For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. A sign which no longer directs attention to or advertises any person, business, lessor, owner, product, idea, place, activity, institution or service which is conducted or available.
ADVERTISING MESSAGE. The copy on a sign describing products or services being offered or available to the public.
AREA OF SIGN. The gross surface area within a single continuous perimeter composed of a single rectangle enclosing the extreme limits characters, lettering, illustrations or ornamentations or other figures, together with any material, or color forming an integral part of the display or to differentiate the sign from the background to which it is placed. Structural supports bearing no sign copy shall not be included in gross surface area; however, if any portion of the required structural supports become enclosed for decorative or architectural purposes, that portion will be included in the total gross surface area of the sign. For computing the area of any sign which consists of individual letters or separate graphic elements, the AREA shall be deemed to be the area of the smallest rectangular figure which can encompass all of the letters or elements, including both sides if applicable.
BILLBOARD. A non-point-of-sale sign which advertises business service, organization, event, person, place, thing unless the sign is more specifically defined herein. A flat surface, as of a panel, wall or fence on which bills or signs are posted or painted.
BUILDING FACE OR WALL. All window and wall area of a building in one plane or elevation.
BUILDING FRONTAGE. The linear length of a building facing the right-of-way.
BUILDING OFFICIAL. The Building Inspector or any deputy thereof for the village.
BUSINESS FRONTAGE. The frontage of a lot on public right-of-way or privately-owned circulation road which functions mainly as a collector and distributor of commercial traffic.
COMMUNITY SIGN. A sign located on public property and owned and maintained by a unit of government for the benefit of the village, its residents, businesses, institutions and the general public.
DIRECTIONAL/INSTRUCTIONAL SIGN. A sign of non-commercial nature which directs the reader to public parks, buildings, historical structures or areas, schools and other public institutions; or provides information concerning traffic circulation or parking.
DISTRICTS. As contained in this chapter, references to residential, business and manufacturing districts shall be synonymous with those contained in Chapter 157 of this code of ordinances, as now or hereafter amended.
FACADE AREA. Total area of a building including the building face and roof as measured on a vertical plane established at the exterior wall of the building facing the right-of-way.
FLAG. An article of cloth, paper or similar light weight material, varying in size, shape and/or design, usually attached at one edge to a staff or cord, used as a symbol, standard, signal or emblem.
(1) COMMON FLAG. A flag other than an official insignia flag, including pennant banners and those bearing symbol mottos or slogans and the like.
(2) INSIGNIA FLAG. A flag bearing the insignia, name, device, rank, logotype or similar designation of specific activities, political parties, persons, agencies, private businesses and the like.
(3) OFFICIAL FLAG. The flag of any nation, state, county, city or other recognized government entity.
FLASHING SIGNS. Specifically noted as a lighted feature of a sign or light which has an intermittent connection from a power source to simulate motion or movement or distraction to the eye.
FRONTAGE. The length of the property line of any one parcel parallel to and along each right-of- way it borders.
HEIGHT OF SIGN. The vertical distance measured from the adjacent street grade or upper surface of the nearest street curb other than an elevated roadway, which vertical distance shall permit the greatest height to the highest point of the sign.
LETTERS AND DECORATIONS. The part of a sign pertaining to the letters, illustrations, symbols, figures, insignia and other devices employed to express and illustrate the message of the sign.
LOCATION. A lot, premise, building, wall or any place whatsoever upon which a sign is erected, constructed or maintained.
LOT. An area of land of sufficient size to meet zoning requirements for a permitted or special use. The lot shall have frontage on an improved public street or on an approved private street and may consist of:
(1) A single lot of record;
(2) A portion of a lot of record; or
(3) A combination of complete lots of record; of complete lots of record and portions of lots of record; or of portions of lots of record.
LOT, CORNER. A lot whose frontage is adjacent to two or more streets.
NON-CONFORMING SIGN (LEGAL). A non-conforming sign shall be any sign which:
(1) A sign which was lawfully erected and maintained prior to such time as it came within the purview of this chapter and any amendments hereto, and which fails to conform to all applicable regulations and restrictions contained in this chapter; or
(2) A non-conforming sign for which a permit has been issued.
OCCUPANT. Any person who:
(1) Owns, rents or leases; and
(2) Occupies a property or building for the purpose of:
(a) Residing in; and/or
(b) Carrying on a business, trade or profession thereon or therein.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN. A sign which directs attention to a use, business, commodity, service or activity not conducted, sold or offered upon the premises where the sign is located.
OWNER. Any person, group of persons, partnership, corporation or other legal entity holding legal or equitable title to real estate located within the village, including, but not limited to contract purchasers and all of the beneficiaries under a land trust.
PENNANTS. A flag which floats in the wind, commonly shaped in a triangle, comprised of a soft material which allows freedom of movement.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign on a trailer with or without wheels, but capable of being moved and not permanently attached to the ground or building.
PROJECTING SIGN. A sign other than a wall sign, which extends beyond the line of the building and is supported by or attached to a wall of the building. The sign shall be allowed only as expressly permitted in this chapter.
PUBLIC AREA.
(1) The right-of-way of any area owned by the state, any county or the village and which is used for a highway, street, road or sidewalk;
(2) The right-of-way of any area dedicated for highway, street or road purposes; or
(3) Any automobile parking area owned by or subject to a lease agreement with the village.
REVERSE COPY LETTERS. Illuminated translucent letters against a non-illuminated opaque background.
ROOF LINE. The top edge of the roof or the top of the parapet of the building; whatever forms the top line of the building silhouette.
ROOF SIGN. A sign erected and maintained upon or over the roof of any building, with the principal support on the roof structure. A sign which is attached to a mansard roof and protrudes wholly or partially above the roof line of the building or structure to which the mansard roof is attached shall be considered a ROOF SIGN.
SETBACK. The distance between the property line and the closest edge of a structure. With respect to the location of signs, the SETBACK shall be measured as the shortest distance between the frontage property line and a theoretical vertical plane established at the closest edge of the sign.
SIGN.
(1) Any name, identification, description, advertisement, display or illustration which is affixed to or painted or represented directly upon a building, structure or other outdoor surface or piece of land; and which directs attention to an object, idea, product, philosophy, place, activity, person, institution, service, organization or business; and which is located, on a permanent or temporary basis, on the premises at or on which the object, idea, product, philosophy, place, activity, person, institution, service, organization or business is located, offered or sold.
(2) The term
SIGN shall not refer to any display of official court or public notices, nor shall it include the emblem or insignia of a nation, political unit, school or religious group. The term SIGN shall not include any name, identification, description, advertisement, display or illustration located completely within an enclosed building or structure unless the content thereof shall be exposed to view from the outside of the building.
(3) For purposes of this chapter, a building or portion of a building which departs from standard architectural treatment in an attempt to attract attention to the premises by reason of color scheme, or part of a building facade not required structurally or for maintenance and which is intended to direct attention to products, goods, services, events or entertainment, shall be considered a
SIGN and be subject to all pertinent regulations.
(4) The term
SIGN shall include, but not be limited to the following categories, types and styles of signs.
(a) Content.
1. BUILDING IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign indicating the name or trademark of a building or its occupants, the name of the building’s management entity and the telephone number of the establishment or the business directory listing of the building on which the sign is located. Street numbers, by themselves, do not constitute an identification sign.
2. BUSINESS IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign relating to the commodities, services, entertainment, activities or events which are sold, offered, conducted on or relating to the occupants of the premises on which the sign is located.
3. COMMUNITY IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign incorporating information referring exclusively to service clubs, churches, not-for-profit groups, community slogans, directional information to public facilities or historic markers and/or governmental statistics.
4. NAMEPLATE. A non-illuminated sign identifying only the name and occupation of the occupant, or the name of the premises, on which the sign is located.
5. PUBLIC SERVICE INFORMATION SIGN. A sign intended primarily to promote items of general interest to the community, including, but not limited to items such as time, temperature, date, atmospheric conditions, new and/or traffic control.
6. REAL ESTATE SIGN. A sign indicating the sale, lease or rental of the parcel, structure or establishment on which the sign is located.
(b) Illumination and movement.
1. ANIMATED SIGN. A sign which includes or incorporates action or movement.
2. CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN/READER BOARD. A sign on which copy is manually changed in the field.
3. ELECTRICAL SIGN. A sign containing electrical wiring which is attached or intended to be attached to an electrical energy source.
4. FULL ELECTRONIC MESSAGE DISPLAY. A sign capable of displaying words, symbols, figures or images that can be electronically or mechanically changed by remote or automatic means, including animated graphics and video.
5. ILLUMINATED SIGN. A sign in which the source of illumination is a fundamental or integral part of the sign.
6. INDIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN. A sign which reflects light from a source intentionally directed upon it.
7. NON-ILLUMINATED SIGN. A sign which has no direct or indirect source of light.
8. MONUMENT SIGN. A freestanding sign supported primarily by an integral structural framework having the appearance of a solid base or integrated into landscaping or other solid structural features other than support poles or pylons. The width of the top of the sign shall be no more than 120% of the width of the base.
9. STATIC ELECTRONIC MESSAGE DISPLAY. A sign capable of displaying words, symbols, figures or images that can be electronically or mechanically changed by remote or automatic means. Consistent with the definitions below, said displays shall change only through dissolve or fade transitions, or with the use of other subtle transitions and frame effects that do not have the appearance of moving text or images, but which may otherwise not have movement, or the appearance or optical illusion of movement, of any part of the sign structure, design or pictorial segment of the sign, including movement of any illumination or the flashing, scintillating or varying of light intensity.
a. DISSOLVE. A mode of message transition on an electronic message display accomplished by varying the light intensity or pattern, where the first message gradually appears to dissipate and lose legibility simultaneously with the gradual appearance and legibility of the second message.
b. FADE. A mode of message transition on an electronic message display accomplished by varying the light intensity, where the first message gradually reduces intensity to the point of not being legible and the subsequent message gradually increases intensity to the point of legibility.
c. FRAME. A complete, static display screen on an electronic message display.
d. FRAME EFFECT. A visual effect on an electronic message display to change one message to another.
e. TRANSITION. A visual effect used on an electronic message display to change from one message to another.
(c) Materials and placement.
1. AWNING. A temporary shelter supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building and composed of non-rigid materials, except for the supporting framework. When an awning contains, embodies or displays any verbiage, trademark, logo or similar representation, these elements shall constitute a SIGN.
2. BANNER SIGN. A temporary sign composed of light weight materials secured or mounted so as to allow movement of the sign such as is caused by movement of the atmosphere, comprised generally of cloth, canvass, light fabric or Visqueen with or without frames.
3. BUILDING SIGN. A sign attached to or supported by the exterior of any part of a building, except its roof, but which does not project over a street, alley or public way.
4. CANOPY. A structure other than an awning made of cloth, metal or other materials with frames affixed to a building and carried by a frame which is supported by the ground. When a canopy contains, embodies or displays any verbiage, trademark, logo or similar representation, those elements constitute a SIGN.
5. FREE STANDING SIGN. A sign which is not attached to any building or structure, but is permanently secured to the ground.
6. PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign on a trailer with or without wheels, but capable of being moved anal not permanently attached to the ground or building.
7. ROOF SIGN. A sign erected and maintained upon or over the roof of any building, with the principal support on the roof structure. A sign which is attached to a mansard roof and protrudes wholly or partially above the roof line of the building or structure to which the mansard roof is attached shall be considered a ROOF SIGN.
8. WALL SIGN.
a. A sign which is placed against a building or other structure and which is attached to the exterior front, rear or side wall of a building.
b. The term
WALL SIGN shall include a sign attached to a mansard roof and not protruding, wholly or partially, above the lowest point of the roof of the building or structure to which the mansard roof is attached.
9. WINDOW SIGN. A sign which is applied or attached to the interior or exterior of a window of a building or structure, or which is located within two feet of the interior of a window, which sign may be seen through the window from the exterior of the structure.
SIGN STRUCTURE. Any structure which supports, had supported or is capable of supporting a sign.
SITE PLAN. The development plan for one or more lots on which is shown, and dimensioned to scale, the existing and proposed condition of the lot.
STREAMERS. A flag which floats in the wind, ribbon like, long, narrow, wavy strip of cloth, vinyl or paper.
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS. The supports, uprights, bracing and framework of a sign.
STRUCTURAL TRIM. The molding, batons, cappings, nailing strips, latticing and platforms which are attached to a sign structure.
UNLAWFUL SIGN. A sign which contravenes the term of this chapter or which the Building Official has declared to be unlawful because it poses a danger to public safety by reason of dilapidation or abandonment; a non-conforming sign for which any permit required under any previous ordinance was not obtained.
VILLAGE. The area contained within the corporate limits of the village.
WALL SIGNS.
(1) A sign which is placed against a building or other structure and which is attached mechanically to the exterior front, rear or side wall of a building.
(2) A sign painted directly on the exterior of a structure or building is expressly prohibited.
(1981 Code, § 29.02) (Ord. 90-20, passed 10-15-1990; Am. Ord. 06-23, passed 7-17-2006; Am. Ord. 06-46, passed 10-16-2006; Am. Ord. 15-40, passed 9-21-2015; Am. Ord. 16-05, passed 3-7-2016)