Unless otherwise expressly stated the following words or terms shall, for the purpose of this Chapter, have the meanings indicated in this Section.
APPROVED COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS: Any material more than one- twentieth of an inch (1/20") in thickness, which burns at a rate of not more than two and one-half inches (21/2") per minute when subjected to the American Society for Testing Materials then prevailing standard test for flammability in sheets of six- hundredths inches (0.06") in thickness.
AWNING: Any structure with a frame attached to a building and projecting therefrom, which is capable of being raised to a position flat against the building when not in use.
BANNER: A piece of cloth or other material attached to a staff or line, to attract attention.
BEACON LIGHTS: Any light with one or more beams, capable of being directed in any direction or directions or capable of being revolved automatically.
BENCH SIGN: A sign located on any part of the surface of a bench or adjacent to a public right of way.
BILLBOARD: Any sign erected upon the land or attached to any building which does not advertise the business, profession, service conducted or product offered on the premises to which such sign is annexed or attached.
BUILDING OFFICER: Means and includes the duly appointed Building Inspector, Building Commissioner, Building Officer or any deputy thereof.
CANOPY: Any structure, other than an awning, made of cloth or metal with metal frames attached to a building projecting over a public area as defined in this Chapter, carried by a frame supported by the ground or sidewalk.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN: Any 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.
DIRECTORY SIGN: A sign on which the names and locations of occupants or the use of a building is given. This shall include office buildings and church directories.
ERECT: To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix and shall also include the initial painting of any sign.
FACING OR SURFACE: The surface of a sign upon, against or through which a message is displayed or illustrated on a sign.
FLASHING SIGN: Any illuminated sign where each artificial light unit is not maintained in a stationary condition, or where all light units are not constant in intensity and color at all times when such sign is illuminated. Flashing signs are not permitted.
FREESTANDING SIGN: Any mobile or portable sign or sign structure, not securely attached to the ground or to any other structure. This shall not include car signs as defined herein.
GROSS SURFACE AREA OF SIGN: The entire area within a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of a sign and in no case passing through or between any adjacent elements of the same. However, such perimeter shall not include any structural elements lying outside the limits of such sign and not forming an integral part of the display.
GROUND SIGN: Includes any sign supported by uprights, poles or braces placed upon the ground or a sign placed directly on the ground and not attached to any building.
ILLUMINATED SIGN: Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outline illuminated by electric lights, luminous tubes or any other means of illumination as part of the sign.
INCOMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL: Any material which will not ignite at or below a temperature of one thousand two hundred degrees Fahrenheit (1,200°F) and will not continue to burn or glow at that temperature.
MARQUEE: Any fixed hood which includes a sign or advertising or announcements (other than a canopy or awning) projecting from the wall of a building above an entrance extending over a public area. Marquees are not permitted.
MOVING OR ROTATING SIGN: Any sign which physically moves or rotates in any manner whatsoever, in whole or in part. Moving signs are not permitted.
NAMEPLATE: Any sign which states the name or address or both of the business or occupancy of the lot where the sign is placed.
NONCONFORMING SIGN: Any sign which was lawful prior to the adoption, revision or amendment to these sign regulations, but which now fails by reasons of such adoption, revision or amendment, to conform to the present requirements of these sign regulations.
PERSON: Any natural person, partnership, trust, corporation or association. Whenever used with respect to any penalty, the term "person" as applied to partnerships or associations, shall mean the partners or members thereof; as applied to trusts, shall mean the trustees and beneficiaries thereof; and as applied to corporation, shall mean the officers thereof.
POLITICAL SIGN: A sign which relates to a candidate seeking elective office and/or which contains expressions on political issues and/or other noncommercial individual speech.
PORTABLE SIGN: Any sign designed to be moved from place to place.
PROJECTING SIGN: Any sign which is attached to a building or other structure and extends by more than twelve inches (12") beyond the line of the building or structure or that portion of the building or structure to which it is attached. Projecting signs are not permitted.
PUBLIC AREA: A. The right of way of any area owned by, or dedicated to, or offered for dedication to the state of Illinois, any county or the village of Inverness which is used for a highway, street, road or sidewalk; or
B. The right of way of any area dedicated or offered for dedication for highway, street, or road purposes; or
C. Any automobile parking area owned by or subject to a lease agreement in favor of the village of Inverness.
D. Any other public property.
REAL ESTATE SIGN: Any sign which is used to offer for sale, lease, or rent property or to advertise an open house for such sale, lease or rental.
ROOF SIGN: Any sign erected, constructed and maintained upon or over the roof of any building, with the principal support on the roof structure. A sign which is attached to a mansard roof and protrudes, wholly or partially, above the lowest point of the roof of the building or structure to which the mansard roof is attached shall be considered a roof sign. Roof signs are not permitted.
SIGN: Every name, identification, description, announcement, billboard, declaration, demonstration, display, object, flag, pennant, illustration, canopy, awning, clock or insignia, and structure supporting any of the same, affixed directly or indirectly to or upon the exterior of any building or outdoor structure, or erected or maintained upon land, which direct attention to a product, place, activity, person, institution, organization or business.
The term "sign" shall not include any display of official, court or public office notices, nor shall it include the flag, emblem, or insignia of a nation, governmental unit, school or religious group.
The term "sign" shall include:
A. "Flashing sign", as defined in this section.
B. "Ground sign", as defined in this section.
C. "Illuminated sign", as defined in this section.
D. "Projecting sign", as defined in this section.
E. "Roof sign", as defined in this section.
F. "Temporary sign", as defined in this section.
G. "Wall sign", as defined in this section.
TEMPORARY SIGN: Includes any sign, banner, pennant, streamer, valance or other advertising display constructed of plastic, cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard or other light materials, with or without frames, intended to be displayed for a short period of time only, and shall also include subdivision advertising signs of heavier material.
VEHICLE SIGN: An advertising or business sign attached to an operable or inoperable motor vehicle, van, trailer which is parked or placed in position where it is displayed to the public.
WALL SIGN: Any sign which is placed against a building or other structure and attached to the exterior front, rear or side wall of any building or other structure, or painted on a wall of a building. A sign attached to a mansard roof and not protruding, wholly or partially, above the lowest point of the roof of the building structure to which the mansard roof is attached shall be considered a wall sign. (Ord. 93-485, 7-13-1993; amd. Ord. 2008-859, 1-8-2008)