For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ACCESSORY SIGNS TO THEATERS. Theater posters that display current, forthcoming movies or performances and show times.
A-FRAME SIGN. A temporary double-sided sign typically connected at the top and separated at the bottom to form an "A" when in use. For the purpose of this chapter an A-framed sign is also referred to as a sandwich board sign. See Figure 1.
Figure 1 - A-frame sign
ANCHOR TENANT. The major or primary tenant in a multi-tenant building or shopping center with a minimum floor area of 25,000 square feet.
ANIMATED SIGN. A sign or any part of which by design, changes physical position by any movement, or creates the appearance of movement.
APPROVED COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL. Any material more than 1/20 of an inch in thickness which burns at a rate of not more than 2 1/2 inches per minute when subjected to the American Society for Testing Material (ASTM) standard test for flammability in sheets six-hundredths inches in thickness.
AREA. That area enclosed by one continuous line, connecting the extreme points or edges of a sign. This area does not include the main supporting sign structure, but all other ornamental attachments, inner connecting links, and the like, which are not a part of the main supports of the signs are to be included in determining sign area. The area shall be determined by drawing an imaginary square or rectangle envelopes so as to completely enclose each entire symbol, word, phrase, title, and or name appearing on the sign and computing the sum of all such geometric figures.
Figure 2 - Calculating area of both wall and freestanding signs
ATTENTION-GETTING DEVICES. Any pennant, flag, valance, banner, propeller, spinner, streamer, search-light or similar device or ornamentation designed for or intended to attract attention to it for the purpose of promotion or advertising.
AWNING. Any structure made of cloth, metal, or other material attached to a building which is constructed so as to permit its being raised or retracted to a position against the building when not in use, or any structure designed to simulate such construction, such as a "back-lit" awning. For purposes of this chapter, an AWNING containing the name of the business, logo or a combination of business name and logo, and or colors indicative to the corporate logo will be considered a wall sign.
BANNER SIGN. Any sign intended to be hung either with or without frames, possessing characters, letters, illustrations, or ornamentations applied to paper, plastic, or fabric of any kind. National flags, flags of political subdivisions, and symbolic flags of any institution shall not be considered banners for the purposes of this section.
BARE BULB ILLUMINATION. The use of lighting, which includes but is not limited to exposed illumination material other than approved sign faces. Such prohibited illumination may include both internal and external bulbs.
BEACON. Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same site as the light source. Also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
BENCH SIGN or AD SIGN. A sign located on any part of the surface of a bench or seat placed on or adjacent to a public right-of-way.
BILLBOARD, POSTERBOARD or PAINTED WALL. A single or double-faced sign permanently fixed to or placed upon the premises, which may have "changeable copy", which is used for display of
information not associated with the establishment located on the same premises as the sign. Such signs include walls of a building that are painted to display information that does not relate to a business or other establishment located in the building.
BOX SIGN. A translucent back-lit panel, larger than three square feet, which is applied to the facade of the building.
BUILDING FRONTAGE. The length of a building facade that is closest to and most nearly to with a public right-of-way.
BUILDING LINE. The line as established by the vertical face of the building or an extension thereof.
BUSINESS NAME. Name of a business as represented on a business license or as registered with state or federal Internal Revenue Service Departments.
CANOPY. A structure, other than an awning, made of cloth, metal, or other material with frames attached to a building, or carried by a frame supported by the ground or sidewalk. For purposes of this chapter, a CANOPY containing the name of the business, logo or a combination of business name and logo, and or colors indicative to the corporate logo will be considered a wall sign.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN. A sign upon which letters, words, or characters can separately be placed and replaced in or upon the surface area either manually or electronically for the purpose of changing the information contained on the sign.
CONTRACTOR/CONSTRUCTION SIGN. A temporary 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.
DEVELOPMENT SIGN. A temporary sign used to identify an approved future development.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNS. Signs limited to directional messages, principally for pedestrian or vehicular traffic, such as "one-way," "entrance," drive-thru,", and "exit," but does not identify the establishment itself or other goods or services available at the establishment and does not contain advertising messages.
DIRECTORY SIGN. A sign upon which the name and locations of occupants or the use of a building is given.
DRIVE-THROUGH DIGITAL ORDER SCREEN. A sign associated with a drive-through restaurant that uses electronic means such as combinations of LEDs, fiber optics, light bulbs, or other illumination devices to display order information for the customer and/or person to person ordering.
DRIVE-THROUGH MENU BOARD. A sign display associated with a restaurant drive-through, either located on a wall or as a ground sign, which displays the varieties of food and drink available to the customer at that restaurant location only.
DRIVE-THROUGH PRE-SALE MENU BOARD. Generally, a smaller version of the drive-through menu board which is located in proximity to but in advance of the drive-through menu board and displays the food and drink options available to the customer at that restaurant location only.
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL. The CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER of the village shall have the duty of enforcing the provisions of this chapter.
EXTERIOR WALL SURFACE. The most exterior part of a wall, sunscreen, or any screening or material covering a building.
FACADE. Exterior wall of a building that is exposed to public view.
FESTOON LIGHTING. A group of two or more incandescent light bulbs hung or strung overhead between two points, not on a building or structure, which are visible to persons on a public right-of-way, or which are not shaded or hooded so as to prevent the direct rays of light from being visible from beyond the property on which the lights are located.
FLAG. A symbol or a crest of either a nation or an organization of nations, a state, a municipality or a fraternal, religious, civic organization, or corporation. For the purpose of this chapter, any FLAG containing the corporate logo of a business will be considered a wall sign.
FLASHING SIGN. Any directly or indirectly illuminated sign which exhibits changing natural or artificial light or color effects by any means whatsoever.
FREESTANDING SIGN. A sign completely self-supported by two six-by-six or four-by-four wood posts, not exceeding two foot, or a solid base constructed of a masonry material which is independent of any building or other structure and anchored in or upon the ground. See Figure 3.
Figure 3 - Freestanding sign
FRONTAGE. (See BUILDING FRONTAGE or STORE FRONTAGE.)
HEIGHT, FREESTANDING SIGNS. The vertical distance from average adjacent ground level, within five feet of the sign, to the top of the sign including the support structure and any design element. See Figure 3.
HEIGHT, WALL SIGN. The vertical dimension of the imaginary box drawn so as to completely enclose each entire symbol, word, phrase, title, or name appearing on the sign and computing the sum of all such geometric figures.
Figure 4 - Wall sign height
HUMAN SIGN. Animals, or human beings, live or simulated, holding, or carrying a sign, designed or used so as to attract attention to the premises or activity.
ILLUMINATED SIGN (EXTERNAL). A sign illuminated by a source of light which is cast upon the exterior surface or face of the sign to illuminate the sign by reflection.
ILLUMINATED SIGN (INTERNAL). A sign which is illuminated by incandescent and other types of lighting sources from within or behind the sign so to reflect light through the sign.
INCOMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL. Any material which will not ignite at or below a temperature of 1200° Fahrenheit and will not continue to burn or glow at that temperature.
INFLATABLE SIGNS. Any hollow item or character expanded or enlarged by the use of air or gas for the purposes of advertisement, including tethered balloons. For purposes of this chapter, an INFLATABLE SIGN shall be considered a temporary sign.
INFORMATIONAL TRAFFIC SIGN. A sign directing and guiding automotive or pedestrian traffic which bears no advertising matter.
INSTITUTIONAL SIGN. A sign identifying a public, charitable, or religious institution which is located on the premises of such an institution.
LOGO. A symbol, color, or other graphic representation specifically attributable to a business. LOGOS shall not include slogans, phrases, or words that arc not considered part of the business name. The LOGO must be a registered trademark of the subject business.
MEMORIAL SIGN. A commemorative sign or tablet cut into masonry or inlaid as a part of a building.
MOVING SIGN. Any sign, which by design, rotates, moves, or gives the visual impression of rotation or moving.
MULTIPLE TENANT/MULTIPLE STOREFRONT USE/COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, OR OFFICE RESEARCH. A commercial, industrial or office research development in which there exists a number of separate activities, in which there are appurtenant shared facilities (such as parking or pedestrian areas), and which is designed to provide a single area in which the public can obtain varied products and/or services. Distinguishing characteristics of a MULTIPLE TENANT/MULTIPLE STOREFRONT COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL OR OFFICE RESEARCH development may, but need not, include common ownership of the real property upon which the center is located, common-wall construction, and multiple-occupant commercial or industrial use of single structure.
NAMEPLATE. A sign which displays only the name and/or address of the occupant and is non-electrical.
NATURE OF BUSINESS. A descriptive word or term whose purpose is to describe the primary function of a business, excluding definition of product (i.e. pets, spas, pools), product advertisement and slogans.
NEON SIGNS. Any sign that is partially or completely illuminated by one or more directly visible neon tube light sources, or similar types of lighting, such as bare bulb illumination or simulated neon.
NON-CONFORMING SIGN. Any sign which does not conform to this chapter.
OFF-PREMISE SIGN. A sign which directs attention to a commercial use, business, commodity, service, or activity not conducted, sold or offered upon the premises where the sign is located.
ON-PREMISE SIGN. A sign related solely to a use, business, or profession conducted, or to a principal commodity, service, or entertainment sold, provided, or offered upon the premises where the sign is located.
PARKING SIGN. A sign which identifies a parking area for automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, or any other motor vehicle.
PENNANT. A series of small flags of triangular or other geometric design tied together by a rope or other means; and used as an attention-getting device.
POLE SIGN. A freestanding sign which is supported by one or more uprights or braces greater than two feet in height that are no more than 12 inches in diameter and not attached or braced by any other structure.
POLE-MOUNTED SHINGLE SIGN. A small (four square feet or less) shingle sign mounted on a wood pole or post.
POLITICAL/CAMPAIGN SIGN. A sign or poster identifying or publicizing a candidate seeking public office or identifying or publicizing a public issue or advocating a position with respect to a public issue.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign not designed to be permanently attached to a building or anchored to the ground; any sign that is not permanently affixed to a building, structure or the ground; a sign designed to be moved from place to place. These signs include but are not limited to signs attached to wood or metal frames designed to be self-supporting and movable, paper, cardboard or canvas signs wrapped around supporting poles.
PROJECTING SIGN. Any sign other than a wall sign affixed to any building or wall whose leading edge extends beyond such building or wall, but whose face is perpendicular to the building.
PROJECTION SIGNS. A sign created by projecting light onto a surface such as a building or similar structure.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY. The land or interest therein, acquired for or devoted to any public way for vehicular or pedestrian travel which has been laid out in pursuance of any municipal, township, county, state, or federal law.
PUBLIC SIGN. A sign or notice erected or whose erection was required by a unit of government.
PYLON SIGN. (See POLE SIGN.)
RACEWAY. The structural support for letter and symbols of a wall mounted sign.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. A sign erected for purposes of identifying a parcel or building to be available for sale, rental or lease.
RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION SIGN (PERMANENT). A permanent sign designed to identify a residential, commercial, or industrial subdivision, planned unit development, or other development which is located at the entrance to the development.
ROAD FRONTAGE. Frontage of a building located on a public right-of-way or main point of ingress/egress to a commercial or industrial development.
ROOF LINE. Either the edge of the roof or top of the parapet whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette. Where a building has several levels, the roof line shall be the roof or parapet of that portion of the building.
ROOF SIGN. A sign erected, constructed, or maintained in whole or in part upon or over the roof of a building or a structure.
SANDWICH BOARD SIGN. (See A-FRAME SIGN.)
SIGN. Any device designed to inform, advertise, notify, or otherwise impart information about any business, special event. or other public or private purpose or attract the attention of persons on or off the premises on which the sign is located. SIGNS shall mean any surface, fabric, device, or display which bears lettered, pictorial, or sculptured matter, including forms shaped to resemble any human, animal, or product, designed to convey information visually and which is exposed to public view. For purposes of this chapter, a SIGN shall include colors on a canopy or awning that are indicative of the corporate logo. SIGN includes but is not limited to every type of sign listed in this section.
SIGN STRUCTURE. A structure constructed for the primary purpose of displaying a sign.
SLOGAN. A brief attention-getting phrase used in advertising, promotion or identification of a product or company.
SOFFIT SIGN. A sign no greater than four square feet suspended from a soffit, roof overhang, covered walkway, covered porch, or open lattice walkway.
SPECIAL EVENT SIGN. A temporary sign used to advertise a one time event or sale.
STORE FRONTAGE. The length of a building facade specifically attributable to a single commercial or industrial business that includes the principal point of access to the business.
STRUCTURE FRONTAGE. (See BUILDING FRONTAGE.)
STRUCTURAL TRIM. Any molding, batten, capping, nailing strip, lattice or platform, which is attached to a sign structure.
SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION SIGN, PERMANENT. A permanent sign that is placed at the entrance to a residential development in order to identify the name of the development.
TEMPORARY SIGN. Any sign, banner, pennant, valance, or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, wood/plywood, or other light materials, with or without a frame, that is not permanently mounted to the ground or building.
THEATER. A fully-enclosed building with fixed seats arranged in an auditorium fashion, where motion pictures or live entertainment acts are presented.
UNIFORM SIGN PLAN. A plan designed to show the relationship of signs for any cluster of buildings, a planned unit development, or any single building housing a number of users, or in any arrangement of buildings or shops which constitute a visual entity as a whole.
VEHICLE SIGN. Any advertising or business sign attached to a transportation vehicle for the purpose of identification or advertising a business, public or quasi-public institution.
WALL SIGN. A sign or individual letters, symbols, or combinations thereof painted, mounted, or attached to the exterior of a building or structure in a plan parallel to that of the wall to which it is painted, mounted or attached.
WINDOW SIGN. A sign or individual letters, symbols, or combinations thereof placed inside or upon a window facing the outside and which is intended to be seen from the exterior.
(Ord. 2243, passed 11-21-05; Am. Ord. 2691, passed 1-24-11; Am. Ord. 3338, passed 2-7-22)