For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AWNING. A temporary or permanent shelter or decorative feature supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building and composed of rigid or flexible materials.
AWNING SIGN. Any sign that is affixed, painted, or imprinted upon the vertical face of an awning.
BANNER. Any sign made of fabric or other flexible material and without a frame.
BILLBOARD. Any sign which advertises goods, products, services, facilities, businesses, entertainment, or attractions which are not available on the premises where the sign is located.
CENTER OF THE STREET. The elevation of the public street from which you enter a property.
CODE. Unless otherwise specifically referenced means the Code of the City of Greendale.
DIGITAL BILLBOARD. A sign that is static (cannot move or scroll) and changes messages by any electronic process or remote control. A DIGITAL BILLBOARD may also include digital numbers used in gas station signs. Gas stations within the city may use DIGITAL BILLBOARDS that are limited to digital numbers for displaying gas prices.
ELECTRIC SIGN. Any sign containing electric wiring. This does not include signs illuminated by an exterior floodlight source.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD. A sign, display or device, including a digital electronic sign and LED (light emitting diode) sign that changes its message or copy by programmable electron or mechanical processes, regardless of size. Also, a sign utilizing a fixed light source to provide a message in text, images, pictures, and/or symbols that may appear to move or may appear as an on/off message.
FLASHING SIGN. Any illuminated sign on which the artificial light is not maintained stationary or constant in intensity and color at all times when such is in use. For the purpose of this chapter any moving illuminated sign, except digital billboards, must be considered a FLASHING SIGN.
FLAT WALL (FACADE-MOUNTED SIGN). A sign affixed directly to or painted on or otherwise inscribed on an exterior wall and confined within the limits thereof of any building and which projects from that surface less than twenty-four (24) inches at all points.
FREE STANDING SIGN. A sign erected and maintained on a free standing frame, mast or pole not attached to any building.
GASOLINE PUMP SIGN. Any sign no larger than either one square foot if placed atop a gasoline pump or the pump itself if affixed to the pump.
GOVERNMENT SIGN. A sign that is constructed, placed or maintained by the federal, state or local government or a sign that is required to be constructed, placed or maintained by the federal, state or local government either directly or to enforce a property owner’s rights.
GRAFFITI. Any unauthorized inscription, word, figure, painting or other defacement that is written, marked, etched, scratched, sprayed, drawn, painted, or engraved on or otherwise affixed to any surface of public or private property by any graffiti implement, to the extent that the graffiti was not authorized in advance by the owner or occupant of the property, or, despite advance authorization, is otherwise deemed a public nuisance by the City of Greendale. GRAFFITI includes snipe signs.
GRAFFITI IMPLEMENT. An aerosol paint contained, a broad-tipped marker, gum label, paint stick or graffiti stick, etching equipment, brush or any other device capable of scarring leaving a visible mark on any natural or manmade surface.
IDENTIFICATION SIGNS. Any sign identifying the name or address of a building, institution, or person, or the activity or occupation being identified.
INCIDENTAL SIGNS. Any sign that provides only incidental information, such as credit card information, hours of operation, open/closed, no soliciting, no smoking, full-service, self-service, and the like.
INTEGRAL SIGN. A sign that is embedded, extruded or carved into the material of a building facade. A sign made of bronze, brushed stainless steel or aluminum, or similar material attached to the building facade.
MAINTENANCE. The cleaning or repainting of cracked or faded finishes or replacement of parts of a sign in a manner that does not alter the copy, design, or structure of the sign.
MARQUEE SIGN. A canopy or covering structure bearing a signboard or copy projecting from and attached to a building.
MULTI-FAMILY DEVELOPMENT SIGNS. Any sign which identifies only the name of a multi-family development.
MULTIPLE OCCUPANCY BUILDING SIGN. Any sign which identifies only the building name, project name, property name, and/or address of a multiple occupancy building.
NONCONFORMING SIGN. Any sign which was erected legally but which does not comply with this chapter or any subsequent sign regulations.
ORIGINAL ART DISPLAY. A hand-painted work of visual art that is either affixed to or painted directly on the exterior wall of a structure with the permission of the property owner. An original art display does not include: mechanically produced or computer generated prints or images, including but not limited to digitally printed vinyl; electrical or mechanical components; or changing image art display.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN. A sign that advertises goods, products or services which are not sold, manufactured or distributed on or from the premises or facilities on which the sign is located.
PERMANENT BUSINESS SIGN. Any sign that identifies only a business or office.
PERMANENT SUBDIVISION SIGN. Any sign which identifies only a subdivision.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any structure without a permanent foundation or otherwise permanently attached to a fixed location, which can be carried, towed, hauled or driven and is primarily designed to be moved rather than be limited to a fixed location regardless of modifications that limit its movability.
PROJECTING SIGN. A sign, other than a wall sign, which projects from and is supported by a wall of a building or structure.
ROOF SIGN. A sign located on or above the roof of any building, not including false mansard roof, canopy, or other fascia.
SIGN. A name, identification, description, display or illustration, which is affixed to, painted or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, or other outdoor surface which directs attention to or is designed or intended to direct attention to the sign face or to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization or business. Signs located completely within an enclosed building, and not exposed to view from a street, must not be considered a sign. Each display surface of a sign or sign face must be considered to be a sign.
SIGN AREA. The space enclosed within the extreme edges of the sign for each sign face, not including the supporting structure or where attached directly to a building wall or surface, the space within the outline enclosing all the characters of the words, numbers or design.
SIGN FACE. The entire display surface area of a sign upon, against or through which copy is placed.
SNIPE SIGN. Any small sign, generally of a temporary nature, made of any material, when such sign is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences, or other objects not erected, owned and maintained by the owner of the sign.
TEMPORARY SIGN. A banner, pennant, poster or advertising display constructed of paper, cloth, canvas, plastic sheet, cardboard, wallboard, plywood or other like materials and that appears to be intended or is determined by the Code Enforcement Officer to be displayed for a limited period of time.
VEHICLE SIGN. Any sign attached to or displayed on a vehicle.
WAYFARER SIGN. A sign owned by the city, placed in the city right-of-way or upon an easement, used to allow property owners to advertise a business placed at intersections along U.S. 50 at the city’s discretion.
(Ord. 2004-10, passed 11-10-2004; Ord. 2017-3, passed 2-8-2017)