For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. A sign or sign structure that is located on a building or property that has been vacant or unoccupied for a period of three months or more, or a sign which pertains to a time, event, or purpose that no longer applies.
ALTER. Refers to any major change to a sign, but shall not include routine maintenance or painting.
ANIMATED SIGN. Any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or create a special effect or scene.
AWNING. A temporary hood or cover that projects from the wall of a building and which can be retracted, folded or collapsed against the face of the supporting building.
BALLOON. A flexible, non-ferrous inflated bag in various shapes, sizes, and colors.
BANNER. A temporary sign made of flexible material affixed to a building, vehicle, poles, or other supporting structure by any or all corners. No banner may be constructed in whole or in part of paper.
BANNERETTE. Flexible material that resembles a flag and has the minimum dimensions of two feet by two feet and no larger than three feet by five feet. A smaller-sized bannerette is defined as a pennant.
BEACON. Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same lot as the light source; also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
BILLBOARD. A freestanding, off-premises sign designed for view from a major roadway.
CABINET SIGN. A sign that has framing around the entire sign message with a removable face.
CANOPY SIGN. The area of copy, graphic, or identification which is affixed to a projection or extension of a building or structure, including a marquee, erected in such a manner as to provide a shelter or cover over the approach to any entrance of a store, building, or place of assembly. The portion of the canopy, projection, or other architectural feature which contains no copy or graphic identification shall not be defined as signage, but if illustrated, shall be included in the total sign area as specified in § 152.131(A).
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN. A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign. A sign on which the message changes more than eight times per day shall be considered an animated sign and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this section.
COMMERCIAL MESSAGE. Any sign wording, logo, or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business, product, service, or other commercial activity.
FLAG. A piece of cloth or bunting varying in color and design, used as a symbol, standard, emblem, or insignia identifying a governmental agency or any civic, charitable, religious, institutional, patriotic, corporate, fraternal, or similar organization.
FREESTANDING SIGN. Any sign supported by structures or supports that are permanently anchored in the ground and that are independent from any building or structure.
GOVERNMENTAL SIGN. A sign which is erected by a governmental unit for identification or traffic.
GROUND MOUNTED SIGN. A freestanding sign erected on one or more freestanding shafts, posts, or piers which are solidly affixed to the ground and not attached to a building. A ground mounted sign shall be considered one sign even though it may have two faces.
ILLUMINATED ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES. Features which include, but are not limited to, wall-roof and window-mounted neon, the wall surface between multiple rows of neon, illuminated sign bands, backlit canopies, awnings or wall banding features, and the like.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign which is lighted by an artificial light source either external (light source not within sign) or internal (light source within sign), or by means of reflective materials.
MONUMENT SIGN. A freestanding sign that is intended to be incorporated into some form of landscaping design scheme or planter box, is attached to the ground by means of a freestanding support structure, is solid from grade to the top of the structure, constructed with materials that are the same as the primary building materials of the principal structure, and is placed directly on the ground or on an interior planter base which is incorporated into a design arrangement. A MONUMENT SIGN shall be considered as one sign though it may have two faces.
MULTI-FACED SIGN. Any sign with sign faces oriented to more than two directions.
NONCONFORMING SIGN. A sign lawfully erected and maintained prior to the adoption of this section that does not conform to the requirements of this section.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN. A sign located upon property other than the lot of a development or use for which the sign is intended.
ON-PREMISES SIGN. A sign located upon the same property as the development or use for which the sign is intended.
PENNANT. Flexible material suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually triangular-shaped and in a series, designed to move in the wind.
PERMANENT SIGN. A sign permanently attached to a building, structure, or the ground which is constructed of durable materials and intended for long-term use.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure and designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels, signs converted to A- or T-frames, and menu and sandwich board signs.
PROJECTING SIGN. A sign other than a wall sign which is perpendicular to and projects from a binding, is supported by a wall of a building or structure, where the leading edge extends more than 12 inches beyond the surface of such wall.
PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign communicating the street address of a building for public safety reasons, whether script or in numerical form.
PYLON SIGN. A freestanding sign erected on one or more freestanding shafts, posts or piers which are solidly affixed to the ground and not attached to a building. A pylon sign shall be considered as one sign even though it may have two faces.
RIBBONS or STREAMERS. Long or varied lengths of flexible material used to decorate.
ROOF SIGN. Any sign which is erected, constructed or attached wholly or in part upon any roof or over the highest roofline of a building.
ROOFLINE. The top of the coping; or when the building has a pitched roof, at the intersection of the outside wall with the roof.
SIGN. A communication device displaying graphics, symbols, or written copy visible from the public right-of-way and designed to attract the attention of the general public. A sign shall be considered as a structure or a part of a structure for the purpose of applying yard and height regulations except as herein provided.
SIGN AREA. The area that includes the smallest rectangle around each line of copy for individual mounted-letter signs and the entire face of a sign, including the sign copy surface and any framing. trim or molding, but not including the supporting structure for all other signs. The maximum SIGN AREA is the maximum allowable gross surface area in square feet of a sign or signs. The maximum number of signs cannot be arranged and integrated so as to create a cumulative gross SIGN AREA in excess of such requirements as may be applicable.
SIGN COPY. Words, letters, logos, figures, symbols, illustrations, or patterns that form a message or otherwise call attention to a business, product, service, or activity, or to the sign itself.
SIGN FACE. The surface of the sign including letters and background upon, against, or through which the message is displayed or illustrated.
SIGN HEIGHT (MAXIMUM). The vertical distance measured from the highest adjacent grade, within one foot of the base of the sign, to the top of the sign.
SIGN HEIGHT (MINIMUM). The vertical distance measured from the highest adjacent grade, within one foot of the base of the sign, to the bottom of such sign.
SIGN STRUCTURE. The supports, uprights, bracing, and framework for a sign.
TEMPORARY SIGN. Any sign which is erected or displayed for a specific period of time, and not of a permanent nature.
WALL GRAPHICS. A sign which is painted directly on an exterior wall surface.
WALL SIGN. A sign which is affixed to the exterior wall of a building and which is parallel to the building wall. A wall sign does not project more than 12 inches from the surface to which it is attached, nor extend beyond the top of the parapet wall. Banners are not included in this definition.
WINDOW SIGN. A sign affixed to the outside or inside of a window. This does not include merchandise on display.
(Ord. 2023-02, passed 5-9-23)