For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADVERTISING STRUCTURE. Any off premise notice, advertisement, billboard, pictorial or otherwise, used as an outdoor display for the purpose of advertising the property or the establishment or enterprise, including goods and services. These structures are not allowed within any R-1 district or within the corporate limits of the City of Vincennes. These structures are considered conditional uses in all other areas. Furthermore, these structures shall meet all building and sign requirements. The term ADVERTISING STRUCTURE under this chapter does not include a "sign", as defined later in this section.
AGRICULTURAL USE. Any use qualifying as a "farm" under the terms of this chapter.
AREA. The total area of the face that is used to display a sign, not including its supporting poles or structures. If a sign has two faces that are parallel and supported by the same poles or structures, only one face is counted. If a sign has two or more faces that are supported by the same poles or structures but are not parallel, the AREA of the sign is the total area of all faces.
BANNER. A sign on a lightweight fabric, or similar non-rigid material, that is attached by at least two corners of the sign, to a building or structure. Flags of any country, state, unit of local government, institution of higher learning, or similar institution are not considered to be BANNERS.
COMMERCIAL CENTER. For purposes of this subchapter only, a COMMERCIAL CENTER is any building or combination of buildings with more than one occupant or business on a single lot.
COMMERCIAL MESSAGE. Any sign wording, logo or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises or calls attention to a business, industry, product, service or other similar activity.
COMMUNITY EVENT SIGN. A temporary sign identifying a community event. The sign may include the place, dates and times of a community event
CONSTRUCTION SIGN. A sign containing the name(s) of an architect, contractor, financial institution, engineer, vendor or similar information, displayed on property during construction of a building or project.
FLAG. A rectangular, square or similarly shaped piece of lightweight fabric of distinctive design that is used as a symbol of a nation, governmental entity, business, institution, organization or similar entity.
FLASHING SIGN.
Any sign which in whole or in part, physically changes in light intensity or gives the appearance of such change at intervals of less than six seconds.
FREESTANDING SIGN.
A sign supported by one or more uprights, posts or bases placed upon or affixed in the ground and not attached to any part of a building.
HEIGHT (FREESTANDING SIGN).
The distance measured in a vertical plane from grade at the edge of pavement of the adjacent street from which the property has immediate access to the highest point of the sign.
MONUMENT SIGN.
A freestanding sign placed on a solid base directly on the ground.
NAMEPLATE.
A sign containing the name of the occupant or building and/or the address of the site.
NON-CONFORMING SIGN.
A sign that is not in compliance with this chapter on either of the following dates:
(1) The date of the original enactment; or
(2) Any date on which this chapter is amended.
OFF-STREET PARKING AREA.
An area used solely for parking that is 40 feet or more in depth.
PENNANT.
Any lightweight plastic, fabric or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind.
PERMANENT SIGN.
A sign that is attached to the ground or to a building in such a manner that it is not intended to be frequently removed or replaced and is not a portable or temporary sign as defined in this chapter.
PROJECTING SIGN.
A sign attached to and projecting from the wall or similar element of a building and not in the same plane as the wall.
SIGN.
(1) Any notice or advertisement, pictorial or otherwise, used as an outdoor display for the purpose of advertising the property or the establishment or enterprise, including goods and services, upon which the sign is exhibited.
(2) The term
SIGN
, under this chapter, does not include an “advertising structure”, as defined earlier in this section.
TEMPORARY SIGN.
A window, wall, beacon or other sign attached to a building or placed on the ground and displayed for a fixed limited period of time.
WALL SIGN.
A sign painted on or attached to a wall of a building in the same plane as the wall.
WINDOW SIGN.
A sign applied, painted or affixed to, or in the window of a building and clearly visible from the street, alley or parking area. A
WINDOW SIGN
may be temporary or permanent.
(Ord. 2006-13, passed 4-3-2006; Ord. 2012-9, passed 7-2-2012)