For use in this chapter, the following terms are defined:
1. “Billboard” means a sign that has a flat surface sign face upon which advertising may be posted, painted, or affixed, and which is primarily designed for the rental or lease of such sign space for advertising not relating to the use of the property upon which the sign exists.
2. “Board” means the Board of Adjustment of the City.
3. “Commission” means the City Planning and Zoning Commission.
4. “Sign” means any object or device, or part thereof, situated outdoors or indoors, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct, or attract attention to any object, person, institution, organization, business product, service, event or location by any means including words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, color, motion, illumination, or projected images. A sign includes any billboard, freestanding sign, ground sign, wall sign, roof sign, illuminated sign, projecting sign, portable sign, and temporary sign. A sign does not include the following: flags of nations, states, and cities; merchandise pictures or models of products or services incorporated with an inside window display; or works of art that in no way identify a product or device.
5. “Sign area” means that area determined by the Building Official using actual dimensions where practicable, or approximate dimensions when irregularity or sign shape warrants. Such area includes the extreme points or edges of the sign, excluding the supporting structure which does not form part of the sign proper or of the display. The area of a sign composed of characters or words attached directly to a building or wall surface is the smallest rectangle which encloses the whole group.
6. “Sign, awning” means all signage including logos and graphic designs on any awning.
7. “Sign, building or wall” means any sign attached to or erected against the wall of a building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the plane of said wall.
8. “Sign, directory” means a sign containing the name of a building, complex, or center and two or more identification signs of the same size, color, and general design which identify the occupants thereof.
9. “Sign face” means the surface of the sign upon, against, or through which the message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.
10. “Sign, freestanding” or “ground sign” means a sign which is supported by one or more uprights or braces in or upon the ground and not attached to any building or wall.
11. “Sign, indirectly lighted” means a sign illuminated by artificial light reflecting from the sign face, the light source not visible from any street right-of-way.
12. “Sign, institutional bulletin board” means an on-premises sign containing a surface area upon which is displayed the name of a religious institution, school, library, community center, or similar institution, and the announcement of its services or activities.
13. “Sign, off-premises” means a sign that is not an on-premises sign.
14. “Sign, on-premises” means a sign the primary purpose of which is to identify and/or direct attention to a profession, business, service, activity, product, campaign, or attraction manufactured, sold, or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
15. “Sign, pole” means a sign wholly supported by a sign structure in the ground.
16. “Sign, portable” means a free standing sign not permanently anchored or secured.
17. “Sign, projecting” means a sign other than a wall sign, which projects from and is supported by a wall of a building or structure.
18. “Sign, roof” means a sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet of a building or structure.
19. “Sign, service” means a sign identifying rest rooms and other service facilities.
20. “Sign structure” means any structure which supports or is capable of supporting any sign as defined in this chapter. A sign structure may be a single pole and may or may not be an integral part of the building.
21. “Sign, temporary” means any sign, banner, pennant, valance, or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, or other light materials, with or without frames, intended to be displayed for a limited period of time only.