The following definitions are used in this chapter: (Note: Not all types of signs defined herein are permitted under this chapter.)
ABANDONED SIGN: A sign which no longer correctly advertises a bona fide business, owner, landlord/tenant, product or activity conducted, or product available on the premises where the sign is displayed.
ANIMATED SIGN: Any sign or part of a sign which changes physical position by movement or rotation, or gives the illusion of such change of physical position.
AREA OF COPY: The entire area within a single continuous perimeter composed of squares or rectangles which encloses the extreme limits of an advertising message, announcement, or decoration.
AREA OF SIGN: The area is the perimeter which forms the outside shape, but excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign may be placed unless they are designed as part of the sign. If the sign consists of more than one section or module, all areas will be totaled. The area of an irregularly shaped sign shall be computed using the actual sign face surface.
AWNING: A movable hood or cover which projects from the wall of the building, which can be retracted, folded or collapsed against the face of a supporting structure. For purposes of this chapter, an "awning sign" is any awning. Decorative awnings without lettering or imagery are not considered signs.
BANNER: A banner sign is generally constructed of a flexible nonrigid material (i.e., canvas, cloth, plastic, etc.) upon which goods, events or advertising has been placed, mounted to a pole or a building by a permanent frame at one or more edges. National flags, state or municipal flags, or the official flag of any institution or business shall not be considered banners.
BILLBOARD: A flat surface, as of a panel, wall or fence on which signs are posted advertising goods, products, facilities, or services not necessarily on the premises where the sign is located or directs persons to a different location from where the sign is located.
BLANKETING: The unreasonable obstruction of view of a sign caused by the placement of another sign.
BUILDING FRONT: The horizontal, linear dimension of that side of a building which faces a street, a parking area, a mall, or other circulation area open to the general public; and having either a main window display of the enterprise or a public entrance to the building. (In industrial districts a building side with an entrance open to industrial employees also shall qualify as a building front.)
BULLETIN BOARD: A sign used for the purpose of notification to the public of an event or occurrence of public interest, such as a church service, political rally, civic meeting or other similar event.
CANOPY: Any structure of canvas, other fabric, plastic, metal or wood or other material, which is permanently attached to any exterior building wall in any manner, intended to shield any wall, window, door, sidewalk or roadway from sun, rain or any other element, and which is not retractable such as an awning.
CANOPY SIGN: Any sign attached to or constructed in, on or under a canopy. For the purpose of this chapter, canopy signs shall be controlled by the rules governing projecting signs.
COPY AREA: The geometric area in square feet that encloses the actual copy message of the sign.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN: Any sign that directs the movement or placement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic on a lot and does not contain any advertising copy.
DIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN: Any sign designed to give any artificial light directly through any transparent or translucent material from a source of light originating within or on such sign.
DIRECTORY SIGN: Any sign on which the names and locations of occupants or the use of a building is given. This shall include offices and church directories. Directory signs shall be encouraged or used with advertising of multiple-occupied commercial and industrial buildings.
DISTANCE OF SIGN PROJECTION: The distance from the exterior wall surface of the building to the outer extremity of a sign attached to a building.
ELECTRIC SIGN: Any sign containing internal electrical wiring which is attached, or intended to be attached, to an electrical energy source.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE UNIT SIGN: Any sign whose message may be changed by electronic process, including such messages as copy, art, graphics, time, date, temperature, weather or information concerning civic, charitable or the advertising of products or services for sale on the premises. This also includes traveling or segmented message displays.
FLAG: Any fabric, banner, or bunting containing distinctive colors, lettering, patterns, or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision, advertisement, or other entity. For purposes of this chapter, a "temporary flag" is any flag which can easily be removed and is typically used for special events or occasions.
FLAGPOLE: Any structure, pole or device which is erected for purposes of displaying flags. For purposes of this chapter, small flags which are attached to a residential dwelling and less than six feet (6') in length do not require a permit.
FLAT SIGN/FLUSH MOUNTED: See definition of Wall Sign.
FORMULA, SIGN AREA: The area of a sign is determined by the city manager or his/her designee using actual dimensions, where practical, or approximate dimensions when irregularity of a sign shape warrants. The area of each sign type is to be measured by one of the following:
A. The sign area shall be the sum of the area of two (2) contiguous rectangles or squares that enclose the extreme points or edges of all copy, logos, and symbols of said sign.
B. The sign area shall be the area of one rectangle or square that encloses the extreme edges of the entire sign structure.
FREESTANDING (GROUND AND/OR PYLON SIGN): Any sign which is supported by structures or supports in or upon the ground and independent of support from any building.
GRADE: The elevation or level of the sidewalk closest to the sign to which reference is made. If no sidewalk is present, then grade shall be defined as the elevation or level of the street at the same point, measured at the street's centerline.
GROUND SIGN: A sign supported by poles, uprights or braces extending from the ground or an object on the ground but not attached to any part of any building. Also known as a "freestanding sign".
HEIGHT OF SIGN: The vertical distance measured from the mean centerline street grade to the highest point of the sign. If sign and sidewalk are not in essentially parallel planes, then measured vertically at the horizontal midpoint of the sign.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN: Any sign which carries only the name of the firm, major enterprise, institution or principal products offered for sale on the premises or combination of these.
ILLUMINATED SIGN: A sign, canopy, awning or other display device lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting either by lights on or in the sign or directed toward the sign.
JOINT IDENTIFICATION SIGN: A sign which serves a common or collective identification for two (2) or more businesses or industrial uses on the same lot. Such sign may contain a directory to said uses as an integral part thereof.
LEGAL NONCONFORMING SIGN: Any sign which was already in existence and displayed on the effective date of this chapter, which met code requirements when originally installed, but not meeting the requirements and limitations of this chapter.
MARQUEE: A permanent rooflike structure projecting beyond a building wall at an entrance to a building or extending along and projecting beyond the building's wall and generally designed and constructed to provide protection against weather.
MARQUEE SIGN: Any sign attached to or constructed in a marquee.
MONUMENT SIGN: Any structure erected, constructed, or otherwise placed to commemorate a person, event, organization or group in remembrance of historic times, cultural heritage, or simply as an example of historic architecture. For purposes of this chapter, monument signs include features similar to those of signs, including logos or insignia, seals, text, or other means of identification.
NONCONFORMING SIGN: Any sign which does not conform to the regulations of this chapter.
ON PREMISES SIGN: A sign identifying or advertising a business, person, activity, goods, products or services located on premises where the sign is installed and maintained.
PAINTED WALL SIGNS: Signs painted directly onto a building wall.
POLITICAL SIGN: Any sign displaying a candidate for an election, or a current referendum's or election's subject matter.
PROJECTING SIGN: A sign other than a wall sign which projects from a wall or roof and is supported by a wall of a building. (See definition of Wall Sign.)
PYLON SIGN: Any freestanding sign mounted on a pole or other pylon.
REAL ESTATE SIGN: Any sign used to offer for sale, lease or rent the property upon which the sign is placed.
ROOF SIGN: A sign erected upon or above the roofline or parapet of the building or structure.
ROOFLINE: The highest point on any building where an exterior wall encloses usable floor area including roof area provided for housing mechanical equipment.
SANDWICH SIGN: A hinged or unhinged, A-frame, portable sign which is generally temporary in nature and placed near the roadway.
SIGN: Any object or device or part thereof situated outdoors or indoors which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means including words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors, motion, illumination or projected images.
SIGN CONTRACTOR: Any person, partnership or corporation engaged in whole or in part, in the business of erection or maintenance of signs, excluding the business which the sign advertises.
SIGN PERMIT: A building permit issued for the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, moving, improvement, removal, conversion or demolition of any sign, issued pursuant to this chapter and the building code of the city of Knoxville.
SIGN STRUCTURE: Any supports, uprights, braces and framework of the sign which does not include any portion of the sign message.
SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION SIGN: A sign identifying a subdivision wherein only the name of the subdivision is specified.
SWINGING SIGN: A sign installed on an arm or mast that is not permanently fastened to an adjacent wall or upright pole.
TEMPORARY SIGN: Any sign which is erected or displayed for a limited period of time not to exceed thirty (30) consecutive days or which is displayed only during regular business hours and removed for storage at other times. A sign permit is not required for temporary signs, and temporary signs shall not exceed thirty two (32) square feet in area.
THIRD PARTY SIGN: Any sign which advertises or directs attention to a business, commodity, service or activity conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than on the lot on which said sign is located.
TIME AND TEMPERATURE SIGN: An electrically controlled sign displaying time and temperature for public service information and may be incorporated into a business identification sign.
WALL SIGN: Any sign attached to, erected on or painted on the wall of a building or structure and projecting not more than twelve inches (12") from such wall.
WINDOW SIGN: Any sign located completely within an enclosed building and visible from a public way. For purposes of this chapter, a window sign shall not include any sign permanently attached in the window or directly painted on the glass. (Ord. 12-12, 11-5-2012)