The following definitions shall control the interpretation of this chapter:
ABANDONED SIGN. A sign, the face of which has been intentionally or unintentionally removed or is broken and is not refaced within 180 days thereafter. ABANDONED SIGNS shall also include signs with rusted, faded, peeled, cracked or otherwise deteriorated materials or finishes that have not been repaired within 90 days after the city provides notice of the sign’s deteriorated condition under the city’s enforcement chapter BCO Chapter 37
(Civil Enforcement).
ALTER including ALTERATION or ALTERED SIGN. Change the copy, color, size, shape, illumination, position, location, construction or supporting structure of a sign, not including ordinary maintenance.
AWNING. An architectural projection that provides weather protection, identity or decoration and is wholly supported by the building to which it is attached. An awning is comprised of a lightweight, rigid skeleton structure over which a covering is attached.
BANNER. A sign made of cloth, canvas, plastic film or some similarly flexible material without a rigid frame or surface. Banners include signs over the street or on poles along the right-of-way.
BILLBOARD. Any sign with a display surface of 200 square feet or more.
BUSINESS COMPLEX SIGN. A sign, which is designed to identify a business complex where no single business identification and/or advertisement occupies more than 50% of the sign area.
BUILDING DIRECTORY SIGN. A sign giving the name, address, number or location of the occupants of a building or buildings.
BUILDING FACE OF WALL. All window and wall area of a building in one plane or elevation.
BULLETIN BOARD OR READER BOARD. means a sign of permanent nature, but which accommodates changeable copy to announce an event or attraction or used to convey a specific message related to the building or use of property on which the bulletin board is located.
COPY. The text, letters, numbers, symbols and any other sort of graphical expressive content.
DEPARTMENT. Banks Department of Public Works.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN. Any sign within or adjacent to a right-of-way used primarily to give information about wayfinding of locations or destination.
DIRECTOR. The Public Works Director or assignee.
DIRECTORY SIGNS. Signs used for multi-tenant buildings to provide a directory of tenant locations within the building. They may also serve as the address sign for the property. DIRECTORY SIGNS are small scale and are oriented to pedestrians.
DISCONTINUED. To cease doing or providing (something), intentionally or unintentionally.
DISPLAY SURFACE AREA. The total area of a sign including all sides that are available for displaying advertising or an informational message.
DOUBLE FACED SIGN. A sign which has two sign surfaces back-to-back.
ELECTRONIC READER BOARD. A visual display board that conveys information electronically about a wide variety of subjects, including advertising for products or services, travel, news or event information.
ERECT or ERECTED. To construct, build, assemble, alter, or otherwise place a sign at the location where it is to be used.
FEATHER SIGN. A vertical portable sign that contains a harpoon-style pole or staff driven into the ground for support or supported by means of an individual stand.
FLAG. A flat piece of pliable material with distinctive colors, patterns or symbols, having one end of the cloth attached to a vertical staff (directly or by rope and pulley mechanism) and all other ends free flowing under natural movement of wind.
FREESTANDING SIGN. A sign and its support pole or base standing directly on the ground that is independent from any building or other structure.
FRONTAGE. The boundary between a single parcel and the public right-of-way. For purposes of this sign code, where a property abuts only one right-of-way, it has only one FRONTAGE. Where a property is a corner lot or otherwise abuts more than one right-of-way, it has two or more FRONTAGES.
GOVERNMENT and GOVERNMENTAL SIGN. Signs installed, erected, maintained or required by the city, county, or a federal or state governmental agency.
GROUND-MOUNTED. Not attached to any structure or building.
HANGING SIGN. A sign which has one or more edges of the sign attached to a supporting structure above it.
HEIGHT OF SIGN. The overall height of the sign above grade directly below or at the base of the sign.
INCIDENTAL SIGN. A small wall- or window-mounted sign (two square feet or smaller).
INFLATABLE SIGN. Any object enlarged or inflated which floats, is tethered in the air, is activated
by air or moving gas, or is located on the ground or on a building with or without copy or other graphic.
MONUMENT SIGN. A freestanding sign that is not supported by poles or columns and the base of the sign is in contact with the ground and the base is the full width of the sign face.
MURAL. An exterior wall painted with artwork or some expressive content or message with no frame or other associated structure. The MURAL is the layer of paint on the wall.
PEDESTRIAN ZONE. An area designated on the junction subarea map as a location primarily designed for pedestrian access and mobility.
PERMANENT SIGN. A sign constructed of weather resistant material and intended for permanent use and that does not otherwise meet the definition of “temporary sign”. Wall mounted sign holders designed for insertion of signs and posters shall be considered permanent signage and subject to all standards of this chapter.
PORTABLE SIGN. A free-standing sign that is readily moveable and not permanently affixed to the ground, including A-frame or sandwich board signs, pole signs mounted on weighted bases, and similar signs that are used on more than a temporary basis.
PROJECTING SIGN. A sign attached to a building with the face not parallel to the vertical surface of the building. PROJECTING SIGNS include signs projecting directly from walls.
PUBLIC AGENCY.
(1) Any state board, commission, committee, department, educational institution, or other state agency which is created by or pursuant to statute, other than courts and the legislature;
(2) Any county, city, school district, special purpose district, or other municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state of Oregon;
(3) Any sub agency of a public agency which is created by or pursuant to statute, ordinance, or other legislative act, including but not limited to planning commissions, library or park boards, commissions, and agencies.
RESPONSIBLE PERSON or PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR A SIGN. The person or party responsible for the content and/or erection and distribution of a sign whose contact information is identified on the sign.
SIGN. Letters, figures, symbols, trademarks, or logos, with or without illumination, intended to identify any place, subject, person, firm, business, product, article, merchandise or point of sale. A SIGN also includes balloons attached to sign structures, products, streamers, spinners, pennants, flags, inflatables or similar devices intended to attract attention to a site or business, as well as architectural or structural forms, illuminated panels, spandrels, awnings and other structural or architectural features not common to classic vernacular or non-corporate regional architecture and that are intended to convey a brand, message or otherwise advertise a location or product, whether or not such features include text or graphics and whether or not they serve other practical purposes such as lighting, covering or enclosure of persons or products. A SIGN includes any device which streams, televises or otherwise conveys electronic visual messages, pictures, videos or images, with or without sound or odors.
SIGN AREA. The area of the largest rectangular portion of a face of a building to which a sign is affixed or proposed to be affixed, which can be included within parallel, vertical and horizontal lines uninterrupted by significant architectural features of the building.
SIGN FACE. The total of display surface area visible from one side of a sign.
TEMPORARY SIGN (which may include special event signs). Any sign that is used on a temporary basis for a period of 45 days or less (plus allowable extensions), and is not permanently mounted, painted or otherwise affixed, excluding portable signs as defined by this chapter, including any poster, banner, placard, stake sign or sign not placed in the ground with concrete or other means to provide permanent support, stability and rot prevention. TEMPORARY SIGNS may only be made of non-durable materials including, but not limited to, paper, corrugated board, flexible, bendable or foldable plastic, foam core board, vinyl canvas, a vinyl mesh product of less than 20 oz. fabric, vinyl canvas and vinyl mesh products without polymeric plasticizers and signs painted or drawn with water soluble paints or chalks.
WALL SIGN. A physical sign structure, including fabric or a film, but not a layer of paint, attached to or hung upon on an exterior wall containing expressive content.
(Ord. 2018-04-01, passed 5-8-2018)