As used in this chapter:
“Area” is specifically defined as follows:
(1) “Face area” means the area of any face of a sign facing in and readable from any one direction.
(2) “Sign area” means the area enclosed by one rectangle, the sides of which make contact with the extreme points or edges of the sign, excluding the supporting structure if it does not form part of the sign proper or of the display.
(3) “Total sign area” means the total area of all faces of any one sign or any combination of signs at a given location or mounted upon a common structure.
“Business building” means any building or portion of a building occupied by a single business fronting onto a common public or private street, alleyway, parking facility or mall, or a building having access to the businesses therein by means of a common entrance vestibule.
“Business premises” means any unified premises containing a building under common ownership, regardless of the number of tenants within the building.
“Marquee” means a permanent canopy attached to and supported by the building and projecting over public property.
“Sign” means any letter, figure, design, symbol, trademark, device or illuminating device, and all parts thereof, intended to attract attention to any place, subject, person, firm, corporation, public performance, article, machine or merchandise whatsoever, which is painted, printed, constructed and displayed in any manner out-of-doors for recognized advertising, identification or information purposes. Specifically:
(1) “Advertising sign” means a sign, including a billboard, which carries advertising pertaining to business transacted, services rendered, goods sold or produced or other activities, and having the primary function of general advertising as opposed to business identification. An advertising sign may or may not be on the same premises as the activity advertised. A billboard shall be defined as an advertising sign regardless of its location.
(2) “Animated sign” means a sign giving the illusion of motion, having flashing lights, scintillating lites or chasing lights and requiring electrical energy for its operation.
(3) “Billboard” means a panel or other surface, including a wall, used for the purpose of posting bills or posters, or painted, and containing general advertising copy, and upon which the copy may be changed from time to time.
(4) “Changeable copy sign” means a sign on which the copy is designed to be regularly changed, either manually or by mechanical or electrical means. A billboard or other advertising sign upon which the copy may be changed from time to time shall not be considered a changeable copy sign.
(5) “Directional sign” means an on-premises incidental sign designed to guide vehicular or pedestrian traffic or to regulate parking.
(6) “Electrical sign” means a sign containing electrical wiring. This does not include signs illuminated by an exterior floodlight source.
(7) “Freestanding sign” means a sign which is supported by one or more columns, uprights or braces, or any other structure erected for the purpose in or upon the ground.
(8) “Identity sign” means an on-premises sign which carries only the name of the occupant of the premises, the address of the premises, the name of the firm, the major enterprise or the principal product offered for sale on the premises, or a combination of these.
(9) “Illuminated sign” means a sign in which a source of light, provided for the purpose, is used in order to make the message readable.
(10) “Marquee sign” means a sign attached to or constructed in a marquee.
(11) “Moving sign” means a sign that moves in any manner or has any major moving part.
(12) “On-premises sign” means a sign which carries only advertisements or information strictly relating to a lawful use of the premises on which it is located, including signs or sign devices indicating the business transacted, services rendered and goods sold or produced on the premises, and the name of the business and/or person, firm or corporation occupying the premises.
(13) “Projecting sign” means a sign, other than a wall sign or marquee sign, which projects from and is supported by a wall or structural support of a building or structure.
(14) “Revolving sign” means a moving sign that revolves 360 degrees.
(15) “Roof sign” means a sign, other than a wall sign, located on or projecting above the roof, parapet, eave line, roof projection or marquee of any building, and which is or appears to be wholly or partially supported by the building. For purposes of this chapter, a roof with a slope greater than sixty degrees shall be considered a wall and any sign located thereon, and not extending beyond the limits thereof, shall be considered a wall sign.
(16) “Temporary sign” means a banner, pennant, poster, portable sign or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, plastic sheet, cardboard, wall board, plywood or other like material and intended to be displayed for a limited period of time, including advertising or announcements of community or civic projects, construction projects, real estate for sale or lease, business promotions or other special events on a temporary basis.
(17) “Under canopy sign” means a sign located under a hanging from a marquee canopy or roof projection.
(18) “Wall sign” means a sign affixed directly to, painted on or otherwise inscribed on an exterior wall of any building or roof projection, and confined within the limits thereof, and which projects from that surface less than 12 inches at all points. Any sign mounted on a roof surface with a slope greater than 60 degrees shall be considered a wall sign and the projection shall be measured from the surface of the roof at the lowest point of the sign. Any sign mounted on a fence or wall, the primary purpose of which is other than to support the sign, shall be considered a wall sign.
“Sign structure” means any combination of parts having the function of supporting or being capable of supporting any sign, including the sign attached thereto or supported thereby, and any other parts attached thereto which may or may not have any advertising function.
(Ord. 76-36, passed 6-22-1976)