For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions are applicable:
ABANDONED SIGN: A sign which no longer correctly advertises a bona fide business, lessor, owner, product or activity conducted, or product available on the premises where the sign is displayed or elsewhere.
ALTERATION OF SIGN: The moving or modification, in any manner, of a sign including, but not limited to, changes to the sign structure, height, size or area, shape or foundation, but excluding the exchange, replacement or repainting of the sign faces of cabinet type signs where there are no changes to the original cabinet.
ANIMATED SIGN: A sign or display manifesting either kinetic or illusionary motion occasioned by natural, manual, mechanical, electrical, or other means.
AREA OF SIGN: The area of a sign face computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed. It does not include any supporting framework, bracing, or backdrop which is clearly incidental to the display and which does not contain any commercial and/or phonetic message.
AWNING SIGN: A sign that is affixed to a roof like structure; generally composed of a skeletal frame covered in a fabric or other skin type material typically open on the bottom side, which extends along and/or projects beyond the wall of the building and which is generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.
BANNER: A horizontally displayed sign of lightweight plastic, fabric or other material, whether or not it contains a message of any kind, suspended from or between brackets, ropes, wires or similar means of support.
BEACON: Any light source with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same lot as the light source; also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
BENCH SIGN: A sign painted upon or affixed as an integral part of a bench which is located upon public property including sidewalks, surfaced boulevards or on immediately adjacent private property by an entity other than the municipality that generally advertises a use other than that present on the adjoining property.
BILLBOARD SIGN: A sign larger than two hundred fifty (250) square feet in area which is designed to advertise products, services, or businesses not located on the premises on which the sign is located. A sign shall not be considered a "billboard" unless the sign is designed with a surface on which temporary poster panels or painted bulletin panels are mounted for the purpose of conveying a visual advertising message.
BUILDING FACADE: That portion of any exterior elevation of a building extending from grade to the top of the parapet wall or eaves for the entire width of the building elevation or that portion comprising the exterior elevation of one business located in a multiple tenant structure.
BUILDING FRONTAGE: A side of a building which faces a public right of way or provides off street parking or provides a customer entrance, or any side of a lot or parcel which borders on a public right of way.
BUILDING GRAPHICS: A mosaic, mural, painting, graphic art technique or combination or grouping thereof applied or implanted directly onto a building wall or fence.
BUILDING (PRINCIPAL): A single building or group of buildings designed and constructed to function as an integral unit which may have more than one use (such as, but not limited to, a shopping center complex) and excluding storage buildings, garages, and other structures "accessory" to such uses.
CANOPY SIGN: A sign affixed to or a part of an open, permanent, roof like accessory structure, which is not attached or a part of a principal building, that is generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN: A sign whose informational content is intended to function as if it were static, but which may be changed or altered by manual, electric, electro-mechanical or electronic means so as not to create a traffic hazard or visual distraction. (Excludes manual reader board as separately defined and time/temperature displays.)
COMMON SIGN: A freestanding sign intended to be shared by all tenants or businesses within a single building or group of buildings, such as, but not limited to, a planned unit shopping center, shopping center, strip mall or condominium commercial development.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN: A sign identifying a project and/or the architect, engineer, contractor(s) or suppliers involved in the construction on the property on which the sign is located.
COPY: The graphic content of a sign surface in either permanent or removable letter, pictographic, symbolic or alphabetic form.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN: An on premises, permanently erected and incidental sign designed to guide or direct pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
DOUBLE FACED SIGN: A sign with two (2) faces separated by an angle greater than sixty degrees (60°).
ERECTED: Attached, installed, altered, built, constructed or reconstructed, enlarged or moved, and inclusive of the painting of walls and signs, or the relocation, placement or alteration of individual sign letters (excluding manual reader board copy) or cabinets.
FESTOONS: A string of ribbons, tinsel, small flags or pinwheels.
FLAG: A fabric device containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols used as a symbol of a government or political subdivision.
FREESTANDING SIGN: A sign supported by one or more poles, posts, or other structures or supports that are permanently affixed to, or anchored in, the ground and that are independent from any building or other form of structural support.
GHOST SIGN: A sign, painted upon the facade of a building, that is in excess of fifty (50) years old and which generally advertises an extinct business.
HEIGHT OF SIGN: The vertical distance measured from the highest point of the sign to the adjacent street grade or surface beneath the sign, whichever is less.
ILLUMINATED SIGN: A sign with which a source of light is used to make the message readable, including signs that are either internally or externally lighted and signs that may be reflecting, glowing or radiating by virtue of another light source.
INFLATABLE SIGN: A sign that is a balloon, inflatable figure or structure excluding passenger hot air balloons used for air travel.
LEADING EDGE: The portion of a sign that approaches the closest in any direction to the adjacent property line or right of way line.
MARQUEE SIGN: A sign attached to or constructed on a marquee or other similar permanent roof like structure which is attached to and projecting horizontally beyond the wall of a building that generally is designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.
MONUMENT SIGN: A freestanding sign mounted directly to the ground with a maximum height not to exceed six feet (6'). A monument sign may be placed on a berm not exceeding two and one-half feet (21/2') above the adjacent street grade or surface beneath the sign, whichever is less.
MULTIPLE FACED SIGN: A sign containing three (3) or more faces, not necessarily in a back to back configuration.
NONCOMMERCIAL SIGN: A sign that expresses an idea, an aim, an aspiration, a purpose, or a viewpoint, whether based upon political, religious, moral or philosophical beliefs, and which does not advertise or promote for sale or purchase a commodity, product, service, activity, place or thing.
NONCONFORMING SIGN: A sign which was lawfully erected and maintained prior to the adoption of this chapter and all amendments, which now fails to conform to all applicable regulations and restrictions of this chapter.
OFF PREMISES SIGN: A sign, other than a billboard, which does not advertise the use of the property on which it is located.
ON PREMISES SIGN: A sign which carries advertisements strictly incidental to a lawful use of the premises on which it is located, including signs or sign devices indicating: the business transacted, services rendered, goods sold or produced on the premises; the name of the business or the name of the person, firm or corporation occupying the premises.
PENNANT: A vertically displayed sign of any lightweight plastic, fabric or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from or between brackets, ropes, wires or similar means of support.
PERMIT (SIGN): A form of written record giving permission to any applicant for the erection of a sign, generally issued by the building department.
POINT OF PURCHASE SIGN: The advertising of a retail item accompanying its display, where the exterior display on a lot of items for sale is permitted within the zone.
PORTABLE SIGN: A sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; A- or T-frame signs, inflatable signs, umbrellas used as advertising; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right of way, unless the vehicle is used in the normal day to day operations of the business occurring on the premises.
PROJECTING SIGN: A sign affixed to the exterior wall or structure and which extends perpendicular to the facade of the building or structure.
READER BOARD (MANUAL): A sign containing a message for public display that is manually altered periodically but not more frequently than daily.
ROOF SIGN: A sign which is erected upon or above any portion of a roof or parapet wall of a building and which is wholly or partially supported by the building.
SEASONAL/SPECIAL SIGN: A sign and/or decoration intended to celebrate commonly recognized historic and/or religious holidays, announce personal noncommercial events such as births, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and graduations.
SIDEWALK SIGN: A movable sign that rests on the sidewalk and which is not permanently attached to the ground.
SIGN: Any identification, description, building graphics, illustration or device, illuminated or nonilluminated, which is visible from any public place or is located on private property and exposed to the public which directs attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business or solicitation, including any permanently installed or display merchandise; or any emblem, painting, banner, permanent placard or temporary sign designed to advertise, identify or convey information, with the exception of window displays and flags of a government or political subdivision. Signs shall also include all sign support structures either wholly or partially aboveground. The word "sign" shall mean any electrically illuminated physical structure except marquees, the principal purpose of which is to advertise a business, product or service, which is attached to the exterior of a building or to land.
SIGN ADMINISTRATOR: That person responsible for the administration and enforcement of the provisions contained within this chapter.
SIGN CONTRACTOR: A person who fabricates, installs, erects or otherwise maintains signs.
SIGN ELECTRICIAN: An appropriately licensed and qualified electrician who installs, repairs, connects, or disconnects the electrical wiring for a sign.
SIGN ERECTOR: A person who installs, erects, alters or removes a sign but does not include persons who change the posters on a billboard or who change the lettering on signs where such change can be accomplished without altering the structure or wiring of the sign.
SIGN STRUCTURE: A structure which supports, has supported, or is capable of supporting a sign, including any decorative cover.
TEMPORARY SIGN: A sign intended for a limited period of time under specially defined requirements.
TIME AND TEMPERATURE SIGN: A sign containing illuminated numerals flashing or otherwise displayed alternately to show only the time and temperature for public service information.
UNDER MARQUEE OR AWNING SIGN: A lighted or unlighted display attached to the underside of a marquee or awning that extends over public or private sidewalks or rights of way.
WALL SIGN: A sign affixed in any manner to the exterior wall of a building or structure with its face parallel to the building facade and which does not project more than eighteen inches (18") from the wall and which does not extend more than six inches (6") above the parapet, eaves or facade of the building on which it is located.
WINDOW SIGN: A sign installed inside or upon the window surface for the purpose of viewing from outside the premises. (Ord. 2813, 10-20-1997; amd. Ord. 2978, 10-6-2003; Ord. 2991, 4-19-2004)