For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. A sign which no longer correctly directs or exhorts any person, advertises a bonafide business, lessor, owner, project, or activity conducted or product available on the premises where such sign is displayed.
ANIMATED SIGNS. Any sign which includes action or motion. For purposes of this subchapter, this term does not refer to flashing or changing, all of which are separately defined.
BANNER. A sign made of fabric, plastic, paper, or other light pliable material, not enclosed in a rigid frame and characteristically suspended along or across a public street.
BUILDING FACE OF WALL. All window and wall area of a building in 1 plane or elevation.
CANOPY. Any structure attached to a building at the inner end and supported on the other end, or a free-standing structure, with 1 or more supports, meant to provide shelter from weather elements, onto which signs may be affixed or incorporated.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN (MANUAL). A sign on which copy is changed manually in the field, such as, reader boards with changeable letters or changeable pictorial panels.
CHANGING SIGNS (AUTOMATIC). A sign such as an electronically or electrically controlled public service time, temperature, and date sign, message center or reader board, where different copy changes are shown on the same lamp bank.
CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD. A sign attached to the exterior of a church or located elsewhere on church premises and used to indicate the services and/or other activities of the church, and including the church name, if desired.
COPY. The wording or graphics on a sign surface.
ERECT. To build, construct, reconstruct, attach, hang, re-hang, alter, place, affix, enlarge, move, or relocate and includes the painting of existing sign structures.
FACADE. The front or main part of a building facing a street.
FACE OF SIGN. The entire area of a sign on which copy could be placed. The area of a sign which is visible from 1 direction as projected on a place.
FLASHING SIGN. Any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light source, or which includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing light by means of animation, or an externally mounted intermittent light source. Automatic, changing signs such as public service time, temperature, and date signs or electronically controlled message centers are not classed as FLASHING SIGNS.
ILLEGAL SIGNS. A sign which contravenes this subchapter, or a nonconforming sign for which a permit required under a previous ordinance was not obtained.
LOGO. A letter, character, or symbol used to represent a person, corporation, or business enterprise.
PREMISES. An area of land with its appurtenances and buildings which, because of its unity of use, may be regarded as the smallest conveyable unit of real estate.
READER BOARD. Any sign that has changeable or removable lettering.
RIGHT-OF-WAY (ROW). The actual road right-of-way or the proposed right-of-way as indicated on the Comprehensive Plan and/or as set forth in the city subdivision ordinance.
ROOF LINE. The highest point of the coping on a flat roof, false mansard, or parapet wall; the deckline of a true mansard roof; the ridge line between the upper and lower slopes of a gambrel roof; or the mean height level between the eaves and ridge for a gable or hip roof.
SEASONAL OR SPECIAL OCCASION TEMPORARY SIGNS. A sign which is not permanent and is limited to a specific activity or in the celebration of holidays or other special events.
SHOPPING CENTER. A building containing 4 or more shops, stores, and other places of business, and providing off-street parking facilities in common for all of the businesses and their customers.
SHOW WINDOW SIGN. Any temporary sign advertising sales or specials attached to or within 3 feet of the glass surface of any fixed window (glazing) visible from a public right-of-way.
SIGN. Any identification, description, illustration, or device illuminated or non-illuminated which is visible from any public place or is located on private property and exposed to the public and which directs attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business, or solicitation, including any permanently installed or situated merchandise or any emblem, painting banner, pennant, or placard designed to advertise, identify, or convey information, with the exception of window displays and national flags. For the purpose of removal, signs shall also include all sign structures. Not included are decorative devices or emblems as may be displayed on a residential mailbox. For the purpose of this subchapter, this definition shall include those signs painted directly upon a building or other structure. A visual device or structure used for advertising, display, or publicity purposes.
SIGN AREA. The area of the sign face. The SIGN AREA of multi-faced signs is the sum of the sign areas of each face, including structural trim which can be seen from a single location on an adjacent street. If a sign is attached to a building or suspended in any manner whereby there is no apparent trim or confining border, the sign area shall be computed by drawing an imaginary straight line around a generally rectangular margin and measuring the area so encompassed upon a building or other structure.
SIGN, ATTACHED. A sign erected or placed upon the wall of any building with the plane of the face parallel to the plane of the wall below the roof line.
SIGN, COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY. A permanent pole sign designating the name of a commercial center and listing the various tenants of the center.
SIGN, CONSTRUCTION. A temporary sign used during construction of new buildings or reconstruction of or additions to existing buildings, such as those identifying the project and denoting the owner, architect, engineer, contractor, and/or financing institutions of the project.
SIGN, DIRECTIONAL. A sign which indicates a direction for vehicular or pedestrian traffic or other movement.
SIGN, FLUTTERING. A sign which flutters and includes banners, flags, pennants, or other flexible material which moves with the wind or by some artificial means.
SIGN, GROUND. Any detached sign on the same lot or parcel as the use it advertises which has its bottom portion erected upon or supported by the ground, a ground planter box, or other supports.
SIGN, HANGING. Any sign hanging entirely beneath a canopy, portico, or marquee.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED. Any sign which is illuminated by light sources mounted on or in the sign or at some other location.
SIGN, MEMORIAL OR TABLETS. The permanent part of a building which denotes the name of the building, date of erection, historical significance, dedication, or other similar information.
SIGN, NONCONFORMING. A sign legally erected under the previously existing ordinances of the city, but which does not conform to the provisions of this subchapter.
SIGN, OCCUPATIONAL AND/OR IDENTIFICATION. An attached wall sign not larger than 1 square foot in area identifying the name of a person occupying a building.
SIGN, POLITICAL. A temporary sign advocating or opposing any political proposition or candidate for public office.
SIGN, POLE. Any detached sign located on the same lot or parcel as the use it advertises which is supported by 1 or more stationary poles no taller than 35 feet above the mean grade line of the ground at its base provided that this shall not include a permitted ground sign as set forth.
SIGN, PROJECT IDENTIFICATION. A permanent ground sign identifying an apartment complex, condominium project, or mobile home development entry, name and/or street names within the project.
SIGN, PROJECTING. Any sign which projects more than 12 inches beyond the plane of the wall on which the sign is erected or attached.
SIGN, PROPERTY REAL ESTATE. A sign pertaining only to the prospective rental, lease, or sale of the property upon which it is located. Real estate signs shall be excluded from the definition of POLE SIGNS.
SIGN, RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. Any temporary sign that provides direction to any residential development under construction, or promotes the residential development on the project site.
SIGN, ROOF. Any sign erected on a roof but excluding marquee and canopy signs and wall signs. The generally vertical plane of a mansard-type roof shall be interpreted as the same as a wall of a building.
SIGN, STRUCTURE. The sign and all parts associated with its construction.
SIGN, SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION. A permanent ground sign identifying a subdivision entry, subdivision name, and/or street names within the subdivision.
SIGN, SUPPORTS. All structures by which a sign is held up, including, for example, poles, braces, guys, and anchors.
SIGN, TEMPORARY. Any sign intended for a limited or intermittent period of display.
SIGN, WINDOW TEMPORARY. A temporary sign affixed to the inside of an exterior window or glass door.
SPECIAL DISPLAYS. Signs not exceeding 32 square feet, used for holidays, public demonstration, or promotion of civil welfare or charitable purposes.
STANDARD OUTDOOR ADVERTISING STRUCTURE AND/OR BILLBOARD. Any sign intended to attract general public interest concerning a commercial enterprise, product, service, industry, or other activity not conducted, sold, or offered on the premises upon which the sign is erected. This includes billboards, detached pole signs on separate parcels, wall signs and signs otherwise attached to buildings and/or supported by uprights or braces on the ground. Real estate signs and political signs are excluded from this definition.
TEMPORARY SIGN. A sign which is not permanent and is allowed for a specific time period.
TRAFFIC DIRECTIONAL SIGN. Any sign which aids the flow of traffic.
(Ord. 40-2006, passed 12-12-2006)