For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. Any sign that advertises a business, lessor, owner, product, service, or activity that is no longer located on the premises where the sign is displayed.
ALTERATION. Any change of copy, sign face, color, size, shape, illumination, position, location, construction, or supporting structure of any sign.
ANIMATED OR MOVING SIGN. A sign that uses movement, lighting, or special materials to depict action or create a special effect to imitate movement.
AREA OF A SIGN. See SIGN AREA.
AWNING SIGN. Any sign copy or logo attached to or painted on an awning.
AWNINGS and CANOPIES. Roof-like covers that project from the wall of a building for the purpose of shielding a doorway or window from the elements.
BANNER, FLAG, or PENNANT. Any cloth, bunting, plastic, paper, or similar non-rigid material used for advertising purposes attached to any structure, staff, pole, line, framing, or vehicle, not including official flags of the United States, the State of Oklahoma, and other states of the nation, counties, municipalities, official flags of foreign nations, and nationally or internationally recognized organizations.
BILLBOARD. A sign that identifies or communicates a commercial or noncommercial message related to an activity conducted, a service rendered, or a commodity sold at a location other than where the sign is located.
BLADE/BRACKET SIGN. A small, pedestrian-oriented sign (for example, less than four square feet), that projects perpendicular from a structure (BRACKET SIGN) or is hung beneath a canopy (BLADE SIGN).
BUILDING FRONTAGE. The building elevation that fronts on a public street where customer access to the building is available.
BUSINESS FRONTAGE. The portion of a building frontage occupied by a single tenant space having a public entrance within the building frontage. For businesses located on the interior of a building without building frontage, the building elevation providing customer access shall be considered the BUSINESS FRONTAGE.
BUSINESS IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign that serves to identify only the name, address, and lawful use of the premises upon which it is located and provides no other advertisements or product identification.
CANOPIES. See AWNINGS and CANOPIES.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN. A sign designed to allow changing of copy manually.
CHANNEL LETTERS. Three-dimensional individually cut letters or figures, illuminated or un-illuminated, affixed to a structure.
CIVIC EVENT SIGN. A temporary sign, other than a commercial sign, posted to advertise a civic event sponsored by a public agency, school, church, civic-fraternal organization, or similar noncommercial organization.
CONTRACTOR OR CONSTRUCTION SIGN. A sign that states the name of the developer and contractor(s) working on the site and any related engineering, architectural, or financial firms involved with the project.
CONVENIENCE SIGN. A sign that conveys information (for example, restrooms, no parking, and entrance) or minor business identification for directional purposes, and is designed to be viewed by pedestrians and/or motorists.
COPY. Words, letters, numbers, figures, designs, or other symbolic representations incorporated into a sign.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN. Any sign that is designed and erected solely for the purposes of directing vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic within a project.
DIRECTORY SIGN. A sign listing the tenants of a multiple-tenant structure or center.
DOUBLE-FACED SIGN. A sign constructed to display its message on the outer surfaces of two identical and opposite parallel planes.
ELECTRONIC READER BOARD SIGN or ELECTRONIC GRAPHICS SIGN. A sign with a fixed or changing display/message, composed of a series of lights that may be changed through electronic means.
EXTERNAL ILLUMINATION. The lighting of an object from a light source located a distance from the object.
FLASHING SIGN. A sign that contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source.
FREESTANDING BRACKET SIGN. A small pedestrian-oriented sign mounted on the ground using one or more posts, or having a solid monument-type base.
GRAND OPENING. A promotional activity, not exceeding 30 calendar days, used by newly established businesses within two months after initial occupancy, to inform the public of their location and services available to the community. GRAND OPENING does not mean an annual or occasional promotion by a business.
HEIGHT OF SIGN. The vertical distance from the uppermost point used in measuring the area of a sign to the average grade immediately below and adjoining the sign.
ILLEGAL SIGN. Any of the following:
(1) A sign erected without first obtaining a permit and complying with all regulations in effect at the time of its construction or use;
(2) A sign that was legally erected but whose use has ceased because the business it identifies is no longer conducted on the premises;
(3) A nonconforming sign for which the amortization period has expired;
(4) A sign that was legally erected which later became nonconforming and then was damaged to the extent of 50% or more of its current replacement value;
(5) A sign that is a danger to the public or is unsafe; or
(6) A sign that pertains to a specific event that has not been removed within five days after the occurrence of the event.
INFLATABLE DEVICE. An object that is blown up with air or gas.
INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN. A sign whose light source is located in the interior of the sign so that the rays go through the face of the sign, or light source which is attached to the face of the sign and is perceived as a design element of the sign.
MONUMENT SIGN. Permanent sign where the entire bottom of the sign is affixed to the ground, not to a building.
MULTIPLE-TENANT BUILDING. A development consisting of two or more separate uses or tenancies that share either the same parcel or structure and use common access and parking facilities.
MURAL. A painting or other work of art executed directly on a wall.
NEON SIGN. Glass tube lighting in which a gas and phosphors are used in combination to create a colored light.
NONCONFORMING SIGN. An advertising structure or sign which was lawfully erected and maintained prior to the adoption of the city’s Zoning Code, and which has subsequently come under the requirements of the city’s Zoning Code, but does not now completely comply.
OFF-SITE SIGN. Any sign which advertises or directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or activity conducted, sold, or offered elsewhere than on the same lot or within the same building upon which such sign is located. All OFF-SITE SIGNS shall conform to the rules and regulation established by the state for outdoor advertising signs.
ON-SITE SIGN. Any sign used for identifying a use, facility, service, or product that is located, sold, or manufactured on the same premises.
PERMANENT SIGN. Any sign which is not a temporary sign as defined herein.
POLE SIGN. A sign mounted on a freestanding pole or other support so that the bottom edge of the sign face is six feet or more above finished grade.
POLITICAL SIGN. A sign designed for the purpose of advertising support of or opposition to a candidate or proposition for a public election, or a sign expressing political, religious, or other ideological sentiment that does not advertise a product or service.
PORTABLE SIGN. A sign that is not affixed to a structure or the ground (for example, A-frame or sandwich-board signs).
PROJECTING SIGN. A sign that protrudes in a V-shape from the top of the ground floor over the sidewalk, like a traditional theater marquee.
PROMOTIONAL SIGN. A sign erected on a temporary basis to promote the sale of new products, new management, new hours of operation, a new service, or to promote a special sale.
PROPERTY FRONTAGE. The side of a parcel or development site abutting on a public street.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. A sign indicating that a property or any portion thereof is available for inspection, sale, lease, rent, or directing people to a property, but not including temporary subdivision signs.
ROOF SIGN. A sign that is mounted on the roof of a building or which is wholly dependent upon a building for support, and which projects above the highest point of a building with a flat roof, the eave line of a building with gambrel, gable, or hip roof, or the deck line of a building with a mansard roof.
SIGN. An object, device display, or structure, or part thereof, situated outdoors or indoors, which is used to identify, display, or direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event, or location, by any means, including words, letters, figures, design symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination, or projected image.
SIGN AREA. The entire area within a perimeter defined by a continuous line composed of right angles which enclose the extreme limits of lettering, logo, trademark, or other graphic representation, together with any frame or structural trim forming an integral part of the display used to differentiate the sign from the background against which it is placed.
SPECIAL EVENT SIGN/BANNER. A temporary sign or banner that is intended to inform the public of a unique happening, action, purpose, or occasion (for example, grand opening or community event).
TEMPORARY SIGN. Any sign or advertising device constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, portable cardboard, wood, wallboard, metal, or other light materials, with it without frames, which is intended to be displayed for a limited period of time only and which is portable.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL SIGNS. Signs that have a depth or relief on their surface greater than six inches.
TIME AND/OR TEMPERATURE SIGN. Signs that accurately display the current local time and/or temperature, usually through arrays of small electric lights. No commercial advertising or other message is allowed.
VEHICLE SIGN. A sign that is attached to or painted on a vehicle that is parked on or adjacent to any property, the principal purpose of which is to attract attention to a product sold or business located on the property.
WALL SIGN. A sign that is attached to or painted on the exterior wall of a structure with the display surface of the sign approximately parallel to the building wall.
(Prior Code, § 159.04) (Ord. 1870, passed 12-11-2018; Ord. O-2021-04, passed 2-9-2021)