Vehicle Sign means a sign painted or affixed on the side or top of a vehicle.

   (iii)   Vehicle Sales Sign means a sign relating to the sales of vehicles, as regulated in Section 1153.05(c)(3).

   (jjj)   Wall Sign means a sign that is affixed to the wall of the principal building on the business frontage chosen for frontage.

   (kkk)   Window Sign means any sign on the interior of a commercially-used building that is intended to be seen from outside the building, further defined as follows:

      (1)   Permanent Window Sign means any window sign located inside the building, made of permanent materials, and intended to identify the business or advertise some aspect of the business.

      (2)   Temporary Window Sign means any window sign painted on or attached to the inside of a window or door of a building, made of non-permanent materials, and intended to advertise a limited-time offer or product.

         (Ord. 2013-128. Passed 3-10-14.)