Words and phrases not defined in this subchapter, but defined in § 152.010 of this chapter, shall be given the meanings set forth in § 152.010 of this chapter. For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMATION. The movement, or the optical illusion of movement of any part of the sign structure, design or pictorial segment including the movement of any illumination or the flashing, scintillating or varying of light intensity. The automatic changing of all or any part of the facing of a sign shall be considered to be ANIMATION. Also included in this definition are signs having “chasing action” which is the action of a row of lights commonly used to create the appearance of motion.
ARTWORK. Integral decorative or architectural feature of a building, attached to a building or works of art displayed in a prime setting or painted on a surface.
BALLOON. A non-porous bag of material filled with heated or non-heated air or gas so as to rise or float in the atmosphere.
BANNER. A fabric, plastic or other material made of non-rigid material without enclosing structural framework.
BILLBOARD. Any outdoor off-premise sign, display, light, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, plaque, poster, billboard or any other thing which is designed, intended or used to advertise or inform, any part of the advertising or information contents of which is visible from any place on the main-traveled way of the interstate or primary system, whether the same be permanent or portable installation.
(G.S. § 136-128)
BUILDING FRONT. The linear length of building facing a street right-of-way or in the case of a planned unit development, facing a legal private access road.
BUILDING MARKER. Any sign indicating the name of a building, date and incidental information about its construction, which sign is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.
BUILDING SIGN. Any sign attached to any part of a building, as contrasted to a free-standing sign.
CANOPY. A protective cover over a door, entrance, window or outdoor service area, which is attached to or cantilevered from a building; also known as an AWNING. Permanent marquees and porticoes that are designed as a continuous or integral part of the structure shall not be considered CANOPIES.
CANOPY SIGN. A sign that is suspended from, attached to, support from, applied to or constructed as part of a canopy or awning. A marquee is not a CANOPY.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN. A sign on which message copy is changed manually in the field through attachment of letters, numbers, symbols and other similar characters of changeable pictorial panels. In no case shall the changeable copy portion exceed 50% of the total sign area.
COMBINED DEVELOPMENT. A grouping of two or more establishments on one or more parcels of property that may share parking and access and are linked architecturally or otherwise present the appearance of a unified grouping of activities.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNS. A sign that directs motorists to a location or confirms a correct route, such as enter, exit and parking signs.
DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW SIGN. An attached or free-standing sign listing choices and processes. The sign allows communication between the consumer and business. Limited to no more than two signs and should not be seen from a road, only viewable to those waiting in line at a drive-through.
DYNAMIC DISPLAY. Any characteristic of a sign that appears to have movement or that appears to change, caused by any method other than physically removing and replacing the sign or its components, whether the apparent movement or change is in the display, the sign structure itself, or any other component of the sign. This includes a display that incorporates a technology or method allowing the sign face to change the image without having to physically or mechanically replace the sign face or its components. This also includes any rotating, revolving, moving, flashing, blinking or animated display and any display that incorporates rotating panels, LCD or other monitors, LED lights, manipulated through digital input, digital ink or any other method or technology that allows the sign face to present a series of images or displays.
FACADE. The entire building walls, including wall faces, parapets, fascia, windows, doors, canopy and visible roof structures of one complete elevation.
FEATHER SIGNS AND BANNERS. Promotional banners and advertising signs. FEATHER SIGNS are anchored onto bent poles via a reinforced sleeve and are left open at the bottom in order to flutter in the wind as a means for drawing attention. FEATHER BANNERS are vertically-proportioned rectangular banners that are anchored onto poles at the top and on one side via reinforced cloth sleeves and stiffened at the bottom to minimize flapping.
FENCE SIGN. A sign mounted on, attached to or constructed as part of a fence or similar structure.
FESTOON LIGHTING. A string of outdoor lights suspended between two or more points.
FLAG. Any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols, used as a symbol of government, political subdivision or other entity. The height of any flagpole cannot exceed the 35-foot height restriction. The 4 U.S.C. Ch. 1 describes the United States flag as a living symbol and must be treated with such respect as well as state and local government flags.
FLAG, ORNAMENTAL. Any fabric containing distinctive colors or patterns that is used as an ornamental decoration. Size is restricted to no greater than three feet by five. The flag cannot protrude into the road or right-of-way. Quantity limited to one per location.
FREE-STANDING SIGN. A sign supported by a sign structure placed in the ground that is wholly independent of any building, fence, vehicle or object other than the sign structure for support.
GASOLINE PUMP SIGN. Signs which are normally associated with the sale of gasoline.
GOVERNMENT ENTITY. The town and its departments, the county and its departments, the state and its departments, and the United States of America and its departments.
GOVERNMENT SIGN. Any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained by a governmental entity.
GRADE. The uppermost surface directly below the sign or immediately adjacent to the support. Where the uppermost surface has been artificially raised for landscaping or other purposes, GRADE shall be measured from the level of the nearest town or state street curb.
GROUND-MOUNTED SIGN. A free-standing sign with its base or its supports mounted directly to the ground. For the purposes of this chapter, a ground sign shall be defined as two sign faces that are located back-to-back on a single structure. The maximum sign area as set forth in § 152.113 of this chapter.
HALO LIT LETTERING. Lettering made with attachable lighting that diffuses behind the outline of the lettering. Letters are to be made of metal or wood, no opaque materials. Not to exceed 6,500 lumens each.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign whose copy is limited to the name and address of a building being identified.
ILLUMINATION, INDIRECT. Illumination that reflects light from an artificial light source intentionally directed upon a surface. This shall also include silhouettes of letters or symbols placed before a background of reflected light.
ILLUMINATION, INTERNAL. Illumination provided from a source located inside or within the face of the sign.
INFLATABLE SIGNS. A three-dimensional object, filled with air or gas, and located in such a manner as to attract attention. Does not include balloons.
INFORMATIONAL SIGN. A sign, emblem or decal informing the public of services available on the premises that cannot be seen from the road (e.g., credit cards, “ATM” or a sign indicating hours of operation).
LETTERING. Letters that are mounted to the side of a building may be allowed in order to identify the business at that location. LETTERING can be made of high-density urethane or wood. Maximum allowable area for lettering is one square foot per linear foot of building wall the lettering is attached to and not to exceed 50 square feet for all zoning districts and 32 square feet for all residential zoning districts.
MAINTENANCE. The cleaning, painting, repair or replacement of defective parts of a sign in a manner that does not alter the basic copy, design or structure of the sign.
MONUMENT SIGN. A ground sign that is mounted generally flush with the surrounding grade. It may not be attached to a pole or pylon, nor raised by mounting on a human-made berm, wall or similar structure. Supporting elements may not exceed 24 inches in height and are included in the measurement of sign height.
NEON SIGNS. Luminous tube sign that contains neon or other gasses at a low pressure.
NON-CONFORMING SIGN. A sign that was legally erected, but that does not comply with the subsequently enacted sign regulations and restrictions.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN. A sign identifying/advertising and/or directing the public to an activity or event at a place other than the real property on which said sign is located.
ON-PREMISES SIGN. A sign or display that identifies or communicates a message related to the activity conducted, the service offered or anything sold on the premises where the sign is located.
PANEL. The primary surface of a sign that carries an identifying message.
PENNANT. Any lightweight plastic, fabric or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind, to include feather signs and banners.
POLITICAL SIGN. Any sign that advocates for political action, a political party or candidate for elected office. The term does not include a commercial sign.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign designed or intended to be readily relocated whether or not it is permanently attached to a building, structure, vehicles or on the ground. PORTABLE SIGNS also include signs on wheels or on portable structures such as trailers, motor vehicles and/or tent signs, A-frame or T-shaped signs, attached to a person and/or normal advertising placed on motor vehicles which are not used regularly and are placed in such a manner as to attract attention if parked at a location other than at the location it is identified with.
PROJECTING SIGN. A sign which projects from a structure into a vehicular or pedestrian access way, more than one foot from the surface on which it is mounted, and is mounted usually, but not always, at right angles to the building.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY. The land or interest therein acquired for or devoted to transportation purposes by the town or the state’s Department of Transportation.
QR CODE. The use of QR Codes (Quick Response Codes) will be allowed on a smooth flat surface, as an addition to an existing sign or as an attachment to an existing sign, to be no greater than four inches by four inches.
RIDER SIGN. A small sign attached to an existing signs used by a business to display QR codes or text-to-text numbers only; enabling the business to provide more information about their product to the public. Only one RIDER SIGN or info tube allowed per real estate sign. The RIDER SIGN cannot exceed one square foot and is not subject to the same material requirements as the remainder of the sign.
ROOF SIGN. Any sign erected and constructed wholly on and over the roof of a building, supported by the roof and extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. A sign placed upon property that is available for rent or purchase.
ROOF SIGN. Any sign erected and constructed wholly on and over the roof of a building, supported by the roof and extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof.
SANDWICH BOARD SIGN. A sign made of wood or plastic in an A frame, with an overall size no greater than two feet by three feet, having a full chalkboard face. The sign is designed to be portable and is meant as an advertisement for temporary event or a special at a location or business. Colors for the frame shall be in keeping with natural earthtones. The chalk face shall be black or white, with no neon colors allowed.
SIGHT TRIANGLE. The triangular area formed by the intersecting street right-of-way lines and a straight line connecting points on said street right-of-way. The SIGHT TRIANGLE, as required by the state’s Department of Transportation, is illustrated below; however, this sight triangle may be varied by the Administrator of the town and private streets as deemed necessary. On a corner lot in any zoning district, no planting, structures, sign, fence, wall or obstruction to vision more than two and one-half feet or lower than five feet in height measured from the centerline of the street shall be placed or maintained within the triangular area formed by the intersecting street right-of-way lines and a straight line connecting points on said street right-of-way.
SIGN. Any display of letters, words, numbers, symbols, emblems, objects, pictures or any combination thereof made visible for the purpose of attracting attention or of making something known, whether such display is made on, attached to or constructed as part of a building, structure, vehicle or object.
SNIPE SIGN. A temporary sign or poster affixed to a tree, public utility pole, fence and the like.
SPINNER. A wind activated, propeller-type device, which may or may not be attached to advertising copy.
STREAMER. A string or strip of miniature or full size pennants or flags that may or may not be suspended between two points.
T-SHAPED SIGN. A portable sign comprised of one or more panels or faces joined at the bottom to a perpendicular base on which the sign stands.
TEMPORARY SIGN. A sign intended to be displayed for a short period of time. TEMPORARY SIGNS are exempt from permit requirements and are allowed in the town’s zoning jurisdictions; provided that, they are displayed for no more than five days cumulative within a two-month period for the same sign. TEMPORARY SIGNS are limited to three per parcel and must be placed at least five feet from the edge of the road without blocking other signs. TEMPORARY SIGNS cannot exceed three square feet by four feet or a height no more than two and one-half feet or lower than five feet if inside the sight triangle and must be made of a material that is suitable for the timeframe they are visible without deterioration.
VISION OBSTRUCTION. The placement of a sign that would limit a full view of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic within the sight triangle. See § 152.072(I) of this chapter.
WALL SIGN. A sign affixed on and parallel to the exterior wall of any building and projecting not more than 12 inches from the wall. Signs mounted on porticoes shall be considered as WALL SIGNS.
WINDOW SIGN. A sign that is applied to the building glass area.
(Ord. passed 3-14-2005; Ord. passed 9-14-2009; Ord. passed 8-8-2011; Ord. passed 10-10-2011; Ord. passed 10-8-2012; Ord. passed 10-10-2016; Ord. passed 7-10-2017; Ord. passed 9-11-2017; Ord. passed 3-14-2019, § 601)