For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. Signage that has been neglected and fallen into disrepair.
ATTRACTION BOARD. Copy is changed manually or electronically.
AWNING SIGN. Applied directly to the surface of an awning; defined as a shelter supported entirely on a wall and made of non-rigid material supported by a frame.
BANNER SIGN. Made of non-rigid material with no enclosing framework.
BILLBOARD. Signage intended for lease to a variety of businesses, organizations, and/or individuals. In such case, the sign itself is the income generator and the primary commercial use of the property.
BULLETIN BOARD. Allows the manual or electronic change of copy.
CANOPY SIGN. Applied directly to the surface of a canopy; defined as a permanently roofed shelter covering a sidewalk, driveway, or similar area. Canopies may be supported by a building, columns, poles, braces, or a combination of both.
DOUBLE-FACED SIGN. Two faces either set parallel or up to a 45-degree angle. Any two sign faces set at an angle greater than 45 degrees shall be considered two separate signs.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE DISPLAY SYSTEM. Copy which uses rotating reflective discs, direct illumination, rotating veins, light emitting diodes (LEDs) or liquid crystal diodes (LCDs), or other digital devices and is changed by a central computer.
FLASHING or BLINKING. Intermittent or sequential illumination for the purpose of attracting attention to the sign.
FREESTANDING SIGN. Attached to the ground by columns, poles, braces, or other means and not attached to any building,
GOVERNMENT SIGN. Temporary or permanent, erected by a government employee in the performance of their professional duties.
HANDBILL. Printed or written material, circular, leaflet, pamphlet, or booklet designed for distribution on vehicles or other property (does not include postal distribution).
ILLEGAL SIGN. Does not meet the requirements of this chapter and has not been identified as a legal, nonconforming sign.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. Emits or reflects artificial light from any source.
(1) DIRECTLY ILLUMINATED. Lighted by an unshielded light source (including neon tubing) which is visible as a part of the sign and where light travels directly from the source to the viewer’s eye.
(2) INDIRECTLY ILLUMINATED. Light source projects light onto the exterior of the sign surface, or onto the building where the sign is located.
(3) INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED. Light source is within the sign, with a transparent or translucent background or cover which silhouettes letters or designs.
INCIDENTAL SIGN. Signs used in conjunction with the performance of a business and/or professional establishments with a maximum square footage of three square feet and four feet in height when installed on a pole.
INTERSTATE SIGN. Designed to be seen from the interstate.
LIGHT POLE SIGN. Signs up to 12 square feet in size attached to light poles which are owned and operated by the property/business owner. No more than two LIGHT POLE SIGNS per road frontage and maintain a minimum ground clearance of at least seven feet. Approved as a conditional use in B-3 and B-4 Zoning Districts.
MENU BOARD. Freestanding signs placed at drive-through lanes of restaurants.
MOBILE SIGN. Affixed to a frame having wheels or capable of being moved. MOBILE SIGNS do not have a permanent foundation and cannot withstand the wind load stress requirements of the adopted building code; designed to stand free from a building. The removal of wheels from such a sign or temporarily securing a sign of this type shall not prevent it from being classified as a MOBILE SIGN within this definition. This includes signage placed in a truck bed or on a trailer designed to be pulled behind a vehicle.
MONUMENT SIGN. Attached to a permanent foundation or decorative base and not attached to or dependent for support from any building, pole, post, or similar upright.
NONCONFORMING SIGN. Legally erected but does not comply with the current regulations for the zone in which it is located.
NON-ILLUMINATED SIGN. Does not emit or reflect artificial light from any source.
PORTABLE SIGN. Small sign, easily transported by hand, placed outside during business hours and brought into the business after hours, usually tent style or A-frame.
PROJECTING SIGN. Attached directly to a building, which extends perpendicular no more than five feet from the building facade or not past the sidewalk line (whichever is less).
ROOF SIGN. Projects above the cornice of a flat roof or the ridgeline of a gabled or hipped roof. In determining the top edge of the roof, calculation shall not include cupolas, pylons, chimneys, or other projections above the roofline.
ROTATING OR MOVING SIGN. Any portion of which moves by mechanical means or the wind; does not refer to changing copy with an electronic message display system.
SIGN. Any copy (including material used to differentiate the copy from the background) which is applied to a surface as a means of identifying, advertising, announcing, or illustrating products, services, and/or events.
SIGN CLEARANCE. The vertical distance between the lowest point of any sign and the grade at the base of the sign.
SIGN COPY. Any word, figure, number, symbol, or emblem affixed to a sign.
SIGN HEIGHT. The vertical distance measured from the highest point of the sign, including the frame and any embellishments to the bottom of the base of the sign.
SIGN SETBACK. The horizontal distance between the property line and a sign. The measurement shall be taken at the closest point between the property line and any part of the sign.
SIGN SURFACE. The part of the sign on which the message is displayed.
SQUARE FOOT. A unit of area equal to one foot by one foot square.
STREET FRONTAGE. Property line that lies adjacent to street right-of-way.
TEMPORARY SIGN. Intended to be displayed for not more than 14 continuous days or more than eight times per calendar year.
VEHICLE SIGNAGE. Signage painted directly on a vehicle or attached magnetically.
WALL SIGN. Attached directly to a building; includes mansards, canopies, awnings, and signs attached to a roof which do not project above the roofline.
WINDOW DISPLAY. Merchandise or other objects placed inside a building to be viewed from outside the building.
WINDOW SIGN. Attached to or located within three feet of the interior of a window and which can be seen through the window from the exterior of the structure.
(Ord. 2014-1, passed 3-12-2014; Ord. 2018-11, passed 6-27-2018)