For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANIMATED SIGN.
Any sign, which uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or to create a special effect or scene.
BUSINESS SIGN.
A sign which directs attention to a business, profession or industry located upon the premises where the sign is displayed, to the type of products sold, manufactured or assembled or to services or entertainment offered on the premises, but not a sign pertaining to the preceding if the activity is only minor and incidental to the principal use of the premises.
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 non-commercial place of public assembly.
DIGITAL DISPLAY. A display area in a sign or portion of a sign that is made up of internally illuminated components that display an electronic image, text or pictures and is capable of changing the message periodically. DIGITAL DISPLAY signs may include but are not limited to television or video screens, holographic displays, programmable ink, LCD, LED or plasma screens.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN, OFF-PREMISE. A sign used to identify a business, profession, or agency that is located off NC 12, US 64, NC 345, SR 1217, or other main transportation routes in unincorporated Dare County. The signs shall contain the name of the business, profession or agency and specific directional information and/or address of the business, profession or agency location.
EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN. A sign illuminated with a light source located either above or below the sign directed onto the sign face so the message is visible.
FLAG.
A piece of cloth, paper or other similar flexible material displayed on a flagpole.
FLASHING SIGN.
An illuminated sign of direct or indirect lighting on which the artificial light flashes on and off in regular or irregular sequences.
FREESTANDING SIGN ON-PREMISES.
A business sign that is used to identify and direct attention to a business, profession, service or industry located on the same premises of the business.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN.
A sign used to identify only the name of the individual, family, organization or enterprise occupying the premises, the profession of the occupant or the name of the building on which the sign is displayed.
INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN. A sign illuminated by a light source that is concealed or contained in the sign and is visible through a translucent surface. INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGNS feature a static message such as the business name and are not to be considered as a digital display sign.
MESSAGE BOARD. A component of a free-standing sign that uses lights to form a message of alphanumeric symbols which can be electronically programmed to change its sequence at a set rate of change.
MULTI-UNIT SIGN.
A freestanding sign that contains 3 or more identification signs for multi-occupancy premises, such as a shopping center.
NONCOMMERCIAL SIGN.
A sign designed and intended to promote, support, call attention or give notice to a cause, nonprofit and noncommercial services, or political message of an individual, charitable organization, political group or other similar entity.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN AND STRUCTURE.
A sign and structure that directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered either off premises or as a minor or incidental activity upon the premises where the sign is located.
PORTABLE OR MOVABLE SIGN.
A sign that is not permanently attached to the ground, a structure or a building and that can be moved from one location to another and used for a temporary purpose. This shall include A-frame signs, and sandwich board signs.
REVOLVING/ROTATING SIGN.
A sign that revolves 360 degrees.
ROOF SIGN.
A sign erected, constructed or maintained above or on the roof of any building.
SIGN.
Any surface, fabric or device bearing lettered, pictorial or sculptured matter designed to convey information visually and exposed to public view, or any structure, including billboard or poster panel, designed to carry visual information.
SIGN AREA.
The area of signs, composed in whole or in part of free-standing letters, devices or sculptured matter not mounted on a measurable surface, shall be construed to be the area of the least square, rectangle or circle that will enclose the letters, devices or sculptured matter. The area of a double faced sign shall be the area of one face of the sign; provided, that the 2 faces are of the same size and are parallel to one another with no more than 24 inches between each sign face.
SIGN HEIGHT.
As applied to a sign, height shall be measured as the vertical distance between the highest part of the sign or its supporting structure, whichever is highest, and the ground.
SPECIAL PURPOSE SIGN.
A temporary sign to announce sales, new products, openings or closeouts and other special events.
TEMPORARY SIGN.
A sign or advertising display constructed of cloth, fabric, plywood or other lightweight material and designed or intended for a period not to exceed 30 days.
TIME AND TEMPERATURE SIGNS.
A sign containing numerals that may be alternately displayed to show the time and/or temperature. A time and/or temperature sign shall not be considered a flashing or animated sign; time and temperature signs shall not change or alternate messages more frequently than once every 3 seconds.
UNDER-CANOPY SIGN.
A sign that is affixed or attached to a canopy located over a storefront, doorway, entrance, window.
WALL SIGN.
A sign affixed to the wall of any building that projects not more than 12 inches from the building.
WINDOW SIGN.
A sign that is attached directly to the inside or outside of a window or located in such a manner within a building that it is visible from the exterior (outside) of the building through a window.
WIND DEVICE.
Any flag, banner, balloon, pennant, streamer or similar device that moves freely in the wind. All
WIND DEVICES
are considered to be flags and are regulated as flags.
(Res. passed 5- -2004; Am. Ord. passed 6-21-2021)