The following words and terms shall, for the purposes of this subchapter, have the meanings shown herein.
ABANDONED SIGN. A sign, including any supporting structure or pole, which is in disrepair or no longer in good condition
ANIMATED SIGN. A sign employing actual motion or the illusion of motion. Animated signs, which are differentiated from changeable signs as defined and regulated by this chapter, include the following types:
(1) ELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED. Animated signs producing the illusion of movement by means of electronic, electrical, or electro-mechanical input or illumination capable of simulation movement through employment of the characteristics of one or both of the classifications noted below:
(a) FLASHING. Animated signs or animated portions of signs when illumination is characterized by a repetitive cycle in which the period of illumination is either the same as or less than the period of non-illumination. For the purposes of this chapter, flashing shall not be defined as occurring if the cyclical period between on-off phases of illumination exceeds four seconds.
(b) PATTERNED ILLUSIONARY MOVEMENT. Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by simulated movement through alternate or sequential activation of various illuminated elements for the purpose of producing repetitive light patterns designed to appear in some form of constant motion.
(2) ENVIRONMENTALLY ACTIVATED. Animated signs or devices motivated by wind, thermal changes, or other natural environmental input. Includes spinners, pinwheels, pennant strings, or other devices or displays that respond to naturally occurring external motivation.
(3) MECHANICALLY ACTIVATED. Animated signs characterized by repetitive motion or rotation activated by a mechanical system powered by electric motors or other mechanically induced means.
ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTION. Any projection that is not intended for occupancy and that extends beyond the face of an exterior wall of a building, but that does not include signs as defined herein.
AWNING. An architectural projection or shelter projecting from, and fully or partially supported by, the exterior wall of a building and composed of a covering of rigid or non-rigid materials or fabric on a supporting framework that may be either permanent or retractable, including such structures that are internally illuminated by fluorescent or other light sources.
AWNING SIGN. A sign displayed on, or attached flat against, the surface or surfaces of an awning. See also, WALL or FASCIA SIGN.
BACKLIT AWNING. An awning with a translucent covering material and a source of illumination contained within its framework.
BANNER. A flexible substrate on which copy or graphics may be displayed.
BANNER SIGN. A sign utilizing a banner as its display surface.
BENCH SIGN. A bench, or chair or an attachment to a building which provides a bench, chair or seating device which also has painted, or in any other way attached to it, a sign.
BILLBOARD. An outdoor sign, whether placed individually or on a T-type, V-type, back to back or double-faced display, erected for the purpose of advertising a product, event, person, or subject not related to the premises on which the sign is located.
BUILDING ELEVATION. The entire side of a building, from ground level to the roofline, as viewed perpendicular to the walls on that side of the building.
BUILDING OFFICIAL. The Building Official of the City of Hamtramck or an authorized representative.
CANOPY. A multisided overhead structure or architectural projection supported by attachments to a building on one or more sides and either cantilevered from such building or also supported by columns at additional points. The surface(s) or soffit of an attached canopy may be illuminated by means of internal or external sources of light.
CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGN. A sign with the capability of content change by means of manual or remote input, including signs which are:
(1) MANUALLY ACTIVATED. Changeable sign whose message copy or content can be changed manually.
(2) ELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED. Changeable sign whose message copy or content can be changed by means of remote electrically energized on-off switching combinations of alphabetic or pictographic components arranged on a display surface. Illumination maybe integral to the components, such as characterized by lamps or other light-emitting devices; or it may be from an external light source designed to reflect off the changeable component display. See also, ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN or CENTER.
COMBINATION SIGN. A sign supported partly by a pole and partly by a building structure.
COPY. See SIGN COPY.
DEVELOPMENT COMPLEX SIGN. A freestanding sign identifying a multiple-occupancy development, such as a shopping center or planned industrial park, which is controlled by a single owner or landlord.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN. Any sign designed and erected to provide direction or orientation for pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
DOUBLE-FACED SIGN. A sign with two faces, back to back.
ELECTRIC SIGN. Any sign activated or illuminated by means of electrical energy.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN OR CENTER. An electronically activated changeable sign whose variable message capability can be electronically programmed.
EXTERIOR SIGN. Any sign placed outside a building.
FAÇADE. The front exterior wall of a structure.
FLAG. A sign on paper, cloth, fabric, or other flexible or combustible material of any kind that is attached to a permanent conforming pole or attached flat to a wall or sign face.
FLASHING SIGN. See ANIMATED SIGN, ELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED.
FREESTANDING SIGN. A sign erected upon or supported by the ground. Freestanding signs include ground signs, which are self-supporting base-mounted signs consisting of two or more sides extending up from the base, and pole signs, which are elevated on poles or braces above the ground and not attached to any other building or structure.
FRONTAGE (BUILDING). The length of an exterior building wall or structure of a single premise facing the street on which it is addressed.
FRONTAGE (PROPERTY). The length of the property line(s) of any single premise along either a public way or other properties on which it borders.
GROUND SIGN. See FREESTANDING SIGN.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. A sign which uses artificial light, either projection through its surface(s) (internally illuminated); or reflecting off its surface(s) (externally illuminated).
INTERIOR SIGN. Any sign placed within a building and which is not visible from the exterior of the building. This definition does not include "window signs" as defined by this section. Interior signs are not regulated by this subchapter.
MANSARD. An inclined decorative roof-like projection that is attached to an exterior building façade.
MARQUEE OR MARQUEE SIGN. See CANOPY.
MENU BOARD. A freestanding sign oriented to the drive-through lane for a restaurant which is oriented to drivers in the drive-through lane and generally only legible on the premises.
MULTIPLE-FACED SIGN. A sign containing three or more faces.
OFF-PREMISE SIGN. A sign other than an on-premises sign.
ON-PREMISE SIGN. A sign erected, maintained, or used in the outdoor environment for display of commercial or noncommercial messages in relation to the use of, products sold on, or the sale or lease of, the property on which it is displayed.
PAINTED SIGN. A sign that is painted directly on the exterior surface of a building or structure. Painted signs shall be treated as wall signs.
PARAPET. The extension of a building façade above the line of the structural roof.
POLE SIGN. See FREESTANDING SIGN.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or to a building or building surface.
PROJECTING SIGN. A sign, other than a marquee, which is affixed to any building or structure or part thereof which extends more than 12 inches beyond the building or structure wall and the horizontal sign surface is not parallel to the building wall.
PUBLIC SIGN. Any sign established by the city, county, state, or federal governments such as a warning or hazard sign, traffic sign in conformance with the Michigan Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, any sign required to be placed by law, or any other similar sign.
REFACED SIGN. An existing sign that has the sign face changed within the existing structure or cabinet.
REVOLVING SIGN. A sign that revolves 360 degrees about an axis. See also, ANIMATED SIGN, MECHANICALLY ACTIVATED.
ROOF LINE. The top edge of a peaked roof or, in the case of an extended façade or parapet, the uppermost point of the façade or parapet.
ROOF SIGN. A sign mounted on, and supported by, the main roof portion of a building, or above the uppermost edge of a parapet wall of a building and which such a building wholly or partially supports. Sign mounted on mansard facades, and architectural projections such as canopies or marquees are not considered roof signs.
SIGN. Any structure or wall or part thereof, or device attached thereto or painted or represented thereon, or any material or thing, illuminated or otherwise, which displays or includes any numeral, letter, word, model, banner, emblem, insignia, device, service mark, trade mark or other representation used as, or in the nature of, an announcement, advertisement, direction or designation, of any person, firm, organization, place, commodity, service, business, profession, or industry, or any backlit building area, which is located upon any land or in or on any building, in such a manner as to attract attention from outside the premises. The term SIGN shall also include any bulbs, string of lights, other lighting devices, streamers, pennants, hot and cold air balloon(s) or inflatable structures, propeller(s), flags, other structure(s) conveying a message, any similar device(s) of any type or kind whether bearing lettering or not in any combination of the above. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit noncommercial messages on any permitted sign.
SIGN AREA. The sign area shall include the total area within any circle, triangle, rectangle or square, or combination of two shapes which are contiguous to each other, enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem or any similar figure, together with any frame or other material forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate such sign from the background against which it is placed. In the case of a broken sign, (a sign with open spaces between the letters or insignia) the sign area to be considered for size shall include all air space between the letters or insignia. Where more than one wall sign is used, each sign may be measured individually, using the procedure above, provided the signs are separated by a distance equal to, or greater than, the width of the largest sign. Any back-lit area of a building exterior shall be considered a sign area.
SIGN COPY. Those letters, numerals, figures, symbols, logos, and graphic elements comprising the content or message of a sign, excluding numerals identifying a street address only.
SIGN ERECTOR. A licensed company or person engaged in the business of erecting, altering, removing or painting signs.
SIGN FACE. The surface upon, against, or through which the sign copy is displayed or illustrated, not including structural supports, architectural features of a building or sign structure, nonstructural or decorative trim, or any areas that are separated from the background surface upon which the sign copy is displayed by a distinct delineation, such as a reveal or border.
(1) In the case of a panel or cabinet type signs, the sign face shall include the entire area of the sign panel, cabinet, or face substrate upon which the sign copy is displayed or illustrated, but not open space between separate panels or cabinets.
(2) In the case of sign structures with routed areas of sign copy, the sign face shall include the entire area of the surface that is routed, except where interrupted by a reveal, border, or a contrasting surface or color.
(3) In the case of signs or individual letters or graphic elements affixed to a building or structure, the sign face shall include the total area within any circle, triangle, rectangle or square, or combination of two shapes which are contiguous to each other, enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem or any similar figure.
(4) In the case of sign copy enclosed within a painted or illuminated border or displayed on a background contrasting in color with the color of the building or structure, the sign face shall comprise the area within the contrasting background, or within the painted or illuminated border.
SIGN STRUCTURE. Any structure supporting a sign.
TEMPORARY SIGN. A free-standing sign, banner or other device, constructed of cloth, canvas, fabric, plastic, wood, paper or other material, with or without a structural frame, or any other sign intended for a limited period of display.
UNDER CANOPY SIGN OR UNDER MARQUEE SIGN. A sign attached to the underside of a canopy or marquee.
V SIGN. Signs containing two faces of approximately equal size, erected upon common or separate structures, positioned in a "V" shape with an interior angle between faces of not more than 90 degrees with the distance between the sign faces not exceeding five feet at their closest point.
WALL OR FASCIA SIGN. A sign that is attached either parallel or perpendicular to the exterior of a building or structure and that projects not more than 12 inches from the building or structure, including signs affixed to architectural projections from a building if the copy area of such signs remain on a parallel plane to the face of the building façade or to the face or faces of the architectural projection to which it is affixed.
WINDOW SIGN. A sign affixed to the interior surface of a window with its message intended to be visible to, and readable from, the public way or from adjacent property.
(Ord. 497, passed 2-3-2004; Am. Ord. 523, passed 6-13-2006; Am. Ord. 2011-7, passed 12-13-2011; Am. Ord. 2019-02, passed 10-8-2019; Am. Ord. 2020-28, passed 3-3-2020; Am. Res. 2021-46, passed 4-13-2021; Am. Ord. passed 8-24-2021)