For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. Any sign and/or supporting sign structure which remains without a message or whose display surface remains blank for a period of one year or more, or any sign which pertains to a time, event, or purpose which no longer applies, shall be deemed to have been ABANDONED. Signs applicable to a business temporarily suspended because of a change in ownership or management of such business shall not be deemed ABANDONED unless the property remains vacant for a period of one year or more. Any sign remaining after demolition of a principal structure shall be deemed to be ABANDONED. Signs which are present because of being legally established non-conforming signs or signs which have required a conditional use permit or a variance shall also be subject to the definition of ABANDONED SIGN.
ANIMATED SIGN. A sign which includes action or motion.
AWNING. A roof-like cover, often of fabric, plastic, metal, or glass designed and intended for protection from the weather or as a decorative embellishment, and which projects from a wall or roof of a structure primarily over a window, walk, or the like. Any part of an AWNING that also projects over a door shall be counted as AWNING.
AWNING SIGN. A building sign or graphic printed on or in some fashion attached directly to the awning material.
BALLOON SIGN. A sign consisting of a bag made of lightweight material supported by helium, hot or pressurized air which is greater than 24 inches in diameter.
BILLBOARD. A sign erected for the purpose of advertising a product, event, person, or subject not entirely related to the premises on which the sign is located.
BUILDING. Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.
BUILDING SIGN. Any sign attached or supported by any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.
CABINET SIGN. Any wall sign that is not of channel or individually mounted letter construction.
CANOPY. A roof-like cover, often of fabric, plastic, metal, or glass on a support, which provides shelter over a doorway.
CANOPY SIGN. Any sign that is part of or attached to a canopy made of fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door or entrance.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN. A sign or portion thereof that has a readerboard for the display of text information in which each alphanumeric character, graphic, or symbol is defined by objects not consisting of an illumination device and may be changed or rearranged manually or mechanically with characters, illustrations, letters, or numbers that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or surface of the sign structure. CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNS do not include signs upon which characters, letters, or illustrations change or rearrange only once in a 24-hour period.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN, ELECTRONIC. A sign or portion thereof that displays electronic, non-pictorial text information in which each alphanumeric character, graphic, or symbol is defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations or light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, light bulbs, or other illumination devices within the display area. ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNS include computer programmable, microprocessor controlled electronic displays. ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNS include projected images or messages with these characteristics onto buildings or objects. ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNS do not include official signs.
COMMERCIAL SPEECH. Speech advertising a business, profession, commodity, service, or entertainment.
DYNAMIC DISPLAY. Any characteristics of a sign that appear to have movement or that appear 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, or any other component of the sign. This includes the displays that incorporate technology or methods allowing the sign face to change the image without having to physically or mechanically replace the sign face or its components as well as any rotating, revolving, moving, flashing, blinking, or animated display and any display that incorporates rotating panels, 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.
ELECTRONIC GRAPHIC DISPLAY SIGN. Electronic, static images, static graphics, or static pictures, with or without text information, defined 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 where the message change sequence is accomplished immediately or by means of fade, repixalization, or dissolve modes. ELECTRONIC GRAPHIC SIGNS include computer programmable, microprocessor controlled electronic or digital displays. ELECTRONIC GRAPHIC DISPLAY SIGNS include projected images or messages with these characteristics onto buildings or other objects.
ELEVATION. The view of the side, front, or rear of a given structure(s).
ERECT. Activity of constructing, building, raising, assembling, placing, affixing, attaching, creating, painting, drawing, or any other way of bringing into being or establishing.
FLAG. Any fabric or similar lightweight material attached at one end of the material, usually to a staff or pole, so as to allow movement of the material by atmospheric changes and which contains distinctive colors, patterns, symbols, emblems, insignia, or other symbolic devices.
FLASHING SIGN. A directly or indirectly illuminated sign which exhibits changing light or color effect by any means, so as to provide intermittent illumination which includes the illusion of intermittent flashing light by means of animation. Also any mode of lighting which resembles zooming, twinkling, or sparkling.
FREE-STANDING SIGN. Any sign that has supporting framework that is placed on, or anchored in, the ground and which is independent from any building or other structure.
GRADE. Shall be construed to be the final ground elevation after construction. Earth mounding criteria for landscaping and screening is not part of the final GRADE for sign height computation.
GROUND SIGN. Any free-standing sign with its face mounted on the ground or mounted on a base at least as wide as the sign and which has a total height not exceeding eight feet.
HEIGHT OF SIGN. Computed as the vertical distance measured from the base of the sign at grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign, whether exterior or interior, which contains an element designed to emanate artificial light internally or externally.
INTERIOR SIGN. A sign which is located within the interior of any building, or within an enclosed lobby or court of any building.
ISSUING AUTHORITY. The City Zoning Officer.
LEGALLY ESTABLISHED NON-CONFORMING SIGN. Any sign and its support structure lawfully erected prior to the effective date of this subchapter which fails to conform to the requirements of this subchapter. A sign which was erected in accordance with a conditional use permit or variance granted prior to the adoption of this subchapter and which does not comply with this subchapter shall be deemed to be a LEGAL NON-CONFORMING SIGN. A sign which was unlawfully erected shall be deemed to be an ILLEGAL SIGN.
MONUMENT SIGN. Any free-standing sign with its sign face mounted on the ground or mounted on a base at least as wide as the sign and which has a height exceeding eight feet.
MULTI-VISION SIGN. Any sign composed in whole or part of a series of vertical or horizontal slats or cylinders that are capable of being rotated at intervals so that partial rotation of the group of slats or cylinders produces a different image and, when properly functioning, allows on a single sign structure the display at any given time one or two or more images.
NON-COMMERCIAL SPEECH. Dissemination of messages not classified as COMMERCIAL SPEECH, which include, but are not limited to, messages concerning political, religious, social, ideological, public service, and informational topics.
OFFICIAL SIGN. Signs of a public, non-commercial nature including public notification signs, safety signs, traffic signs, direction to public facilities when erected by or on behalf of a public official or employee in the performance of official duty.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN. A commercial speech sign which directs the attention of the public to a business, activity conducted, or product sold or offered at a location not on the same premises where such business sign is located. For purposes of this subchapter, easements and other appurtenances shall be considered to be outside such platted parcel of land and any sign located or proposed to be located in an easement or other appurtenance shall be considered an OFF-PREMISES SIGN.
ON-PREMISES SIGN. Identify or advertise an establishment, person, activity, goods, products, or services located on the premises where the sign is installed. ON-PREMISES SIGNS located within residential districts are not permitted.
PARAPET (WALL). That portion of building wall that rises above the roof level.
POLE SIGN. See PYLON SIGN.
POLITICAL SIGN. Any sign which includes the name or picture of an individual seeking election or appointment to public office, or pertaining to a forthcoming public election or referendum, or pertaining to or advocating political views or policies, which is erected on private property by a bonafide candidate for political office or by a person or group supporting such a candidate and which contains the name of the person or group responsible for the erection and removal of the sign.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign which is manifestly designed to be transported, including by trailer or on its own wheels, even though the wheels of such sign may be removed and the remaining chassis or support is converted to another sign or attached temporarily or permanently to the ground, since this characteristic is based on the design of such a sign.
PORTE COCHERE. A roofed structure or roof-like cover, extending from the entrance of a building and which provides shelter over a doorway.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING. The building in which the principal primary use of the lot is conducted. Lots with multiple principal uses may have multiple PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS, but storage buildings, garages, and other clearly accessory uses shall not be considered PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS.
PROJECTING SIGN. Any sign which is affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than two feet beyond the surface of such building or wall face.
PROPERTY OWNER. Legal owner of property as officially recorded by the county.
PUBLIC NOTICES. Official notices posted by public officers, employees, or their agents in the performance of their duties, or as directed by such officers, employees, or agents.
PUBLIC STREET RIGHT-OF-WAY. The planned right-of-way for a public street.
PYLON SIGN. Any free-standing sign which has its supportive structure(s) anchored in the ground and which has a face elevated above ground level by pole(s) or beam(s) and with the area below the sign face open.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. A sign pertaining to the sale, lease, or rental of the real estate upon which it is located.
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. Any district zoned for residential uses.
ROOF. The exterior surface and its supporting structure on the top of a building or structure, the structural make-up of which conforms to the roof structures, roof construction, and roof covering section of the State Building Code, being M.S. §§ 326B.101 et seq.
ROOF LINE. The upper-most edge of the roof, or in the case of an extended facade or parapet, the upper-most height of said facade.
ROOF SIGN. Any sign erected and constructed wholly on and above the roof of a building, supported by the roof structure and extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof.
ROOF SIGN, INTEGRAL. Any building sign erected or constructed as an integral or essentially integral part of a normal roof structure of any design, so that no part of the sign extends vertically above the highest portion of the roof and so that no part of the sign is separated from the rest of the roof by a space of more than six inches.
ROTATING SIGN. A sign or portion of a sign which turns about on an axis.
SHIMMERING SIGNS. A sign that reflects an oscillating, sometimes distorted, visual image.
SIGN. Any letter, word, or symbol, poster, picture, statuary, reading matter, or representation in the nature of advertisement, announcement, message, or visual communication, whether painted, posted, printed, affixed, or constructed, including all associated brackets, braces, supports, wires, and structures, which is displayed for informational or communicative purposes.
SIGN FACE. The surface of the sign upon, against, or through which the message of the sign is exhibited.
SIGN STRUCTURE. Any structure including the supports, uprights, bracing, and framework which supports or is capable of supporting any sign.
SITE. A plot or parcel of land, or combination of contiguous lots or parcels of land, which are intended, designated, and/or approved to function as an integrated unit.
STRINGER. A line of string, rope, cording, or an equivalent to which is attached a number of pennants.
SUSPENDED SIGN. Any building sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is connected to this surface.
TEMPORARY SIGN. Any sign, banner, pennant, balance, spinners, balloons, or advertising display intended to be displayed for no more than 30 days.
TOTAL SITE SIGNAGE. The maximum permitted combined area of all free-standing and wall identification signs allowed on a specific property.
VISIBLE. Capable of being seen by a person of normal visual acuity (whether legible or not) without visual aid.
WALL. Any structure which defines the exterior boundaries of courts or a building or structure and which has a slope of 60 degrees or greater with the horizontal plane.
WALL SIGN. Any building sign attached parallel to, but within two feet of a wall, painted on the wall surface of, or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, which is supported by such wall or building and which displays only one sign surface.
WINDOW SIGN. Any building sign, pictures, symbol, or combination thereof, designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale, or service that is placed inside a window or upon the window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.
VIDEO DISPLAY SIGN. A sign that changes its message or background in a manner or method of display characterized by motion or pictorial imagery, which may or may not include text and depicts action or a special effect to imitate movement, the presentation of pictorials or graphics displayed in a progression of frames that gives the illusion of motion, including, but not limited to, the illusion of moving objects, moving patterns or bands of light, or expanding or contracting shapes, not including electronic changeable copy signs. VIDEO DISPLAY SIGNS include projected images or messages with these characteristics onto buildings or other objects.
(Ord. passed 4-13-2021)