For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, words and phrases shall have the meanings set forth herein. Terms, words and phrases used in this chapter but not defined in this section shall be given the meanings ascribed to them elsewhere in this title. All other words and phrases shall be given their common, ordinary meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
ADDRESS SIGN: Address numerals or other sign information required by law or by governmental order, rule, or regulation.
APPLICANT: Any person desiring or required to submit a sign permit application pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
AUXILIARY SIGN: A sign containing security identification, hours of operation, credit cards accepted, or entrance and exit identification, but not including a sign that contains advertisement or product identification.
AWNING SIGN: A sign that is mounted or painted or attached to an awning, canopy, or marquee that is otherwise permitted by this title. The term "awning sign", as used herein, includes the awning, canopy, or marquee on which the sign or message is placed or located.
BULLETIN BOARD SIGN: A sign used for the posting of events, notices, hours, or related information.
BUSINESS NAMEPLATE SIGN: A nonilluminated nameplate or shingle denoting the business name or an occupation legally conducted on the premises at which the sign is located, typically constructed of metal or wood.
COMMUNITY GROUP PROMOTIONAL SIGN: A sign denoting an activity or an event to be displayed on the village owned community bulletin boards.
DOOR SIGN: A sign painted, stenciled, or affixed on a door which is visible from the exterior.
ELECTION PERIOD: The period between the date that an election ballot is certified by the state board of elections and seven (7) days after that election.
ELECTRONIC BUSINESS INFORMATION DISPLAY: A sign in the CBD district that is permanently affixed to a building and contains a static electronic display similar to a computer monitor or other LED type display that is used solely to convey computer generated information concerning the goods or services of the business located in the building.
EVENT SIGN: A sign announcing a noteworthy happening, social occasion or activity.
GOVERNMENTAL SIGN: A sign erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function, or required by law or ordinances or governmental regulation, including, without limitation, traffic signs or other similar regulatory devices, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings, and other instructional or regulatory signs pertaining to health, hazards, parking, swimming, dumping, and other emergency or nonadvertising signs.
GROUND SIGN: A freestanding sign erected at grade level and supported by one or more uprights, or set firmly in or below the ground surface on an approved foundation, or utilizing a short wall, and not attached to any building. "Ground signs" specifically include, without limitation, monument signs, foundation signs, pylon signs, pole signs, blades, and post signs. See the illustrations in section 10-13-2 of this title.
HISTORIC MARKER SIGN: A commemorative plaque, memorial tablet, or emblem of an official historical body, of a size, type, and location as approved by the village board of trustees or other governmental entity with jurisdiction.
HOLIDAY DECORATION: A display of a primarily decorative nature, clearly incidental and customary with traditionally accepted civic, patriotic or religious holidays.
ILLUMINATED SIGN: A sign characterized by the use of artificial light, either projecting through its surface(s) (i.e., internally illuminated), reflecting off of its surface(s) (i.e., externally illuminated) or projecting from behind its surface(s) (i.e., backlit).
INCIDENTAL SIGN: A sign that is incidental to the primary use and is for public information and direction, not for advertising purposes, including no parking, entrance, exit, telephone, washrooms, and similar designations.
MUNICIPAL, SCHOOL, LIBRARY AND PARK DISTRICT SIGNS: Any permanent sign which is not a governmental sign, erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of the functions of the village of Lake Bluff, the Lake Bluff library district, school district 65, school district 115, and the Lake Bluff park district.
NONCONFORMING SIGN: A sign lawfully existing on April 23, 1996, or any amendment hereto, that does not comply with all applicable regulations of this chapter, or any such amendment hereto.
OFF SITE SIGN: A sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment or attraction sold, offered, or existing on property other than the lot where such sign is displayed or located.
OFFICIAL FLAG: A fabric, banner, or bunting, including any support or pole, containing distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols and used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision, or other entity or for decoration.
ON SITE DIRECTORY SIGN: A sign limited to the information and directions necessary and convenient for persons coming on, and traveling through, a large property or zoning lot, on which the names and locations of buildings are given.
ON SITE INFORMATIONAL SIGN: A sign commonly associated with, and limited to, the information and directions necessary and convenient for persons coming on the property, including signs marking parking areas, one-way drives, pick up and delivery areas, service areas, showrooms, drive-through, and similar designations.
ON SITE SIGN: A sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment or attraction sold, offered, or existing on the same lot where such sign is displayed or located.
PERMANENT SIGN: A sign that is affixed or installed for long term, and not merely temporary, use, generally being for a period in excess of six (6) months.
PERSON: Any public or private individual, group, company, firm, corporation, association, partnership, society, or any combination of human beings, whether legal or natural.
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN SIGN: A temporary sign announcing or supporting political candidates or issues in connection with any national, state, or local election.
POLITICAL MESSAGE SIGN: A sign other than a political campaign sign expressing a noncommercial message regarding an issue or a person of political or public concern.
POLITICAL SIGN: A political campaign sign or a political message sign.
PORTABLE SIGN: A sign designed to be transported by means of wheels, a sign converted to an "A" or "T" frame, a sign attached to a trailer, a menu or sandwich board sign, or a sign attached to or painted on a vehicle parked and visible from a street or public right of way.
PRIVATE SALE SIGN: A temporary sign advertising a private sale.
PROJECT IDENTIFICATION SIGN: A sign erected or located on a lot on which construction is taking place and for which a valid building permit has been issued and is in effect during the period of such construction, to be installed prior to the start of construction and removed upon issuance of an occupancy permit or upon substantial completion of the construction project if occupancy is delayed after construction is completed, indicating the names of any or all of the following: the architect(s), engineers, landscape architects, contractors, or similar artisans, and the owners, financial supporters, sponsors, or similar persons or firms having a role or interest in the construction activity.
PROJECTING SIGN: A sign attached to the wall of a building or structure, with the exposed face(s) in a plane perpendicular to the building wall.
PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY: A strip of land that has been dedicated to and accepted by a government agency for use for vehicular or pedestrian access or passage or for installation of railroad tracks, utility lines or similar facilities.
PYLON/POLE SIGN: A ground sign that incorporates the use of a pole or poles or a pylon to place the sign above grade level. Typically, pylon/pole signs are used to achieve a greater height to width ratio and utilize one or two (2) lengthy and bare poles. See the illustrations in section 10-13-2 of this title.
QUASI-PUBLIC ORGANIZATION: A nonprofit organization that is open to the public and serves the general interests of the community and does not receive tax dollars, including, without limitation, organizations such as chambers of commerce, Kiwanis, Boy/Girl Scouts and Rotary clubs.
REAL ESTATE SIGN: A sign that announces the sale or lease of real property, including, without limitation, open house signs.
ROOF SIGN: A sign that is mounted or painted on any roof of a building, or which is wholly dependent upon an exterior ceiling of a building for support, generally perpendicular to a building's roof surface(s).
SIGN: Any visible identification, description, illustration, object, or device, illuminated or nonilluminated, which directs attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business, solicitation, or viewpoint, but specifically excluding products typically displayed in the window(s) of businesses.
SUBDIVISION SIGN: A sign that serves to identify a subdivision or development.
TEMPORARY SIGN: A sign that is not a permanent sign or a portable sign and that is designed and intended to be displayed for a temporary and short, and not permanent, period of time and is for a special, unique, limited activity, product or sale.
TOTAL SURFACE AREA: The entire area within any continuous perimeter of a sign that encloses the extreme limits of the writing, representations, emblem or other figures, messages, display or background, together with any material or color which is an integral part of the display or which is used to differentiate the sign from the background against which it is placed.
WALL OR FASCIA SIGN: A sign that is attached to or painted on the wall surface of a building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the building wall, including, but not limited to, signs affixed to architectural projections that project from a building; provided, that the copy area of such signs remains on a parallel plane to the face of the building facade or to the faces of the architectural projection to which it is affixed.
WINDOW SIGN: A sign, picture, or symbol, or combination thereof, designed to communicate information about a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business, solicitation, or viewpoint, that is affixed to the window glass or frame or placed inside a window so as to be visible from the exterior of the building or structure in which the window is located. (Ord. 96-27, 9-24-1996; amd. 2009 Code; Ord. 2011-17, 9-26-2011; Ord. 2011-24, 12-12-2011; Ord. 2011-27, 12-19-2011)