For the purposes of this Chapter, signs shall be classified and defined by physical design or structure and function or purpose as follows:
(a) Physical Characteristics.
(1) Abandoned Sign: A sign that identifies or advertises a business, lessor, service, owner, product, or activity no longer conducted on the premises for ninety (90) consecutive days, and/or for which no legal owner or proprietor is found on the premises.
(2) Animated Sign: A sign, which uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or to create a special effect or scene.
(3) Banner Sign: A sign made with fabric, plastic, paper, or similar light weight material with no frame. National and state flags and the official flag of any organization, institution, or business shall not be considered banners.
(4) Billboard: A sign erected as a fixed structure elevated from the ground by at least eight and one-half feet (between the bottom of the display area of the billboard and the ground), which does not exceed a maximum height of seventy feet and which is wholly independent of any building side or roof top for support.
(5) Building Marker: Letters, words, or insignia cut into the building surface, or otherwise permanently mounted on the building, at the time of construction with the name or address of the building, date of construction, or to convey a memorial or similar message.
(6) Canopy or Awning Sign: A sign on or attached to the awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door entrance or window.
(7) Changeable Copy Sign: A sign on which the message or graphics is not permanently affixed to the structure, framing, or background and is designed to be periodically replaced or covered manually or by mechanical devices. Examples are a bulletin board and an announcement board.
(8) Electronic Message Center. An electrically activated changeable sign whose variable message and/or graphic presentation capability can be electronically programmed by computer from a remote location. Also known as an EMC. EMCs typically use light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a lighting source.
(9) Face of Sign: The area of a sign on which the copy is placed.
(10) Feather Sign: A sign with a flexible or rigid pole to which one side of a flexible fabric, generally in the shape of a feather or similar shape, is attached, and which is used for the primary purpose of advertising or attention-getting by the public display of visually communicative images. Such banners are also known and sold under names which include, but are not limited to, "quill sign," "banana banner," "blade banner," "flutter banner," "flutter flag," "bowflag," "teardrop banners," and others. This definition includes functionally similar display devices. See Figure 1.
Figure 1 Feather Sign
(11) Festoons: A string of ribbons, tinsel, small flags, pinwheels, or the like.
(12) Flashing Sign: A sign, other than a changeable copy sign or animated sign, which contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source, used primarily to attract attention.
(13) Freestanding Sign: A sign supported by one or more uprights, posts, columns, or vertical structures or supports affixed to the ground and not attached to any part of the building. See Figure 4.
(14) Ground Sign: A freestanding sign, other than a pole sign, that is placed upon or supported by the ground independently of any other structure on a monument or pedestal structure. See Figure 2.
Figure 2 - Ground Sign
(15) Illuminated Sign: A sign with an artificial light source which internally or externally illuminates the sign.
(16) Marquee Sign: A sign attached to or supported by a permanent roof-like structure or canopy of rigid materials supported by and extending from the facade of a building.
(17) Menu Board: A sign, usually used by a restaurant, which is either mounted to the building, or located near the building alongside a driving or stacking lane. A "menu board" shall not be counted as a sign under Chapter 1179 so long as it complies with the following requirements:
A. It is constructed as an accessory use to a "drive-up service window" or "drive-thru facility";
B. The menu board does not face the municipal right-of-way but faces a side or rear property line;
C. No more than two (2) menu boards for each "drive-thru service window" are permitted; and,
D. It complies with all other requirements, as applicable, for a wall sign or freestanding sign as set forth in this Chapter.
(18) Nonconforming Sign: A sign which was erected legally but that no longer complies with current sign restrictions and regulations.
(19) Pole Sign: A permanent freestanding sign that is affixed, attached, or erected on a pole or poles. See Figure 3.
Figure 3 - Pole Sign
(20) Portable Sign: A sign that is designed to be transported on wheels, skids, a bench, runners, brackets or has a frame to which wheels, skids, runners, brackets or similar mechanical devices are or Figure 3 - Pole Sign can be attached.
(21) Projecting Sign: A sign, other than a flat wall sign, which is attached to and projects more than twelve (12) inches from a building wall or other structure. See Figure 4.
(22) Roof Sign: A sign erected on, above or over the roof of a building.
(23) Rotating Sign: A sign, or any portion thereof, which moves in a revolving or similar manner.
(24) Wall Sign: A sign on the surface or on the outside wall of any building, or erected parallel thereto, which does not extend more than twelve (12) inches therefrom and which does not project above the roofline or beyond the corner of the building. See Figure 4.
(25) Window Sign: A sign that is attached to, affixed to, painted on, or located within two (2) feet inside of a window and exposed to public view outside of the building. See Figure 4.
(b) Function.
(1) Building Sign: A sign attached to any part of a building including but not limited to wall, awning, canopy, marquee, and projecting signs.
(2) Incidental Instructional Sign: A sign or signs that support and facilitate traffic flow and safety needs and otherwise support the operational convenience for the benefit of facility owner or tenant and the customers alike. Such signs may be any type freestanding sign.
(3) Sign, pedestrian: A sign near or at street/sidewalk level that is oriented and scaled to the pedestrian, rather than the motorist. Such sign typically has two hinged boards or faces which can be placed on the ground.
(4) Temporary Sign: A sign that is designed to be used only temporarily and is not permanently, or intended to be permanently, attached to a building, structure or on the ground.
Illustration from A Planners Dictionary. Edited by Michael Davidson and Fay Dolnick
Figure 4 - Illustration of Types of Signs
(Ord. 2024-052. Passed 6-18-24.)