13-20-510 Definitions.

   For the purposes of this Article, the following additional definitions shall apply:

   “Alter” or “altered” or “alteration” or “change” means any action pertaining to a sign or sign structure that requires the issuance of a new permit under Section 13-20-550, including but not limited to, any modification, relocation, re-erection, conversion from on-premise to off-premise (or vice versa), conversion from static image to dynamic image (or vice versa), conversion in dynamic technology, raising or lowering its height, changing its angle, adding extensions, enlarging its dimensions, deviating from approved permit drawings or supporting documents, or changing the address to which the permit applies.

   “Owner or lessee of the real property” means: (1) the owner of the real property on which any on-premise or off-premise sign is located; or (2) any on-premise tenant of an owner who maintains an on-premise sign on such owner's real property. For purposes of this definition, the term “owner or lessee of the real property” shall not mean the owner or lessee of an off-premise sign asset or account or of an off-premise sign structure asset or account, or the lessee of air space or exterior wall space for an off-premise sign. The definition of “owner or lessee of the real property” added by the amendatory ordinance of 2017, effective January 1, 2018, is intended to clarify, rather than to change, existing law.

   Signs. Sign(s) mean any name, identification, description, display, illustration, or character which: (1) is affixed to, or represented directly or indirectly upon, a building, structure, or piece of land; and (2) directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, or business. For purposes of this definition, the term “sign(s)” shall also include any item defined as a “sign” in Section 17-17-02159 . The language added to this definition by the amendatory ordinance of 2017, effective January 1, 2018, is intended to clarify, rather than to change, existing law.

   Signs (electrical). Electrical signs are signs that are electrically illuminated.

   “Dynamic image display sign” means any sign, or portion thereof, with characteristics that appear to have movement or that appear to change, caused by any method other than physically removing and replacing the sign or its components, whether the apparent movement or change is in the display, the sign structure itself, or any other component of the sign. This includes a display that incorporates a technology or method allowing the sign face to change the image without having to physically or mechanically replace the sign face or its components. This also includes any rotating, revolving, moving, blinking, or animated display and any display that incorporates rotating panels, LED lights manipulated through digital input, “digital ink” or any other method or technology that allows the sign face to present a series of images or displays.

   “Flat signs” means signs which are placed flat against the building or structure from which they are supported and which run parallel thereto. Signs supported from a canopy are deemed to be flat signs when they are single face.

   “Ground signs” means signs supported by a structure which rests on or in the ground.

   “Luminance” means the photometric measure of luminous intensity per unit area of light travelling in a given direction. Luminance is measured in candelas per square meters or “nits.”

   “Motion” or “moving” means the depiction of movement or change of position of text, images or graphics. Motion or moving shall include, but not be limited to, visual effects such as dissolving and fading text and images, travelling, running sequential text, graphic bursts, lighting that resembles zooming, twinkling or sparkling, changes in light or color, transitory bursts of light intensity, moving patterns or bands of light, expanding or contracting shapes, and similar actions.

   “Nits” means a unit of measurement of brightness or luminance. One nit is equivalent to one candela per square meter.

   “Off-premise sign” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 17-17-02108 .

   “On-premise sign” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 17-17-02109 .

   “Projecting signs” means signs which project obliquely or at right angles from the building or structure from which they are supported.

   “Roof signs.” Roof signs are signs which are erected on and supported by the roof of a building or structure.

   “Static sign” means a sign that does not rotate, move, or have any appearance of changing or movement in the sign, sign components or structure. A “static sign” shall not include any sign that has any characteristics of a dynamic image display sign.

   “Twirl time” means the time it takes for static text, images or graphics on a dynamic image display sign to change to different text, images or graphics.

(Added Coun. J. 11-3-99, p. 13842, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 4-24-12, p. 25060, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 4-30-14, p. 80382, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 11-21-17, p. 61755, Art. I, § 6)

 

Notes

17-17-02159	The hyper-linked material is not part of the Chicago Building Code infobase and therefore is not included herein.  The material is included in other provisions of the Chicago Municipal Code.  The complete Chicago Municipal Code is available for purchase from American Legal Publishing in both print and Folio® versions.  Please click here for the appropriate American Legal order form in printable Adobe® PDF format.  For additional information, you may visit American Legal's website by clicking here.
17-17-02108	The hyper-linked material is not part of the Chicago Building Code infobase and therefore is not included herein.  The material is included in other provisions of the Chicago Municipal Code.  The complete Chicago Municipal Code is available for purchase from American Legal Publishing in both print and Folio® versions.  Please click here for the appropriate American Legal order form in printable Adobe® PDF format.  For additional information, you may visit American Legal's website by clicking here.
17-17-02109	The hyper-linked material is not part of the Chicago Building Code infobase and therefore is not included herein.  The material is included in other provisions of the Chicago Municipal Code.  The complete Chicago Municipal Code is available for purchase from American Legal Publishing in both print and Folio® versions.  Please click here for the appropriate American Legal order form in printable Adobe® PDF format.  For additional information, you may visit American Legal's website by clicking here.