For the regulation of signs according to this chapter, the following words and phrases shall be defined as specified below.
Amortization. A provision requiring nonconforming signs to either become conforming or be removed within a set period of time, otherwise known as the amortization period.
Awning. A structure made of cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a building in such a manner that the structure may be raised or retracted from a building to a flat position against the building, but not a canopy.
Building wall. The entire surface area, including windows and doors, of an exterior wall of a building. For the purposes of this chapter, the area of a wall will be calculated for only the first three (3) stories, or forty-five (45) feet in height of a building, whichever is less.
Canopy. A permanent structure, not enclosed and not retractable, attached or unattached to a building, for the purpose of providing shelter to patrons or automobiles, or as a decorative feature on a building wall.
Changeable copy. Copy that is or can be changed in the field, either manually or through mechanical means; e.g., reader boards with changeable letters.
Commercial message. A message placed or caused to be placed before the public by a person or business enterprise directly involved in the manufacture or sale of the products, property, accommodations, services, attractions, or activities that are offered or exist for sale or for hire.
Copy. Any words, letters, numbers, figures, characters, symbols, logos, or insignia that are used on a sign display surface area.
Farm product sales. Seasonal sale of farm products raised on the premises where products are sold only as an accessory to an agricultural use.
Grade. The height of the top of the curb, or if no curb exists, the height of the edge of pavement in the lane of travel adjacent to the sign.
Linear frontage. The length of a property abutting a public right-of-way from one side lot line to another.
Logo. A business trademark or symbol.
Out parcel. A parcel of land associated with a shopping center or multi-tenant development, which is designated on an approved site plan as a location for a free standing structure with an intended use such as, but not limited to, banks, savings and loans, dry cleaners, service stations, offices, restaurants, retail establishments, or combination of uses thereof, and adjoins the shopping center or multi-tenant development, or the parking and service drives associated with it, on any side adjacent to a public right-of-way.
Parapet. A low wall encircling the perimeter of a flat building roof generally used to screen roof-mounted mechanical equipment.
Planned development. A tract of land under single, corporation, partnership, or association ownership, planned and developed as an integral unit in a single development operation or a definitely programmed series of development operations and according to an approved development plan (according to Article L).
Premises. A parcel of real property with a separate and distinct identifying number shown on a recorded plat, record of survey, parcel map, subdivision map, or a parcel legally created or established pursuant to applicable zoning. Out parcels of shopping centers shall be considered on the premises of the shopping center for the purpose of this chapter.
Roof line. The highest point of a flat roof or mansard roof, and the lowest point of a pitched roof, excluding any minor projections or ornamentation.
Sight distance triangle. The triangular area formed by the point of intersection of two (2) street right-of-way lines and a point located along each right-of-way line at a distance of thirty- five (35) feet from the point of intersection.
Sign. Any object, devise, structure, or part thereof, situated outdoors, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct, or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination, or projected images. Signs do not include the flag or emblem of any nation, organization of nations, state, city, or any fraternal, religious, or civic organizations; works of art which in no way identify an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means; or scoreboards located on athletic fields.
Sign structure or support. Any structure that supports or is capable of supporting a sign.
Sign types. The following are types of signs included in this chapter.
1. A-frame (sandwich board). A portable, movable sign intended to be placed near a pedestrian walkway or street thoroughfare; that does not exceed 6 square feet in area per sign face and is brought inside at the end of each business day.
2. Banner. A sign intended to be hung, with message or symbol applied to plastic or fabric of any kind, but excluding flags or emblems of any nation, organization of nations, state, city, or any fraternal, religious, or civic organization.
3. Bulletin board. A sign used to announce meetings or programs to be held on the premises of a church, school, auditorium, library, museum, community recreation center, or similar noncommercial place of public assembly.
4. Business sign. A sign that directs attention to a business, to a product sold, manufactured, or assembled, or to services or entertainment offered upon the premises where the sign is displayed; but not a sign pertaining to the preceding if such activity is only minor and incidental to the principal use of the premises.
5. Campaign or election sign. A sign that advertises a candidate or issue to be voted upon on a definite election day.
6. Canopy and awning signs. A sign attached to or painted or printed onto a canopy or awning. The permitted size of a canopy or awning sign will be calculated on the basis of the size of the building wall to which the canopy is attached. It will, for measuring purposes, be considered a wall sign.
7. Commercial flags. A piece of durable fabric of distinctive design attached to a movable device, such as a “feather” flag, that is used to advertise, identify, display, direct, or attract attention to a business, service, product, or event. Must comply with Sec. 9-3-168(1a-1e) of this article.
8. Construction sign. A sign placed at a construction site identifying or announcing the project or the name of the architect, engineer, contractor, financier, or others involved in the development of the project.
9. Detached sign. Any sign that is not affixed or attached to a building and is securely and permanently mounted in the ground. Such sign may be a ground mounted sign, or monument sign.
10. Directional or instructional sign. An on-premises sign designed to guide vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic by using such words as “Entrance,” “Exit,” “Parking,” “One-Way,” or similar direction or instruction, but not including any advertising message. The name or logo of the business or use to which the sign is giving direction may also be included on the sign.
11. Directory sign. A sign which identifies multiple uses in a planned development on a single sign; may be used for shopping centers, shopping streets or arcades, office complexes, schools, churches, institutional or business campuses, and similar large complexes which have a variety of tenants and/or uses.
12. Flag. A piece of durable fabric of distinctive design attached to a permanent pole, that is used as a symbol or decorative feature.
13. Flashing sign. A sign that uses an intermittent or flashing light source to attract attention, whereas flashing is defined as a message that blinks or pulsates on or off with a change faster than every two seconds.
14. Ground mounted sign. A sign which extends from the ground or which has a support which places the bottom thereof less than three (3) feet from the ground.
15. Government sign. Any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained for any governmental purposes.
16. Identification sign. A sign which displays only the name, address, and/or crest, insignia, trademark, occupation or profession of an occupant, or the name of any building on the premises.
17. Incidental sign. A sign used in conjunction with equipment or other functional elements of a use or operation. These shall include, but not be limited to drive-through-window menu boards; signs on automatic teller machines, gas pumps, or vending machines; or newspaper delivery boxes.
18. Memorial sign or plaque. A sign designating the name of a building and/or date of erection and other items such as architect, contractor, or others involved in the building’s creation, cut into or attached to a building surface.
19. Monument sign. A monolithic sign in which the bottom of the sign is flush with the ground and the vertical dimension of the sign is greater than the horizontal dimension.
20. Nonconforming sign. Any sign which was lawfully erected in compliance with applicable code provisions and maintained prior to the effective date of this chapter, and which fails to conform to all applicable standards and restrictions of this chapter.
21. Off-premises sign. A sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, or service, conducted, sold, or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is erected.
22. On-premises sign. A sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, or service, that is conducted, sold, or offered on the premises on which the sign is erected.
23. Outdoor advertising sign. A type of sign, generally, but not always, consisting of a rigidly assembled sign, display, or devise, usually free standing, that is affixed to the ground or to a building, the primary purpose of which is to display advertising posters. Such signs commonly referred to as “billboards” are generally designed so that the copy or poster on the sign can be changed frequently and the advertising space is for lease.
24. Planned development sign. A sign used in conjunction with an approved planned residential, office, business, industrial or mixed use development.
25. Portable or movable sign. A sign that is not permanently attached to the ground, a structure, or a building, and which can easily be moved from one location or another. For example, a sign on wheels.
26. Projecting sign. A sign which is affixed to a building and supported only by the wall on which it is mounted; considered a wall sign for purposes of this chapter.
27. Public interest sign. A sign on private property that displays information pertinent to the safety or legal responsibilities of the general public such as warning and no trespassing signs.
28. Real estate sign. A sign that is used to offer for sale, lease, or rent the premises upon which such sign is placed.
29. Primary sign. The main or principal sign located on the premises.
30. Roof sign. A sign erected or maintained in whole or in part upon or over the roof or parapet of a building.
31. Secondary business identification sign. An auxiliary wall sign, the purpose of which is to identify a business which is housed in the same structure as the principal business, but which is clearly subordinate to, and has separate ownership, management, and operation from, the principal business which occupies the building.
32. Secondary sign. A sign used in addition to a primary sign on a premises.
33. Temporary sign. A sign which is not permanently installed in the ground or affixed to any structure or building, and which is erected for a period of time as permitted in this chapter.
34. Temporary planned development sign. A sign that pertains to the development of a new commercial, residential, or mixed use development while it is under construction.
35. Vehicular sign. Signs on parked vehicles visible from the public right-of-way where the primary purpose of the vehicle is to advertise a product or to direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property. For the purposes of this chapter, vehicular signs shall not include business logos, identification or advertising on vehicles primarily used for other business purposes.
36. Wall sign. Any sign directly attached to an exterior wall of a building or dependent upon a building for its support. Signs directly painted on walls shall be considered wall signs.
37. Window sign. Any sign attached to or directly applied onto a window or glass door of a building intended for viewing from the exterior of the building.
(Ord. of 12-7-04, No. 37-02; Ord. of 5-6-13, No. 12-12; Ord. of 12/4/17, No. 20-17; Ord. of 8/6/18, No. 12-18)