To the extent used in the administration and enforcement of this chapter, the language set forth in the text of this chapter shall be interpreted in accordance with the following definitions. Other words shall have their common meaning. Words used in the present tense shall include the future; words used in the singular shall include the plural and the plural includes the singular.
AWNING. A structure attached to a permitted building, extending over and designed to provide cover or shade for windows, entrances, exits or walkways. Similar to an attached canopy.
BANNER. A flexible material on which copy, or graphics may be displayed.
BILLBOARD. See OFF-PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN.
BUILDING. Any structure erected for the support, shelter, or enclosure of persons, animal, chattels or movable property of any kind.
BUSINESS. Any establishment, occupation, employment or enterprise wherein merchandise is manufactured, exhibited or sold, or where services are offered for compensation.
CANOPY. A roof-like structure either attached to or detached from a permitted building, open on all sides, other than where attached; which is located over and designed to provide cover for entrances, exits, walkways, and approved off-street vehicle service areas.
COPY. Those letters, numerals, figures, symbols, logos and graphic elements comprising the content or message of a sign, excluding numerals identifying a street address only.
DWELLING. A building, or portion thereof, designed or used predominantly for residential occupancy of a continued nature, including one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and multiple family dwellings; but not including hotels, motels, commercial boarding or rooming houses, tourist homes and trailers.
ESTABLISHMENT. Any of the following definitions shall apply:
(1) A distinct business entity situated in a single building;
(2) A distinct business entity located in a structure attached to other similar structures by common walls and ceilings or floors, or attached by means of an enclosed arcade;
(3) A distinct business entity contained within a single structure and not separated by walls other physical barriers but made distinct due to its existence as a single lease space and operation by separate entrepreneurs or by its singularity of purpose (such as clothing sales, furniture sales, and so on) carried on by a single or separate proprietor.
FASCIA. A horizontal piece covering the joint between the top of a wall and the projecting eaves.
HOME OCCUPATION. An occupation or enterprise conducted in a dwelling unit that is located within a residential district. Such uses include professional offices, photo or art studios, or similar uses.
INDUSTRY. An enterprise that involves the production, assembly, processing or storage of materials, goods or products.
LOT. A parcel or portion of land in a subdivision or plat of land separated from other parcels or portions by description, as on a subdivision or record of survey map or by metes and bounds for the purpose of sale or lease or separate use thereof.
LOT LINE. A property boundary line of any lot held in single or separate ownership.
OFF-PREMISE ADVERTISING SIGN. A sign structure advertising an establishment, merchandise, service or entertainment which is not sold, produced, manufactured or furnished at the property on which the said sign is located, e.g., billboards or outdoor advertising.
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 a series, designed to move in the wind. See also SIGN, ANIMATED.
ROOF LINE. The top edge of a peaked roof or, in the case of an extended facade or parapet, the uppermost point of said facade or parapet.
SETBACK. The minimum horizontal distance from a building, hedge, fence, wall or structure to the street or lot line.
SIGN. Any device visible from a public place that displays either commercial or noncommercial messages by means of graphic presentation of alphabetic or pictorial symbols or representations. Noncommercial flags or any flags displayed from flagpoles or staffs will not be considered to be signs.
SIGN, ANIMATED. A sign employing actual motion, the illusion of motion, or light and/or color changes achieved through mechanical, electrical, or electronic means. Animated signs, which are differentiated from Electronic Message Center or Dynamic signs as defined and regulated by this Code, include the following types:
(1) ENVIRONMENTALLY ACTIVATED. Animated signs or devices motivated by wind, thermal changes, or other natural environmental input. Includes spinners, pinwheels, pennant strings, streamers and/or other devices or displays that respond to naturally occurring external motivation.
(2) MECHANICALLY ACTIVATED. Animated signs characterized by repetitive motion and/or rotation activated by a mechanical system powered by electric motors or other mechanically induced means.
(3) ELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED. Animated signs producing the illusion of movement by means of electronic, electrical, or electromechanical input and/or illumination capable of simulating movement through employment of the characteristics of one or both of the classifications noted below:
(a) FLASHING. Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by a repetitive cycle in which the period of illumination is either the same as or less than the period of non-illumination. For the purposes of this chapter, flashing will not be defined as occurring if the cyclical period between on-off phases of illumination exceeds four (4) seconds.
(b) PATTERNED ILLUSIONARY MOVEMENT. Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by simulated movement through alternate or sequential activation of various illuminated elements for the purpose of producing repetitive light patterns designed to appear in some form of constant motion.
SIGN, CAMPAIGN. A temporary sign promoting the candidacy of a person running for a governmental office or promoting a position on an issue to be voted on at a governmental election.
SIGN, CANOPY OR AWNING. An identification sign affixed to or printed upon the visible surfaces of an attached or freestanding canopy, awning or marquee. Such identification signage shall be considered a type of wall sign provided the canopy, awning or marquee and the sign upon it meet the requirements set forth in § 152.20.
SIGN, CHANGEABLE COPY. A sign on which copy is changed manually in the field. Such signs may be portable or permanently installed.
SIGN, DIRECTIONAL. A sign, the primary function of which is to provide locational directions.
SIGN, ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER (EMC). An electrically activated changeable sign whose variable message and/or graphic presentation capability can be electronically programmed by computer from a remote location. Also known as a "dynamic sign". EMCs typically use light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a lighting source.
SIGN, FREESTANDING. A sign which is not affixed to any part of any building and which is rather supported by upright braces or posts placed in the ground.
SIGN, GROSS SURFACE AREA OF. The area of a sign face or element (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) shall be defined as the area of the smallest square or rectangle that will encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem, or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral section of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed. GROSS SURFACE AREA OF THE SIGN does not include any supporting framework, bracing or decorative fence or wall when such supporting device otherwise meets the regulations of this chapter and is clearly incidental to the display itself. Where the sign faces of a double-faced sign are parallel or the interior angle formed by the faces is 45 degrees or less, only one display face shall be counted in computing the sign area. If the two faces of a double-faced sign are of unequal area, the area of the larger sign face shall be counted as the sign's area. In all other cases, the areas of all faces of a multi-faced sign shall be added together to compute the area of the sign.
SIGN, HEIGHT OF. The height of a freestanding sign shall be calculated from the point at which the signpost or posts meets or enters the ground, to the top of the uppermost component of the sign structure.
SIGN, IDENTIFICATION. A sign, the primary function of which is to identify an establishment located upon the premises where such sign is located, or to which such sign is affixed. Signs identifying industrial establishments may secondarily call attention to the products, goods or materials, which are produced, processed, assembled, or stored, upon the premises.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED. Any sign upon which artificial light is directed or which has an interior light source.
SIGN, INCIDENTAL. A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary to the use of the lot on which it is located. Examples: "Entrance", "Exit", "No Parking", "No Trespassing", "ATM", etc. No sign with a commercial message that is legible from a position off of the lot will be considered as incidental.
SIGN, NONCOMMERCIAL OPINION OR EXPRESSION. A sign which does not advertise products, goods, businesses or services and which expresses an opinion, statement or point of view.
SIGN, PORTABLE. A sign mounted on a frame or chassis, designed to be easily relocated, and not meant to be permanently affixed to buildings, poles or the ground.
SIGN, PROJECTING. A sign which is affixed to the wall of a building and which extends outward from the building wall.
SIGN, ROOF. A sign erected or attached in whole or in part upon the roof of a building, or a non-freestanding sign which projects above the roof line of the building to which it is affixed.
SIGN, SNIPE. A temporary sign or poster affixed to a tree, fence, utility pole or other vertical surface which is not intended to be a signboard.
SIGN, STRUCTURE. The supports, uprights, bracing and framework for a sign including the sign surface itself. In the case of a wall sign, the sign surface constitutes the sign structure. In the case of a sign structure consisting of two or more sides, where the interior angle formed between any of the sides exceeds 45 degrees each side shall be considered a separate sign structure.
SIGN, TEMPORARY. A sign or advertising display that is not embedded in the ground or permanently mounted to a building or sign structure that is permanently embedded in the ground. Rummage/garage sale signs and retailers' signs temporarily displayed for the purpose of informing the public of a special event, grand opening, sale or special offer are examples of temporary signs.
SIGN, WALL OR FASCIA. A sign that is in any manner affixed to any exterior wall of a building or structure and that projects not more than 18 inches from the building or structure wall, including signs affixed to architectural projections from a building provided the copy area of such signs remains on a parallel plane to the face of the building facade or to the face or faces of the architectural projections to which it is affixed.
SIGN, WINDOW. A sign installed inside a window and intended to be viewed from the outside. Window graphics are to be considered window signs and are subject to the applicable standards. Signs propped in, or taped to, windows and not permanently mounted, are considered to be temporary signs.
SPINNER. Any device consisting of lightweight vanes that are designed to revolve or attract attention in general. Also referred to as a pinwheel. See SIGNS, ANIMATED.
STREAMER. Any fluttering or flexible material designed to move in the wind and to attract attention. Usually made of a lightweight plastic, fabric or other material and suspended in serial fashion from a rope, wire or string. See also SIGNS, ANIMATED.
STREET LINE. The common boundary line of a street right-of-way and abutting property.
USE. The purpose or activity, for which the land or building thereon is designed, arranged or intended, or for which it is occupied or maintained.
WALL AREA. The square footage of the side of a building, including doors and windows, taking into account only the first two stories. The fascia is considered to be part of the wall. Each street frontage is considered separately when determining whether or not size limitations are being met.
(Ord. 497, passed 8-10-15; Am. Ord. 531, passed 3-25-19)