For the purposes of this chapter, signs and their features and characteristics shall be defined and classified as set forth herein:
“A-FRAME SIGN.” A movable sign not secured or attached to the ground which is constructed with two sides attached at the top so as to allow the sign to stand in an upright position.
“ALTERATION.” A change or rearrangement in the structural parts of the design of a sign, whether by extending on a side, by increasing in area or height, or the moving from one location or position to another.
“ANIMATED SIGN.” A sign which involves motion or rotation of any part by mechanical or artificial means or which displays flashing or intermittent lights, excluding an electronic changeable copy sign.
“AWNING.” A structure constructed of fabric or metal placed so as to extend outward from the building, providing a protective shield for doors, windows and other openings, with supports extending back to the building, supported entirely by the building. Also a “Canopy.”
“AWNING SIGN.” A sign that is painted or otherwise made part of the awning material. Also a “Canopy Sign.”
“BACKLIT AWNING SIGN.” An awning sign made of opaque material with translucent letters and illuminated from behind.
“BALLOON.” An inflated nonporous object filled with air or other gas affixed to a building or lot for the purpose of attracting attention.
“BANNER.” A sign intended to be hung on a frame, possessing characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentations applied to plastic or fabric of any kind, excluding official flags or emblems of political, religious or educational organizations.
“BILLBOARD (OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN).” A type of off-premises sign, classified as a business use generally, but not limited to, a rigidly assembled sign, display, or device, usually free-standing, that is affixed to the ground or to a building. The primary purpose of which is to display advertising posters. Such signs, commonly referred to as “billboards” or “poster panels,” are generally designed so that the copy or poster on the sign can be changed and the advertising space may be leased.
“BULLETIN BOARD.” See “Kiosk.”
“BUILDING OR HOUSE NUMBERS SIGN.” A flat sign which identifies the address of the property.
“BUILDING PLAQUE SIGN.” A plaque designating names of buildings, occupants and/or date of erection and other items such as architect, contractor or others involved in the building's creation, cut into or attached to a building surface and measuring no more than four square feet in area.
“BUILDING SECURITY SIGN.” A sign indicating the presence of an electronic security system on the premises.
“BUILDING SIGN.” A sign attached to a building and which is not supported by any structure placed in or upon the ground surface.
“CANOPY.” A structure constructed of fabric or other material placed so as to extend outward from the building, providing a protective shield for doors, windows, and other openings, supported by the building and supports extending to the ground directly under the canopy. Also an “Awning.”
“CANOPY SIGN.” A sign that is painted or otherwise made part of the canopy material. Also an “Awning Sign.”
“CLEAR SIGHT TRIANGLE.” The triangular area formed by a diagonal line connecting two points located on intersecting right-of-way lines (or a right-of-way line and the edge of an access road), each point being 35 feet from the intersection, and the two intersecting right-of-way lines (or a right-of-way line and an access road). See § 1260.08.
“CLEARANCE (OF A SIGN).” The smallest vertical distance between the surface grade beneath the sign and the lowest point of any sign, including framework and embellishments, extending over that grade.
“CONSTRUCTION SIGN.” A sign erected on the premises on which construction, alteration, or repair is taking place, during the period of construction, displaying only the names of the architects, engineers, landscape architects, contractors, or similar artisans, and the owners, financial supporters, sponsors, and similar individuals or firms having a role or interests with respect to the structure or project.
“DIRECTIONAL SIGN.” A permanent sign designed to guide vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic by using words such as “Entrance”, “Exit”, “Parking”, “One-Way” or similar directional instruction.
“DIRECTORY SIGN.” A secondary sign on which the names and locations of occupants or the use of a building or property are identified.
“ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN.” A sign containing a computer-generated message such as public service time, temperature and date sign, message center or reader board, where different copy changes of a public service or commercial nature are shown on the same lamp bank or message facility. For the purposes of this Chapter 1262, the term “electronic changeable copy sign” shall not be defined as a type of “animated sign.”
“FESTIVE DEVICE SIGNS.” Balloons, umbrellas, and similar devices.
“FLASHING SIGN.” A sign that uses intermittent, moving or flashing light source to attract attention.
“FLAT SIGN.” A sign erected parallel to and attached to the outside wall or window of a building and extending not more than 24 inches from such wall, with messages or copy on the face side only.
“GAS PUMP SIGN.” Informational matter appearing on a gasoline pump as purchased or installed.
“GAS TUBE SIGNS” and “NEON SIGNS.” An illuminated sign affected by a light source consisting of a neon or gas tube that is bent to form letters, symbols, or other shapes.
“GOVERNMENT SIGN.” Any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained for any official governmental purpose.
“GRAND OPENING SIGN.” Any exterior temporary sign used to promote the one-time promotional event opening of a business.
“GROUND SIGN.” A free-standing sign whose face extends to the ground or to a base.
“HEIGHT (OF A SIGN).” The vertical distance measured from the highest point of the sign, excluding decorative embellishments, to the surface grade beneath the sign. (Compare: “Clearance (of a sign)”)
“HISTORICAL MARKER.” A type of memorial sign limited in content to the identification of an historical building or structure or the site of an historical event.
“ILLUMINATED SIGN.” A sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outlines illuminated by electric lights, luminous tubes or other means as a part of the sign proper.
“INFORMATIONAL SIGN.” An on-premises sign which identifies the building or use but may not include an advertising message.
“INSTITUTIONAL BULLETIN BOARD” or “KIOSK.” A bulletin board or kiosk maintained on a premises owned by a unit of government, church or place of worship, a not-for-profit organization or recreation center; includes any paper notices affixed thereto.
“INTERIOR SIGN.” A sign located within the building so as to be visible only from within the building in which the sign is located.
“KIOSK.” A structure which is used for the posting of temporary signs.
“LOGO.” A business trademark or symbol.
“MARQUEE.” A permanent, roofed structure attached to and supported by the building and projecting over public property.
“MARQUEE SIGN.” A sign attached to a marquee.
“MEMORIAL SIGN.” A sign memorializing a person, place, event or structure.
“MONUMENT SIGN.” A free-standing sign whose face extends to the ground or a base and is supported primarily by an internal structural framework or integrated into landscaping or other solid structural features other than support poles.
“MOVING OR ANIMATED SIGN.” Any sign or part of a sign that changes physical position by any movement or rotation or that gives the visual impression of such movement or rotation.
“NAMEPLATE SIGN.” A sign indicating the name and/or occupation of a person or persons residing on the premises or legally occupying the premises.
“NEW DEVELOPMENT SIGN.” An impermanent sign used to attract attention to a new development.
“NONCONFORMING SIGN.” Any sign or sign structure or portion thereof which is lawfully erected in compliance with applicable regulations of the Village and maintained prior to the effective date of this Zoning Code, and which fails to conform to all applicable standards and restrictions of this Code.
“NOW HIRING SIGN.” A temporary sign used solely for the purpose of advertising a new employee search/hiring period at a business, organization or other establishment which is located on the site upon which the “Now Hiring” sign is displayed.
“OFF-PREMISES DIRECTIONAL SIGN.” A sign designed to guide vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic to institutional uses and facilities and limited in content to the name of the institution and symbols or text indicating the distance and/or direction to such institution use.
“OFF-PREMISES (OFF-SITE) SIGN.” A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment or attraction sold or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is erected.
“OFFICIAL FLAG OR EMBLEM.” A flag or emblem of a government or of a membership organization.
“ON-PREMISES (ON-SITE) SIGN.” A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment or attraction sold or offered on the premises on which the sign is erected.
“OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN.” See “Billboard.”
“PENNANT.” A series of geometric shaped flags, with or without a logo, which are made of cloth, fabric, vinyl, or other lightweight material, and are fastened to a stringer that is secured or tethered to the ground and/or structure.
“PERMANENT SIGN.” A sign that is designed, constructed, and intended for more than short-term use.
“POLE SIGN.” A free-standing sign other than a ground sign, erected and maintained on a mast(s) or pole(s) and not attached to any building.
“POLITICAL SIGN.” An impermanent sign identifying support for a particular political issue, political party, election issue, or candidate.
“PORTABLE SIGN.” A sign not permanently anchored or secured to either a building or the ground, but usually anchored or secured to a trailer, vehicle (where primary purpose is to advertise) or frame capable of being moved from place to place. Includes “vehicular signs.”
“PREMISES.” A contiguous parcel of land with its appurtenances and buildings that function as a unit.
“PROJECTING BUILDING SIGN.” A sign attached to a building or other structure whose sign face is displayed perpendicular to the building wall.
“PUBLIC SAFETY SIGN.” A sign informing the public of any danger or hazard existing on or adjacent to the premises.
“REAL ESTATE SIGN.” A sign used solely for the purpose of offering the property on which it is displayed, for sale, rent, or lease.
“SHORT-TERM SIGNS.” Short-term signs include the following: real estate signs, new development signs, and construction signs. “Short-term signs” do not include signs that are permanent in nature, nor signs that are categorized in this chapter as “temporary signs,” “political signs,” “A-frame signs,” or “pennants, streamers, balloons, festive device signs or similar moving devices or air activated graphics.”
“SNIPE SIGN.” A sign for which a permit has not been obtained which is attached to a public utility pole, service pole or supports for another sign.
“STAKE.” Wood, metal, plastic, or other post which is less than 3-1/2 inches in width or depth, driven into the ground, and used to support any sign.
“STREET MAILBOX SIGN.” An informational sign which is affixed to a street mailbox.
“SUBDIVISION ENTRY SIGN.” A permanent on-premises sign identifying a vehicular entrance to a residential subdivision.
“TEMPORARY SIGN, EXTERIOR.” Any exterior sign that is not intended for permanent display, which is constructed of paper, cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard or other light materials, which and is erected on stakes, wire, plastic, or cord, including banners, and excluding the following: new development signs, real estate signs, construction signs, temporary use signs, and political signs.
“VEHICULAR SIGN.” A sign on a parked vehicle which is visible from the public right-of-way where the primary purpose of the vehicle is to advertise a product or to direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property. For the purposes of this Code, a “vehicular sign” shall not include any business logo, identification or advertising on vehicles primarily used for other business purposes. See also “Portable Sign.”
“VENDING MACHINE SIGN.” A sign fastened to or painted on a vending machine which directly relates to the product contained in the machine.
“VISIBLE.” Capable of being seen, whether or not legible, without visible aid by a person of normal acuity.
“WALL SIGN.” A sign that is painted on a building wall.
“WARNING SIGN.” A sign limited in content to messages conveying warning, caution or danger.
“WINDOW SIGN.” A sign attached to the inside of a transparent glazed surface (window or door).
(Ord. 12-64. Passed 3-12-13; Ord. 17-38. Passed 6-13-17.)