The following terms shall have the following meanings:
A. Awning Sign - A building sign or graphic printed on or in some fashion attached directly to the awning overhanging building windows or doors.
B. Balloon Sign - A temporary sign used to draw attention to property, with or without lettering, made of lightweight material supported by helium, hot, or pressurized air, and which is greater than eighteen inches in diameter.
C. Banner Sign - A temporary sign of flexible fabric mounted to a pole or a structure at one or more edges.
D. Campaign Sign - A temporary sign promoting the candidacy of a person running for a government office, or promoting an issue to be voted on at a governmental election.
E. Canopy - A roof-like structure without enclosed walls, attached to a building to cover a walkway or entrance, or an independent structure intended to provide cover from the weather.
F. Changeable Copy Sign - A sign or portion of a sign, which has a reader board for the display of text information in which letters, numbers and symbols may be changed or re-arranged manually.
G. Changeable Copy Sign, Electronic - A sign or portion thereof that displays electronic, non-pictorial, text information in which each letter, number, graphic, or symbol is defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, light bulbs or other illumination devices within the display area. Electronic changeable copy signs include computer programmable, microprocessor controlled electronic displays. Electronic changeable copy signs include projected images or messages with these characteristics onto buildings or other objects.
H. Construction Sign - A non-illuminated sign placed at a construction site identifying the project or the name of the architect, engineer, contractor, financier and other involved parties, or announcing the character of the building enterprise or the purpose for which the building is intended.
I. Development Project Sign - A sign placed at a development site for the purpose of selling or promoting the project.
J. Directional Sign - Any sign which serves solely to designate the direction of any place or area and, as such, shall be located on the same lot as said place or area. Examples include "entrance" and "exit" signs.
K. Dynamic Sign - Any electronic changeable copy sign, electronic graphic display sign, video display sign, or any other sign capable of electronic or digital messaging or display.
L. Electronic Graphic Display Sign - A sign or portion thereof that displays electronic, static images, static graphics or static pictures, with or without information, defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, light bulbs or other illumination devices within the display area where the message change sequence is accomplished immediately or by means of fade, repixalization or dissolve modes. Electronic graphic display signs include computer programmable, microprocessor controlled electronic or digital displays. Electronic graphic display signs include projected images or messages with these characteristics onto buildings or other objects.
M. Flag - Any fabric or similar flexible material attached at one end of the material, usually to a staff or pole, so as to allow movement of the material by atmospheric changes and which contains distinctive colors, patterns, symbols, emblems, insignia, or other symbolic devices. The size of flags is not regulated.
N. Flashing Sign - An illuminated sign that blinks or changes in light intensity creating a blinking or flashing appearance, but not including any Dynamic Signs.
O. Freestanding Sign - Any sign which has supporting framework that is anchored in the ground, which is independent from any building or other structure and which has an open area between the ground and the sign face. The minimum open area between the ground and bottom of the sign face for all permanent freestanding signs greater than 50 square feet in area shall be 6 feet.
P. Garage Sale Sign - A temporary sign less than 12 square feet in area located on private property which advertises a temporary sale of residential household goods.
Q. Ground Sign - A freestanding sign with its sign face mounted on the ground or mounted on a base attached to the ground at least as wide as the sign (see Monument Sign).
R. I-35 Corridor. The I-35 Corridor is that portion of the City of Columbus which lies within the area which is 300 feet easterly of and parallel with the easterly right-of-way lines of Interstate Highway Nos. 35, 35E, and 35W and within the area which is 300 feet westerly of and parallel with the westerly right-of-way lines of Interstate Highway Nos. 35, 35E, and 35W. A parcel of land which lies partially within this corridor shall be deemed to be entirely within the corridor for the purposes of these sign zoning regulations
S. Illuminated Sign - Any sign which contains an element designed to emanate artificial light, internally or externally.
T. Incidental Sign - A small sign that has a directional or informational purpose for uses often secondary to the primary use of the property on which it is located, such as "service center," "drive-up window," "restroom," and other similar directives.
U. Inflatable Sign - A balloon sign or other three-dimensional object, with or without lettering, logos, or symbols, supported helium, hot or pressurized air, used for advertising or to draw attention to a property.
V. Marquee - A permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond an entertainment center or similar use or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of that building, generally designed and constructed to provide cover from the weather.
W. Monument Sign - A freestanding sign with its sign face mounted on the ground or mounted on a base attached to the ground at least as wide as the sign (see Ground Sign).
X. Motion Sign - Any sign which revolves, rotates, has any moving parts or gives the illusion of motion.
Y. Mural - A work of graphic art painted on or applied to a building wall which contains no advertising or logos.
Z. Name Plate - A sign which designates the individual names of businesses or names of the persons occupying a building.
AA. Off-Premises Sign - Any sign bearing advertising or display unrelated to a business, enterprise, or profession conducted, or a commodity or service sold or offered upon the real property where such Sign is located.
BB. On-Premises Sign - Any sign bearing advertising or display related to a business, enterprise, or profession conducted, or a commodity or service sold or offered upon the real property where such sign is located.
CC. Pennant Sign - A rope with small flags or triangular shapes of fabric or plastic, with or without lettering, logos, or symbols, and used for advertising or to draw attention to a property.
DD. Permanent Sign - A non-temporary sign designed and intended for long-term use.
EE. Portable Sign - Any sign which is designed to be transported, by trailer or on its own wheels, and not permanently anchored to the ground.
FF. Projecting Sign - A sign in which the plane of the sign is perpendicular to the wall on which it is attached.
GG. Public and Institutional Use - Local, state, and federal governmental uses, public and private educational facilities, churches and religious facilities, and hospitals.
HH. Public Service Sign. A non-commercial governmental sign containing public identification information, directional information, public advisories, or similar messaging serving a public purpose.
II. Pylon Sign - A freestanding sign which has one or more supportive structures anchored in the ground and which has a sign face elevated above ground level by one or more poles or beams and with the area below the sign face open.
JJ. Real Estate Sign - A temporary sign, less than 32 square feet in area in residential zoning districts and less than 96 square feet in area in commercial and industrial zoning districts, which announces the sale, rental, or lease of property by the owner or real estate company.
KK. Sign - Any structure, placard, announcement, declaration, device, demonstration or insignia used for direction, information, identification or to advertise or promote any business, product, goods, activity, services, interests, or to draw attention.
LL. Sign Area - A measurement including the outermost dimensions of the sign frame containing the sign face.
MM. Sign Band - An area on an exterior wall of a building that is intended to be the common location of permitted wall signs for multiple messaging or multiple building tenant signs.
NN. Sign Face - The surface of the sign upon which the message of the sign is exhibited.
OO. Sign Height - The height of the sign shall be computed as the vertical distance measured from the base of the sign at average property grade within 30 feet of the sign to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.
PP. Sign Structure - The base, poles, uprights, bracing, and framework which supports the sign face.
QQ. Subdivision Sign - A permanent sign designed to identify a residential or commercial subdivision.
RR. Suspended Sign - A sign that is connected to and suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface, such as a canopy, marquee, or similar structure.
SS. Temporary Sign - A sign which is not permanently affixed or installed, and is intended to be displayed for a limited period only.
TT. Traffic Sign. A sign installed and maintained by a governmental entity for the purpose of directing pedestrian and vehicular movement, including but not limited to street signs, speed limit signs, stop and yield signs, caution signs, directional signs, and similar public service and traffic advisory signs located within public rights-of-way.
UU. Video Display Sign - A sign that changes its message or background in a manner or method of display characterized by non-interrupted, constant motion or pictorial imagery, which may or may not include text and depicts action or a special effect to imitate movement, the presentation of pictorials or graphics displayed in a progression of frames which give the illusion of motion, including but not limited to the illusion of moving objects, moving patterns or bands of light, or expanding or contracting shapes, not including electronic changeable copy signs. Video display signs include projected images or messages with these characteristics onto buildings or other objects.
VV. Wall Sign - A sign in which the plane of the sign is attached parallel to the exterior wall of a building and does not extend more than two feet from the surface of the wall.
WW. Wall Sign Area - A measurement including the outermost dimensions of the sign frame containing the sign face. In instances where sign lettering is affixed to the wall, sign area is the measurement of a polygon drawn around all of the letters (including logos or emblems) of the sign message.
[§ 7B-200 amended by Ord. 10-06, effective May 6, 2010; § 7B-200 amended by Ord. 20-04, effective September 3, 2020.]