For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following definitions and meanings:
A-FRAME, SANDWICH BOARD, AND FREESTANDING SIGN: A sign that typically folds in half at the top and is used to advertise in front of businesses on the sidewalk in an "A" frame. Businesses shall be limited to one sandwich board sign per street frontage. An A-frame or sandwich board may not exceed sixteen (16) square feet per side and shall not exceed four feet (4') in height or width. These signs shall be removed from sidewalks during non- business hours.
ABANDONED SIGN: A sign which, after fifteen (15) days, no longer correctly directs or exhorts any person, advertises a bona fide business, lessor, owner or activity conducted or product available on the premises where such is displayed.
ADVERTISING MESSAGE: That copy on a sign describing products or services being offered to the public.
AREA OF COPY: The entire area within a single, continuous perimeter composed of squares or rectangles, which enclose the extreme limits of the advertising message or announcement.
AREA OF SIGN: The area of the largest single face of the sign within a perimeter which forms the outside shape including any frame, forms an integral part of the display, but excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign may be placed. If the sign consists of more than one section or module, all areas will be totaled.
AUTOMATIC CHANGING SIGN: A sign which has an electronically or electrically controlled public service time, temperature and date sign, message center or reader-board, where different copy changes are shown on the same lamp bank.
AWNING: Any structure made of cloth, metal or other material attached to a building and not supported by the ground and is often adjustable, located over a window, door, etc., to provide protection against the sun, rain, and the wind.
AWNING SIGN: A sign painted or otherwise applied to the surface of an awning.
BACKGROUND AREA: The entire area of a sign on which copy could be placed, as opposed to the copy area, when referred to in connection with wall signs.
BANNER SIGN: A temporary sign composed of durable, flexible, lightweight material and fastened on two (2) or more sides and shall not exceed sixteen (16) square feet. Banners must be professionally lettered and may be double faced. National flags, flags of political subdivisions and symbolic flags of an institution shall not be considered banners for purposes of this chapter.
BILLBOARD SIGN: A sign which advertises or directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted or offered for sale elsewhere than upon or within the premises where the sign is located or to which it is affixed. Billboard signs shall be governed by the same regulations for off-premises signage.
BUILDING FACE OR WALL: All window and wall area of a building in one plane or elevation.
CANOPY: A structure, other than an awning, made of cloth, metal or other material with frames attached to a building and carried by a frame supported by the ground.
CAR SIGN: Any advertising or business sign attached to an automobile which is parked or placed in position for the displaying of same.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN: Any sign where letters, numbers, or symbols are changed manually to display different words or messages. Changeable copy signs must be accessory to that area of the sign permanently dedicated to describing the business where the business is located.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN: Any sign giving the name or names of principal contractors, architects and lending institutions responsible for construction on the site where the sign is placed, together with other information included thereon.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN: An operational sign that designates entrances, exits, service areas, parking areas, restrooms and other such signs relating to the functional operation of the building or premises including "no trespassing" signs, etc., and has no business, product or service name occupying more than fifty percent (50%) of the sign area.
EXEMPT SIGN: Signs exempted from normal permit requirements. For example, residential street and house number signs of certain size.
FACADE: The face of a building from grade to parapet in height and from side wall to side wall in width fronting on a public street excluding alleys or easements.
FACE OF SIGN: The entire area of sign on which copy could be placed.
FEATHER FLAG: A temporary wind device, constructed of cloth or light fabric that contains a harpoon-style pole or staff driven into the ground for support, typically used to promote single events or promotions within a business. Feather flags are prohibited.
FLASHING SIGN: Any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light source, or which includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing light by means of animation, or an externally mounted intermittent light source. Automatic changing signs such as public service time, temperature and date signs or electronically controlled message centers are classed as "automatic changing signs" not "flashing signs".
FRONTAGE: The length of the property line of any one premises parallel to and along each public right-of-way it borders excluding alleys.
GRAND OPENING: The opening of a new business, the opening of a relocated business or the opening after change of ownership of an existing business.
HEIGHT OF SIGN: The vertical distance measured from the nearest grade to the highest point of said sign.
ILLUMINATED SIGN - EXTERNAL: A sign illuminated by a source of light which is cast upon the surface or face of the sign to illuminate by reflection only.
ILLUMINATED SIGN - INTERNAL: A sign, all or any part of which is made of incandescent, neon, or other types of lamps attached thereto; or a sign having a border of incandescent or fluorescent lamps thereto attached and reflecting light thereon; or a transparent sign whether lighted by electricity or other illuminant.
INDIVIDUAL LETTER SIGN: Any sign made of self-contained letters that are mounted on the face of a building, top of a parapet, roof edge of a building or on top of, or below a marquee.
INFLATABLE: A sign or device that uses forced air or gas to inflate. Inflatables are prohibited.
INTEGRATED SHOPPING CENTER: A group of four (4) or more stores sharing a common off-street plaza or parking area and to which such stores are oriented.
INTERCHANGEABLE TEMPORARY SIGN: A sign that is no larger than three feet (3') in width and four feet (4') in height and held in place by a permanent frame constructed of stone, brick, painted aluminum/steel or painted/stained wood where temporary signs are interchangeable within the permanent frame. Temporary signage does not require a permit for each occurrence the temporary sign is changed. The only permit required is for the installation of the permanent frame. Interchangeable temporary sign frames shall be no taller than five and one-half feet (51/2') in height and cannot be placed in the public right-of-way.
MANSARD: A sloped roof or roof-like facade architecturally able to be treated as a building wall.
MARQUEE: Any fixed hood (other than a canopy or awning) which is supported solely by the building to which it is attached, constructed of metal or other incombustible material, and includes a sign or advertising announcements. Its location shall be restricted to over the main entrances into a building.
MONUMENT SIGN: A monolithic or monument-style sign with a concrete, brick, or metal base constructed into the ground at grade, and not attached to any building.
MOVING OR ROTATING SIGN: Any sign which physically moves or rotates in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part. Also to include attention-getting devices such as a pennant, flag, valance, banner, propeller, spinner, streamer, searchlights, balloon, and similar devices or ornamentation designed for the purpose of attracting attention, promotion or advertising. National flags, flags of political subdivisions and symbolic flags of an institution shall not be considered a moving sign for purposes of this chapter.
NONCONFORMING SIGN: Any advertising structure or sign which was lawfully erected and maintained prior to such time as it came within the purview of this chapter and any amendments thereto, and which fails to conform to all applicable regulations and restrictions of this chapter, or a nonconforming sign for which a special permit has been issued.
OBSCENE MATTER: Statements, words or pictures of an obscene, indecent or immoral character such as will offend public morals or decency. All being those prohibited by Illinois Statutes as being obscene.
OFF-PREMISES SIGNS: A sign which identifies goods, services or facilities which are not available on the premises where the sign is located. Off-premises signs are not permitted unless they are for promoting civic uses and events and approved by the Village Board.
PARAPET OR PARAPET WALL: That portion of a building wall that rises above the roof level.
PENNANT: A triangular or otherwise-shaped flag which is connected by a flexible wire or string.
POLE SIGN: A sign elevated on one or two (2) poles. Pole signs differ from off-premises signs in that they are on the same property as the business they advertise. Pole signs are only permitted where it is not feasible to place a ground or monument sign. Pole signs, when allowed, shall be no taller than ten feet (10') in height. Pole signs are not permitted within the Downtown Zoning District. All pole signs must have the pole wrapped with wood, stone or brick.
PORTABLE SIGN: Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or a building, including, but not limited to, mobile signs, signs on wheels, and signs on trailers.
PREMISES: A lot or parcel and the buildings, structures and/or establishments which are located on that lot or parcel.
QUASI-PUBLIC SIGN: Any sign giving notice of events and activities sponsored by civic, patriotic or religious organizations for noncommercial purposes.
REAL ESTATE SIGN: A temporary sign erected by the owner or his agent advertising the real estate upon which the sign is located for rent, for lease or for sale.
ROOF SIGN: Any sign erected, constructed and maintained entirely or partially upon or over the roof of any building with the principal support on the roof structure. Roof signs are prohibited.
ROOFLINE: The top edge of the roof or the parapet, whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette.
SIGN: Any copy, device, display or structure other than building or landscaping, readily visible from public property and used primarily for visual communication for the purpose of, or having the result of, bringing the subject thereof to the attention of the person, group of persons or the public generally. A "sign" includes, but is not limited to, any and all reading matter, letters, numerals, pictorial representations, emblems, trademarks, service marks, trade names, flags, banners, streamers, pennants, inscriptions and patterns whether affixed to a building, painted or otherwise depicted on a building, or separate from any building, and shall include window signs.
SIGNABLE AREA: A. Signable area is a triangle or rectangle on the face of a building having an architecturally emphasized public entrance or fronting on a public street. A signable area must be uninterrupted by doors, windows, light fixtures, bracing or other architectural features or decorative elements.
B. A building wall may have several signable areas. A primary signable area must be selected for purposes of this regulation. The primary signable area is the signable area where the primary wall sign will be located. A primary wall sign is the largest wall sign for a business, typically located above a main entrance or centered on the most prominent facade.
C. In the Downtown Zoning District, a signable area may not extend above the sill of a second story window or the bottom of a faux mansard.
D. Outside the Downtown Zoning District, signable area may be located on an uninterrupted area that is located to the side of a bank of second story windows, up to the top of the second story, or below any cornice, frieze band, fascia board or similar elements, whichever is lower. A sign may be located on the signable area of a tower or pediment feature, provided that the top of the signable area may not be located at a height of more than twenty percent (20%) above the average height of the coping on the adjoining wall.
E. Outside the Downtown Zoning District, a signable area may be on a faux mansard on a one story building, and may be measured to the top of the mansard or sixteen feet (16'), whichever is lower.
SNIPE SIGN: Any sign of any material whatsoever that is attached in any way to a utility pole, tree, or any object located or situated on public property. These types of signs are prohibited.
STREAMER: Long strips of paper or other flexible material.
VISION TRIANGLE: The triangular area formed by the road easement lines and a line connecting said road easement lines at points twenty five feet (25') along each road from the point of intersection, as measured at the property line.
WALL SIGN: Any sign which is placed against a building or other structure and attached to the exterior front, rear or side wall of any building or other structure, or painted on a wall of a building. This sign shall not extend more than ten inches (10") from the face of the wall. A sign attached to a mansard roof is a wall sign.
WINDOW SIGN: Any sign affixed to, in contact with, or within twelve inches (12") of a window thereof. (Ord. 2017-54, 11-28-2017; amd. Ord. 2018-36, 8-14-2018)