For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. When not inconsistent with context, words used in the present tense include the future and past tenses, words in the singular number include the plural, words in the plural include the singular, and words in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter.
ANIMATED SIGN. Any sign which includes action, motion, or color changes on all or any part of the sign facing, requiring electrical energy, or set in motion mechanically or by movement of the atmosphere. This definition includes signs commonly called bi-view, tri-view, or multi-view signs which alternate or otherwise change displays whether through mechanical or electrical means. An ANIMATED SIGN does not include a clock and/or thermometer display.
AREA OF SIGN. Defined by the smallest perimeter fully enclosing the total surface devoted to the sign’s message, together with any ornamentation, embellishment, and associated background, excluding any necessary supports or uprights on which the message is placed and excluding any architectural ornamentation. As an aid to interpreting this formulation, the following is to be employed: if the message is on a surface, structure, or frame specifically employed for holding signage, the entire surface area within the frame’s border is counted; if the message is on a door, wall, or other structural part of a building, only that portion of the door, wall, or structure actually devoted to the message and associated symbols and background, if any, is counted. If a sign has two or more faces, the AREA of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that if two faces are placed back-to-back and are at no point more than three feet from one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face if the two faces are of equal area, or the area of the larger face if the two faces are of unequal area.
ARTISAN SIGN. An unilluminated sign not exceeding eight square feet in area placed on a site during the period that the work is being engaged in, with the permission of the site’s owner, displaying the name of the contractor or artisan improving the site or structure on the site.
BUILDING FRONTAGE. The total length in linear feet of a building along the edge most nearly parallel with a street abutting the building’s lot regardless of whether such is functionally the front, rear, end, or side of the building.
CAMPAIGN SIGN. Any sign, poster, billboard, or other outdoor advertisement advocating the election or defeat of a particular candidate for public office, or group of candidates, or political party.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN. A sign wherein provision is made for letters or characters to be placed in or upon the surface area either manually or electronically to provide a message. Such message may not be changed more often than daily, except for time and/or temperature displays. A CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN does not include any sign that meets the definition of a “flashing sign”.
CHASER SIGN. A sign that creates a running effect in a bank of lamps or tubes.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN. An unilluminated sign giving the name or names of principal contractors, architects, and lending institutions responsible for new construction or major renovation on the site where the sign is placed together with other information included thereon authorized by the Town Council in connection with construction operating for a specific project not to exceed 36 square feet in area beginning with the commencement of construction and extending to a date 15 days after the completion of construction operations.
ELECTRONIC READER BOARD. A sign which contains a traveling message or a message which appears to be traveling, and usually in a horizontal direction.
FINANCER’S SIGN. An unilluminated sign not exceeding eight square feet in area placed on a site during the period of construction or renovation and for seven days after the completion of the project, with the permission of the site’s owner, displaying the name of the person, firm, or financial institution providing the financing for the project.
FLASHING SIGN. A directly or indirectly illuminated sign or portion thereof that exhibits changing light or color effect by any means, so as to provide intermittent illumination that changes light intensity in sudden transitory bursts and creates the illusion of intermittent flashing light by streaming, graphic bursts showing movement, or any mode of lighting which resembles zooming, twinkling, or sparkling. Also including any illuminated device whose lighting fluctuates, alternates, or otherwise varies in brightness, pattern, position, or reflection. Such a sign, copy, or other device is not a FLASHING SIGN if its lighting varies in brightness, pattern, position, or reflection only instantaneously and concurrently on the entire sign for the purpose of changing the graphics or copy within the sign more often than eight second intervals, except for message display of time or temperature.
GROUND SIGN. Any sign supported by uprights or braces in or upon the ground and not attached to any building.
HOME OCCUPATION SIGN. A sign directing attention to a business or professional activity conducted on the same lot in a residential district, containing only the name and occupation of the resident, not to exceed two square feet in area, and only as approved by the Town Council.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. A sign designed to give forth artificial light or reflect it from another source. A sign designed to give forth artificial light is an “internally illuminated sign”.
INFLATABLE DISPLAY. Any three-dimensional, ambient air-filled object depicting a container, figure, product, or product trade dress, whether or not such object contains a message.
INSTITUTION SIGN. A sign containing information about an on-site institution, such as churches, schools, hospitals, rest homes, private clubs, and similar institutions or organizations.
INTEGRAL SIGN. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings, and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface on the wall of a building, or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible materials mounted on the wall of a building.
MESSAGE. A sign’s message includes its text, drawings, figures, logo, and any associated background.
MESSAGE CENTER. A sign which contains a changing message within the copy area which remains on for a specified minimum period of time and blacks out for a specified minimum period of time between messages. Messages contained on the sign do not travel or appear to travel in any direction.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN. A sign attached to a building, the ground, or structure advertising a business, product, service, or event conducted, sold, or offered elsewhere than upon the same lot. This definition includes structures commonly called billboards, posterboards, or panels.
PERMANENT SIGN. Any sign which is not a portable sign.
PERSON. Any individual, association, corporation, or other legal entity.
PORTABLE SIGNS. Any sign not permanently affixed to a building, structure, or the ground such as a sign designed to be moved from place to place, or designed to be removed and re-erected from time to time, or attached directly or through a structure to a chassis equipped with wheel and axle or other means of mobility.
PROJECTING SIGN. Any sign supported by a building or other structure which projects over any street, sidewalk, alley, public way, or public easement, more than 12 inches from the face of the building or structure.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. A sign pertaining to the sale or lease of the lot or tract of land on which the sign is located or to the sale or lease of one or more structures or a portion thereof located on such lot or tract of land, during the pendency of such sale or lease and for seven days after closing.
ROOF LINE. The upper edge of any building wall or parapet, exclusive of any tower, chimney, ventilation equipment, or utility equipment.
SIGN. A name, display, identification, device, notice, figure, painting, drawing, message, placard, poster, word, bulletin board, symbol, letter, numeral, emblem, trademark, flag, or banner, pennant, or other illustration which is affixed to or painted or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, or other outdoor surface, or parcel of land and which directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, or business, and is visible from any alley, street, highway, sidewalk, or other public way, whether such is placed out of doors or in windows. The term SIGN does not include any display of official notices of courts or other public offices, nor the flag, emblem, or insignia of a nation, political unit, school, or religious group. The term SIGN shall not include the merchandise which is for sale on the premises, the packaging or container for such merchandise, or any writings or other symbols on such merchandise, container, or packaging.
SNIPE SIGN. Any sign (whether attached in any way to a utility pole, tree, traffic-control device, or any object, or the ground, or otherwise situated) on:
(1) Public property without the consent of the appropriate public body; or
(2) Private property without the consent of the owner or occupier thereof.
TOWN. Always refers to the Town of Brownstown, and means the town itself or any subdivision, board, commission, or agency of the town; it does not include the Brownstown Community School System.
WALL SIGN. A sign mounted on, attached to, or painted or applied on the exterior wall of a building or structure in a plane parallel to that of the supporting wall or structure, or painted or otherwise applied to an awning or canopy consisting of cloth or fabric material provided such awning or canopy is attached to a wall and not to the ground, extending no more than 12 inches from the surface to which it is attached. Any sign meeting this definition is not a “projecting sign”.
WIND SIGN. Any attention-arresting device, with or without message, or a series of devices such as streamers, and/or pennants, with or without message, designed and fastened in such a manner as to move upon being subjected to pressure by the atmosphere; except that such definition shall not include:
(1) On each building, up to four banners, flags, or pennants; and
(2) On each light standard, one banner, flag, or pennant.
WINDOW SIGN. A sign installed on the exterior or on or near the interior of a window for the purpose of viewing from outside the premises.
(2011 Code, § 153.05) (Ord. 2004-01, passed 4-5-2004; Ord. 2011-10, passed 8-15-2011)