The following definitions shall govern the interpretation of the regulations of the City of Hiawatha Sign Code. If a term is not found in this section, refer to Section 165.96 of the Unified Development Code for Hiawatha. Words used in this chapter have the same definition as provided in Section 165.96, except that if the definition given in Chapter 166 differs, it supersedes the definition in Section 165.96.
1. “Access way” means a way or means of approach to provide vehicular or pedestrian physical entrance to a property.
2. “Awning” means any structure, unaccompanied by advertising copy, made of cloth or similar non-rigid materials with a structural support frame attached to a building and projecting away from the building.
3. “Billboard” – see definition of “sign, advertising.”
4. “Canopy” means a rigid, multi-faced structure covered with fabric, wood, metal, or other similar material and supported by a building at one or more points or extremities and by columns or posts embedded in the ground at other points or extremities.
5. “City” means the City of Hiawatha, Iowa, and persons authorized to perform specified functions on behalf of the City of Hiawatha, Iowa.
6. “Corner visual clearance” means that area bounded by the street right-of-way lines of a corner lot and a straight line joining points on said right-of-way lines thirty (30) feet from the point of intersection of said right-of-way lines. (See Figure 1 at end of chapter.)
7. “District” means any section or area of the City for which the regulations governing the use of buildings and premises, building bulk, signs and related matters are uniform.
8. “Lot” means a designated parcel, tract, or area of land established by plat, subdivision, or as otherwise permitted by law, to be separately owned, used, developed or built upon, and at least sufficient size to meet minimum zoning requirements.
9. “Lot line” means a boundary of a lot.
10. “Lot line, front” means the boundary between the lot and the street on which it fronts.
11. “Lot line, rear” means the lot boundary opposite and most distant from the front lot line.
12. “Lot line, side” means any lot line other than a front or rear lot line.
13. “Lot, reversed corner” means a corner lot the street side lot line of which is substantially a continuation of the front lot line of the first lot to its rear. (See Figure 2 at end of chapter.)
14. “Lot, through” means a lot having a pair of opposite lot lines along two more or less parallel public streets, and which is not a corner lot. On a “through lot” both street lines shall be deemed front lot lines. (See Figure 3 at end of chapter.)
15. “Lot, zoning” means a single tract of contiguous land which, at the time of filing for a building permit or a certificate of occupancy, is designated by the owner or developer as a tract to be used, developed, or built upon as a unit under single or unified ownership or control and assigned to the particular use, building, or structure for which the building permit or certificate of occupancy is issued and having frontage upon an approved street or place, and including such areas of land as may be required by the provisions of this chapter for the building structure or use.
16. “Marquee” means any permanent roof like structure or awning of rigid material supported by and extending from the façade of a building.
17. “Mural” means any picture, scene or diagram painted or fixed on an exterior wall of a building shall be considered advertising or have a business purpose unless exempt under this chapter.
18. “Public way” means a public or private tract of land specified for public use along or across a property for pedestrians, bicycles and/or vehicles that may not be paved or otherwise improved.
19. “Sign” means any medium, including its component parts, which is a communication device, structure, or fixture, and which incorporates graphics, symbols, or writings intended to promote the sale of product, commodity, or service or to provide direction or identification for a premises or facility, unless exempt under this chapter.
20. “Sign, abandoned” means any sign remaining in place for a period of ninety (90) days or more which no longer advertises or identifies an activity, business, product, or service available on the premises on which the sign is located.
21. “Sign, advertising” means a sign which directs attention to an establishment, business profession, commodity, service, premises, person or thing which may be located, produced, conducted, sold, or offered elsewhere than on the lot upon which the sign is located.
22. “Sign, awning” means any sign attached to an awning or the sign surface designed as an integral part of the awning.
23. “Sign, building” means any sign attached to a building including awning, canopy, marquee, roof, window, projecting and wall signs.
24. “Sign, canopy” means a sign other than a projecting sign attached to a canopy or the sign surface designed as an integral part of the canopy.
25. “Sign, festoon” means any sign in which lights, ribbons, tinsel, small flags, pinwheels, pennants or other similar small, attention drawing devices are attached to a rope, string, wire, pole, or similar support.
26. “Sign, freestanding” means a sign that is an independent structure, self supporting and not attached to a building or other accessory structure. Ground signs and pole signs are freestanding signs.
27. “Sign, ground” means any freestanding sign in which the entire bottom is in contact with or is close to the ground and is independent of any other structure. The width of the bottom of the structure in contact with the ground shall not be less than 40% of the sign width.
28. “Sign, identification” means any sign designed to identify a specific person, firm, corporation, or primary trade name of permanent character identifiable with said person, firm, corporation, or primary trade name, and located on the building or immediate premises of said person, firm or corporation.
29. “Sign, information” means a sign displayed strictly for the direction, safety, or convenience of the public and which sets forth no advertisement. Information signs would include signs which identify parking areas and drives, restrooms, addresses, telephones, exits and entrances, no trespassing area, danger areas, and similar information.
30. “Sign, illuminated” means a sign designed to give forth any artificial light or reflect such light from an artificial source.
31. “Sign, marquee” means a sign other than a projecting sign attached to a marquee or the sign surface designed as an integral part of the marquee.
32. “Sign, nonconforming” means any sign which does not conform to the requirements of this chapter.
33. “Sign, pole” means a freestanding sign with an elevated surface supported by one or more vertical poles or columns placed in the ground.
34. “Sign, portable” means a sign designed to be transported, including but not limited to signs:
A. With wheels, or with wheels removed.
B. With chassis or support constructed without wheels.
C. Designed to be transported by trailer or wheels.
35. “Sign, projecting” means a sign which projects from and is supported by a wall of a building and extends out from the wall more than 12 inches.
36. “Sign, roof” means a sign situated upon the roof of any building.
37. “Sign subdivision means any sign designating a subdivision or development area within any zoning district.
38. “Sign, wall” means a sign which is attached directly to a building wall and which does not extend out more than 12 inches therefrom, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the building wall.
39. “Sign, window” means a sign installed inside or painted upon an individual glazed surface panel for purposes of viewing.
40. “Sign plan” means a plan prepared to scale showing location and size of all signs, including incidental signs proposed for the lot. The sign plan shall show the maximum surface area and height permitted for each sign. For lots with more than one business, the sign plan shall allocate, through formula or square footage, the sign location and allowable surface area for each portion of the building and building site.
41. “Site plan” means a plan prepared to scale, showing accurately and with complete dimensioning, the boundaries of a site and the location of all buildings, structures, uses, and principal site development features proposed for a specific parcel of land.
42. “Street frontage” means that boundary of a lot abutting a public thoroughfare right-of-way which is under the jurisdiction and maintenance of the agencies of the Federal, State, County and Municipal government, which may be used by the public in general. Each side of a lot so abutting a street shall be considered as a separate frontage; however, this shall not include alleys. Interstates shall not be construed as street frontage in this chapter.
43. “Structure” means that which is built or constructed, an edifice or a building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.
44. “Temporary use” means a use established for a specified period of time, with the intent to discontinue the use at the end of a designated time period.
45. “Use” means the purpose (type and extent) for which land or a building is arranged, designed, or intended, or for which either land or a structure is occupied or maintained.
46. “Variance” means a discretionary entitlement which permits the departure from the strict application of the standards contained in this Code of Ordinances.
47. “Yard, required” means the minimum yard specified in each zone district as set forth in Chapter 165 of this Code of Ordinances.
(Section 166.54 – Ord. 999 – Jan. 24 Supp.)