For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
(A) General definitions.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN STRUCTURE. A standardized outdoor advertising display, including the permanent framework, structural members, support or support foundation, scaffolding and illumination, facing or panels, and message, which is intended and whose customary use is to mount periodically changing commercial or non-commercial displays and which is made generally available for display to the public by the owners on a short-term basis. Such structures shall be limited to three standardized structures:
(a) The 30-sheet poster panel or painted bulletin, whose outside dimensions, including trim, if any, but excluding a base, apron, supports and other structural member, is approximately 12 feet by 25 feet, containing approximately 300 square feet of total display area;
(b) The 150 square foot face, commonly painted rather than posted; and
(c) The junior panel, whose outside dimensions, including trim, if any, but excluding the base, apron, supports and other structural members, is approximately six feet by 12 feet, containing approximately 72 square feet of total face area.
SIGN. A sign shall include any writing including a word or numeral; pictorial representation including illustration; emblem including device, symbol, or trademark; flag including the flag(s) of any nation(s) with total area over 40 square feet or banner or pennant; or any figure of similar character which is used to announce, direct attention to, or advertise and which is a structure or part thereof, or is attached to, painted on, or in any manner represented on a building or a structure. The definition shall not include outdoor advertising sign structures or signs displayed thereon; or writings, representations or other figures of similar character within a building or nonpictorial color treatments on the surface of a building which do not include writing or other direct forms of advertising.
SIGN OR OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN STRUCTURE, HEIGHT OF. The height of a sign or outdoor advertising sign structure shall be the distance from the top of the highest portion of the sign or structure to the grade at the foundation of the sign or outdoor advertising sign structure or the average grade of the lot, whichever distance is greater.
SIGN OR OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN STRUCTURE, NON-CONFORMING.
(a) A sign or outdoor advertising sign structure lawfully erected, constructed, installed or maintained prior to the adoption of this chapter, which does not conform to the standards or requirements for permitted signs and is not specifically prohibited; or
(b) A sign or outdoor advertising sign structure lawfully erected, constructed, installed or maintained after the adoption of this chapter, which does not conform to existing standards or requirements for permitted signs because of annexation, change in zoning districts or amendments to this chapter.
SIGN OR OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN STRUCTURE, SURFACE AREA OF. The surface area of a sign or surface display area of an outdoor-advertising sign structure shall be the area of the smallest convex geometric fixture encompassing the maximum projected area of the volume on a flat plane which completely encloses the extreme limits of the surface display area of writing, representation, emblem or other figure of similar character or potential display area of an outdoor advertising sign structure, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate such sign or outdoor advertising sign structure from the background against which it is placed. Such measurement shall exclude the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign is placed, unless the supports or uprights constitute part of the display because of the predominant overall concept of the sign.
(B) Signs defined according to type of message conveyed.
SIGN, BUSINESS. A sign which directs attention to or identifies a business or which directs attention to or identifies a commodity, service or entertainment to be sold or offered for sale. Any sign displaying the name of a business enterprise shall be conclusively presumed to be a business sign. Any sign displayed on a lot occupied by a business enterprise shall be presumed to be a business sign.
SIGN, INSTRUCTIONAL OR DIRECTIONAL. A sign conveying instructions or directions with respect to the lot on which it is located, such as a sign designating the entrance to or exit from a parking area, a trespassing sign, a danger sign and signs of similar character.
SIGN, REAL ESTATE. A sign advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises on which it is located, including a subdivision sign.
SIGN, SPECIAL EVENT. A sign advertising or announcing a special community-wide event or activity conducted by or sponsored by or on behalf of local government, schools, a charitable organization or a not-for-profit corporation. A special community-wide event or activity is one which occurs not more than twice in any 12-month period and which seeks to attract donations, participants or customers throughout the village or surrounding area.
(C) Signs and outdoor advertising sign structures defined according to location and/or methods of attachment.
SIGN, BULLETIN BOARD. A sign of permanent character, but with movable letters, words or numerals indicating the names of persons associated with or events conducted upon or products or services offered upon the premises upon which such sign is maintained.
SIGN, CANOPY, OR AWNING. An on-premises business sign other than a projecting business sign located upon a canopy or awning.
SIGN, OFF-PREMISES. A business sign which is not included in the definition of “sign, on-premises”.
SIGN, ON-PREMISES. A business sign which relates solely to a use or business conducted upon, or to a principal product, service or entertainment sold, provided or offered upon the lot where the sign is located.
SIGN OR OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN STRUCTURE, FREESTANDING. A sign or outdoor advertising sign structure secured to the ground and not attached to a building.
SIGN OR OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN STRUCTURE, ROOF. A sign or outdoor advertising sign structure erected upon the roof of any building.
SIGN OR OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN STRUCTURE, WALL.
(a) A sign or outdoor advertising sign structure attached to, erected against or painted upon the wall of any building with the exposed face thereof in a plane parallel to the plane of such wall, and which sign is mounted at a distance measured perpendicular to such wall, no greater than 18 inches.
(b) A WALL SIGN shall include a sign suspended from the ceiling of a marquee, canopy, or vestibule where such sign or freestanding sign or freestanding outdoor advertising sign structure any part of which is parallel to and any part of which is within 24 inches of a wall.
SIGN, PORTABLE. A sign not permanently anchored or secured to either a building or the ground such as, but not limited to, A frame, inverted T-shaped signs, and signs affixed to a chassis, which may include wheels for towing, whether or not such wheels are in place.
SIGN, PROJECTING YARD. A sign attached to and erected approximately perpendicular to the wall of a building, including a sign erected at the corner of a building and projecting into an open space or yard, but not projecting into the right-of-way of any street, sidewalk, alley or other public property.
SIGN, TEMPORARY. A sign intended for not more than a 30-day period of display and therefore is not actually displayed for a duration longer than 30 days.
SIGN, THEATER MARQUEE. A sign other than a projecting sign mounted on the marquee of any theater.
(D) Signs defined according to degree of illumination.
SIGN, FLASHING. A sign which exhibits artificially changing light or color effects.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED. A sign designed to give forth any artificial light or reflect such light from an artificial source.
(Prior Code, § 9-7-2) (Ord. 2002-4, passed 3-18-2002)