For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGNS. A sign which no longer correctly directs or exhorts any person, advertises a bona fide existing business, lesser, owner, product or activity product or product available. ABANDONED SIGNS includes any structure which no long supports the sign for which it was designed. If renewal fees are not paid annually, the sign will be considered abandoned.
ADMINISTRATOR. The County Code Officer or his or her designated representative.
ADVERTISING MESSAGE. The copy on a sign describing products or services being offered to the public or to one or more limited segments thereof.
AGRICULTURE PURPOSES. A property or structure utilized for the science or art of cultivating soil, harvesting crops, and raising livestock.
ANIMATED SIGN. A sign employing actual motion or the illusion of motion. For purposes of this code, this term does not refer to flashing, changing or indexing, all of which are separately defined.
AREA OF SIGN. Copy area including borders which for all intent are to be made visible to the public.
AUTOMATIC CHANGING SIGN OR ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN OR CENTER. An electronically activated changeable sign whose variable message capability can be electronically programmed.
AWNING. Any structure made of cloth or other non-rigid material attached to and projecting from a building, including structures which are fixed or so erected as to permit their being raised or retracted to a position against the building when not in use.
BANNER. Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material which is mounted to a pole or building by permanent frame at one or more edges.
BACKGROUND AREA. The entire area of a sign on which copy could be placed, as opposed to the “copy area”, when referred to in connection with facia or wall signs.
BILLBOARD.
(1) A panel for the display of advertisements in public places, such as alongside highways or on the sides of buildings.
(2) The advertisement or message posted on such a panel.
(3) BILLBOARDS are classified as large signs, generally greater than 60 square feet.
(4) In addition, BILLBOARDS are typically raised at least ten feet above the ground as to draw attention by passersby.
BOARD. The County Board of the County of Jersey, Illinois.
BOARD OF APPEALS. The County Board of Appeals (hereinafter referred to as the “Board”) has been appointed by the County Board to review decisions of the County Code Administrator, to grant variances from the requirements of this chapter and to advise the Administrator.
BUILDING. A structure designed, built or occupied as a shelter or roofed enclosure for persons, animals or property which is permanently affixed to the land. The term BUILDING is constructed under this chapter as if preceded by the work “permanent” and as if followed by the words “or parts thereof”.
BUILDING MARKER, PLAQUE. A sign indicating the name of a building, date and/or cornerstone with incidental information about its construction, which sign is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material, which is affixed to the building.
CANDIDATE. Any individual actively seeking elected political office, regardless of whether his or her name appears on the ballet.
CANOPY OR MARQUEE SIGN. Any sign attached to or hung from a marquee or canopy or other covered structure projecting from and supported by a building and extending beyond the building wall, building line or public right-of-way line.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN, MANUAL. A sign on which copy is changed manually in the field, i.e., reader boards with changeable pictorial panels.
CHANGING SIGN, AUTOMATIC. A sign such as an electronically or electrically controlled public service time, temperature and date sign, message center or reader board where different copy changes are shown on the same lamp bank.
CLOSED SIGN. A display sign in which the entire area is solid or tightly enclosed or covered.
COPY AREA. The area in square feet of the smallest geometric figure which describes the area enclosed by the actual copy of a sign. For facia or wall signs, the COPY AREA LIMITS refer to the message, not to the illuminated background, the entire area within a single continuous perimeter composed of squares or rectangles which enclose the extreme limits of the advertising message, announcement or decoration.
COPY, PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY. The wording of a sign surface either in permanent or removal letter form.
COUNTY. County of Jersey, Illinois
COUNTY CLERK. The County Clerk of the County of Jersey, Illinois.
DETACHED SIGN. See GROUND SIGN.
DIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign designed to provide artificial light either through exposed lighting on the sign face or through transparent or translucent material from a light source within the sign.
DOUBLE FACED SIGN. A sign with two faces, back to back.
ELECTION. The submission of all questions of public policy, propositions and all measures submitted to popular vote, and include primary elections.
ELECTION SIGN. Any sign indicating support of, or opposition to, any issue or candidate in any regular, general or special election.
ELECTRICAL SIGN. Any sign containing electrical wiring which is attached or intended to be attached to an electrical energy source.
EMBELLISHMENT. Letters, figures, characters or representations in cutouts or irregular forms, or similar ornaments attached to or superimposed upon the sign.
EMBELLISHMENT, DECORATIVE ONLY. A purely decorative embellishment on a freestanding sign.
ERECTED. Attached, altered, built, constructed, reconstructed, enlarged or moved, and shall include the painting of wall signs, but does not include copy changes on any sign.
EXEMPT SIGNS. Sign exempted from normal permanent requirements.
FACE OF SIGN. The entire area of sign on which copy could be placed, including borders.
FACELIFT. The remodeling of a building’s frontage which is visible from a public right-of-way so that the building material, door frames, window frames and signs are designed in harmony with each other.
FIELD FABRICATED SIGN. An electrical sign of such magnitude that it cannot be completely constructed in the factory.
FLASHING SIGN. Any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light source, or which includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing light by means of animation or an externally mounted intermittent light source.
FREESTANDING SIGNS. See GROUND SIGNS.
FREEWAY or CONTROLLED ACCESS HIGHWAY. A highway in respect to which the owners of abutting lands have no right or easement of access to or from their abutting land, or in respect of which such owners have only limited or restricted right or easement of access and which is declared to be a FREEWAY or CONTROLLED ACCESS HIGHWAY.
FREEWAY-ORIENTED SIGN (CONTROLLED ACCESS HIGHWAY SIGN). Any sign identifying premises where food, lodging or places of business are located that engage in supplying goods and services essential to normal operation of motor vehicles, and where such businesses are directly dependent upon the adjacent freeway for business.
FRONTAGE. The length of the property line of any one premises parallel to and along each public right-of-way it borders.
GENERAL ELECTION. A regular election for the choice of a national, state, judicial, district, county officer or township official.
GROUND LEVEL. Street grade.
GROUND SIGN. A sign erected on a freestanding frame, mast or pole and not attached to any building, A sign supported by uprights or braces in or upon the ground surface.
HEIGHT OF SIGN. The vertical distance measured from the adjacent street grade or upper surface of the nearest street curb other than an elevated roadway which permits the greatest height to the highest point of said sign.
HEREAFTER. After the time this chapter becomes effective.
HERETOFORE. Before the time this chapter becomes effective.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign on the premises which is limited to the name, address and number of a building, institution or person on the premises, and to the activity carried on in the building or institution, or the occupancy of the person provided that this type of sign is permitted only if the use of the premises is legal both in substance and at that location.
ILLEGAL SIGN. See UNLAWFUL SIGN.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign which emanates light either by means of exposed tubing or lamps on its surface, or by means of illumination transmitted through the sign faces.
INCIDENTAL SIGN. A sign pertaining to goods, products, services or facilities which are available on the premises where the sign is located.
INDEXING. Turning and stopping action of the triangular vertical sections of a multi-prism sign designed to show three messages in the same area.
INDIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign which reflects light from a source intentionally directed upon it, for example, by means of floodlights, gooseneck reflectors or externally mounted fluorescent light fixtures.
INTERIOR PROPERTY LINE. Property lines other than those fronting on a street, road or highway.
ISSUE. Any matter of public interest, question of public opinion, proposition or any other measure submitted to popular vote.
LOT.
(1) A parcel of land of at least sufficient size to meet the minimum requirements for use, coverage and area, and to provide such yards and other open space.
(2) Such lot shall have frontage on an improved public street, or on an approved private street, and may consist of:
(a) A single lot of record;
(b) A portion of a lot of record;
(c) A combination of complete lots of record, or of portions of lots of record; and
(d) A parcel of land described by metes and bounds.
MAINTAIN. To permit a sign, structure or any part or condition of any of them to continue.
MARQUEE (CANOPY). A permanent roof-like shelter extending from part or all of the building face over a public right-of-way and constructed of some durable material such as metal, glass or plastic.
MARQUEE SIGN (CANOPY SIGN). Any sign attached to or hung from a marquee or canopy or other covered structure projecting from and supported by a building and extending beyond the building wall, building line or public right-of-way line.
MESSAGE. The wording or copy on a sign.
NONELECTRICAL SIGN. Any sign that does not contain electrical wiring or is not attached or intended to be attached to an electrical energy source.
NONCONFORMING SIGN, LEGAL. Any advertising structure or sign which was lawfully erected and maintained prior to such time as it became subject to this chapter and any amendments thereto, and which at the time it becomes subject to this chapter and fails to conform to all applicable regulations and restrictions of this chapter, or a nonconforming sign for which a special permit has been issued.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN (OFF-SITE SIGNS). A sign that advertises goods, products, services or facilities or directs persons to a different location from where the sign is installed.
ON-PREMISES SIGN. Any sign identifying or advertising a business, person, activity, goods, products or services located on the premises where the sign is installed and maintained.
OPEN SIGN. A display sign in which at least 50% of the enclosed area is uncovered, or open to the transmission of wind.
OWNER. A person recorded as such on official records and including duly authorized agent or notary, a purchaser, devisee, judiciary; any person having a vested or contingent interest in the property in question.
PERSON. Any individual, corporation, association, firm, partnership or other legal entity of any description, single or plural.
POLE SIGN. See GROUND SIGN.
PREMISES. An area of land with its appurtenances and buildings which, because of its unity of use, may be regarded as the smallest conveyable unit of real estate.
PUBLIC PLACE. Building frontage at least 30 feet wide which is accessible unobstructed for the Fire Department.
PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY WIDTH. The perpendicular distance across a public street measured from property line to property line. When property lines on opposite sides of the public street are not parallel, the PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY WIDTH shall be determined by the governing body.
PUBLIC SERVICE INFORMATION SIGNS. Any sign intended primarily to promote items of general interest to the community such as time, temperature and date, atmospheric conditions, news or traffic control and the like.
REGULAR ELECTION. An election, either general or municipal, regularly occurring at fixed interval.
ROOF LINE. The top edge of the roof or the top of the parapet, whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette.
ROOF SIGN. Any sign erected upon, against or directly above a roof or on top of or above the parapet of a building.
ROTATING SIGN. Any sign or portion of a sign which moves in a revolving or similar manner, but not including multi-prism indexing signs.
SEASONAL OR HOLIDAY SIGNS. Signs such as Christmas decorations, those used for a historic holiday and installed for a limited period of time.
SIGN. Any identification, description, illustration or device illuminated or non-illuminated and with or without printing or writing, which is visible from any public place and which directs or is constructed to direct attention to a business, product, service, place, activity, person, organization, institution or solicitation, including any permanently installed or situated merchandise, a symbol of merchandise, logo or display with the exception of window displays; or any emblem, painting, banner, pennant, placard or temporary sign designed to advertise, identify or convey information with respect to any business, product, service, place, activity, person, institution or solicitation, with the exception of national, state, county, municipal and religious flags. The required removal of any SIGN shall be understood to include all associated sign structures and sign support structures unless exempted from the removal requirement.
SIGN AREA (AREA OF SIGN). The area of the largest faces of the sign with a perimeter which forms the outside shape including any frame that forms an integral part of the display, but excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign may be placed. If the sign consists of more than one section or module, all areas will be totaled and both faces of double faced signs will be included in the sign area.
SIGN LEGEND. See COPY.
SIGN STICKER. A sticker affixed either to the face or the channel of a sign visible from the street denoting the name of the manufacturer or designating the sign servicing company for purpose of identification by county officials.
SIGN STRUCTURE. Any structure which supports, has supported or is capable of supporting a sign including decorative cover.
SPECIAL ELECTION. An election, either general or municipal, not regularly recurring at fixed intervals, irrespective of whether it is held at the same time and place and by the same election officers as a regular election.
SPECIAL PURPOSE SIGN. Any sign other than a business, non-accessory identification sign, including, but not limited to, traffic signs.
STREET, PRIVATE. A privately owned lane, road or street which affords the means of access to adjacent lots.
STREET, PUBLIC. A public highway, road or thoroughfare which affords the principal means of access to adjacent lots, measured from property line to property line.
SWINGING SIGN. A sign installed on an arm or spar that is not, in addition, permanently fastened to an adjacent wall or upright pole.
TEMPORARY SIGN. A sign which is not permanently affixed and includes all devices such as banners, pennants, flags (not including national, state, county, municipal or religious flags), searchlights, twirling or sandwich type signs, sidewalk or curb signs and balloons or other air or gas filled figures.
TREASURER. The County Treasurer of the County of Jersey, Illinois.
UNLAWFUL SIGN.
(1) A sign which contravenes this chapter or any other law or which the County Code Administrator declares to be unlawful because it becomes dangerous to public safety by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation or abandonment or a nonconforming sign for which a permit required under a previous code was not obtained.
(2) The terms UNLAWFUL and ILLEGAL shall have the same meaning at all times in all situations.
USE. The purpose for which a building, lot, sign or other structure is arranged, intended, designed, occupied or maintained.
YARD. The space between the lot line and the building line on the same lot with a principal building or group of buildings, which is unoccupied and unobstructed from it’s lowest level upward, except as otherwise permitted in this chapter, and which extends along a lot or parcel line and at right angles thereto to a depth or width determined by the nearest point of the principal building.
(Ord. passed 3-13-2012)