The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Abandoned sign means a sign which was erected on property in conjunction with a particular use, which use has been discontinued for a period of 180 days or more, or a temporary sign for which the permit has expired or the event has occurred. This is not intended to apply to the seasonal type businesses which annually operate "in season." However, failure to operate any business for a minimum of 90 consecutive days in a calendar year will deem these signs to have been abandoned.
Additional signs (signage) means signs used on premises in addition to a business designation sign to identify the availability of products, services or other items.
Amortization means the method of eliminating a nonconforming sign by requiring the termination of the sign after a specified period of time.
Banners, pennants and balloons mean any animated, rotating, fluttering or nonstationary device made of flexible materials designed to attract attention.
Blade sign means a sign not designed to stand alone, which must be appended to another sign.
Business designation sign means a sign to designate the legal name of the business.
Canopy means a structure constructed of rigid materials, including, but not limited to, metal, wood, concrete, plastic, canvas or glass that is attached to and supported by a building or by columns, poles or braces extended to the ground.
Canopy sign means a sign which is suspended, attached to or supported from, or forms a part of a canopy.
Changeable copy sign means a sign on which message copy is changed manually or electronically in the field, through the utilization of attachable letters, numbers, symbols and other similar characters or changeable pictorial panels. Time and temperature signs are not included in this definition.
Commercial or industrial center means three or more separate occupancies located within the same or adjacent building or buildings on the same non-residentially zoned parcel.
Directory sign means a sign listing only the names and/or use or location of more than one business, activity or professional office conducted within a building, group of buildings, or commercial center.
Double-faced sign means a sign with two faces which are usually, but not necessarily, parallel.
Electrical sign means a self-illuminated sign or sign structure in which the electrical wiring, connections or fixtures are used as part of the sign proper.
Exempt sign means any sign that is specifically listed as exempt from this article. Said listed exempt signs are not regulated by the terms of this article.
Existing sign means any sign that was erected or displayed prior to the adoption of this article.
Externally illuminated sign means any sign that is lighted by an outside light source.
Facade means the entire building wall, including wall face, parapet fascia, windows, doors, canopy, and roof on any complete elevation.
Fixed projecting sign means a sign, other than a flat sign, which extends out for more than six inches from the facade of any building and is rigidly affixed thereto.
Flat sign means a sign erected parallel to and extending out not more than 12 inches from the facade of any building to which it is attached and supported throughout its entire length by the facade and not extending above the building.
Freestanding detached sign means a sign supported by a sign structure secured in the ground and which is wholly independent of any building, fence, vehicle or object other than the sign structure for support.
Frontage means the length of the property line on any one premises serving as a public right-of-way line.
Frontage wall face means the building facade, excluding parapet, facia, soffit, mansard and roof, which faces a frontage of the premises.
Governmental sign means any sign erected by or on the order of an authorized public official in the performance of his office or duty, including, but not limited to, traffic control signs, street name signs, warning and directional signs, public notice, or signs of a similar nature.
Holiday sign means a sign used for the celebration of any national or religious holiday which is erected for a limited period of time.
Incidental flat sign means a sign containing accessory information for the principal use and erected parallel to and extending out not more than 12 inches from the facade of any building to which it is attached and supported throughout its entire length by the facade and not extending above the building. No advertising may be affixed to incidental flat signs.
Incidental sign means a single face, non-illuminated professional or announcement sign attached wholly to a building, window or door containing information relative to emergencies, store hours, credit cards honored, and other similar accessory information.
Inflatable sign means a sign that is either expanded to its full dimensions or supported by gasses contained within the sign, or sign parts, at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
Internally illuminated sign means any sign which has light transmitted outward through its face or any part thereof.
Neon type signs means signs made from tubes filled with neon, argon, xenon, or other luminous gasses, and producing various colors of light.
Noncommercial message means any message protected by the First Amendment that does not direct attention to a business operated for profit, or to a commodity or service for sale.
Nonconforming sign means a sign erected and in existence prior to the date of adoption of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived or an amendment to the chapter, that does not meet one or more of the standards imposed by this chapter.
Occupancy means any one business activity or professional office.
Off-premises directional sign means any off-premises sign indicating the location of or directions to a business or other activity. The sign shall not include any information or message except the name of the business or the nature of the activity, universal symbol, if applicable, and an arrow indicating direction and distance to the business or activity. If a sign contains any additional message or exceeds the maximum area, it shall be considered to be in violation of this chapter.
Off-premises sign means a sign identifying, advertising or directing the public to a business, merchandise, service, institution, residential area, entertainment, or activity which is located, sold, rented, based, produced, manufactured, furnished or taking place at a location other than the property on which the sign is located.
Painted wall sign means a sign painted directly on any exterior building wall or door surface, exclusive of windows or door glass areas.
Panel means the primary surface of a sign upon which the message of the sign is carried.
Parapet means a vertical false front or wall extension above a roofline.
Perimeter means the contour of the face of the sign.
Permitted sign means a sign for which a valid permit has been issued.
Person means any individual, partnership, association, corporation or other entity.
Political sign means a sign erected by a political candidate, group or agent thereof for the purpose of advertising a candidate or stating a position regarding an issue upon which the voters of the town shall vote.
Portable sign means a sign generally constructed to be easily movable without a permanent attachment to the ground and which may or may not be equipped with wheels. Such signs may be designed for changeable messages. The term "portable sign" does not apply to sidewalk or sandwich board signs permitted in section 36-336.
Principal flat sign means a sign advertising the principal use and erected parallel to and extending out not more than 12 inches from the facade of any building to which it is attached and supported throughout its entire length by the facade and not extending above the building.
Private traffic direction/information sign means a sign which is on-premises and is designed and erected solely for the purpose of vehicular or pedestrian traffic direction or safety.
Project sign means any sign erected and maintained on the premises temporarily while undergoing construction by an architect, contractor, developer, finance organization, subcontractor, or materials vendor upon which property the individual is furnishing labor, services or materials.
Public right-of-way line means the line where the property meets the public right-of-way at a public street or public waterway, provided that this definition shall not include alleys, easements, or other similar dedicated uses.
Real estate sign means a sign erected by the owner, or his agent, advertising real property upon which the sign is located for rent, for lease, or for sale.
Resort means a place under common management where a large selection of organized activities takes place, such as recreation and entertainment, and where facilities are provided for dining and lodging for residents and guests.
Roof means the exterior upper covering of the top of a building.
Roof sign means a sign erected over or on, and wholly supported by or partially dependent upon the roof of any building for support, or attached to the roof in any way.
Sidewalk or sandwich board sign means an A-frame, inverted V-shape, or similarly shaped moveable sign not secured or attached to the ground or any building or structure. A sidewalk or sandwich board sign is portable and usually double-sided.
Sign means any form of publicity or advertising which is designed to be visible from any public way, directing attention to an individual business, commodity, service, activity or product by means of words, lettering, numerals, trade names or trademarks, or other pictorial matter designed to convey such information.
Sign face means the part of the sign that is or can be used to identify, advertise, communicate information, or for visual representation which attracts the attention of the public for any purpose. The term "sign face" includes any background material, panel, trim, color and direct self-illumination used that differentiates the sign from the building, structure, backdrop surface or object against which or upon which it is placed. The sign structure shall not be included as a portion of the sign face provided that no message, symbol or any aforementioned sign face criteria are displayed on or designed as part of the sign structure.
Sign structure means a supporting structure erected or intended for the purpose of identification, with or without a sign thereon, situated upon or attached to the premises upon which any sign may be fastened, affixed, displayed or applied; provided, however, said definition shall not include a building or fence.
Snipe sign means a sign which is tacked, nailed, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes or fences, or to other objects.
Special event directional sign means a sign which directs the public to a special event at a place other than the premises upon which the sign is located.
Special event sign means a sign which carries a message regarding a special event or civic function sponsored by a nonprofit organization such as, but not limited to, Kiwanis, Rotary, or the Lion's Club for fund drives, fairs, festivals, and sporting events, or a sign which carries a message regarding special events for businesses such as, but not limited to, initial openings or special sales which are of general interest to the community.
Subdivision or mobile home park entrance sign means an entrance sign which designates the name of a subdivision, or a residential district, or of a mobile home park and is located at or near the main entrance.
Swinging sign means a sign projecting from the outside walls of any building which is supported only by one rigid support.
Temporary sign means a sign with or without letters and numerals such as land sale signs, subdivision openings, construction signs, seasonal events, or community, public and semi-public functions.
Vehicle sign means a permanent or temporary sign affixed to or placed upon any parked vehicle, parked trailer, or other parking device capable of being towed, the primary purpose of which is to attract the traveling public, provided that this definition does not include a single sign placed on a single vehicle or trailer at a residence of an individual which sign identifies the vehicle or trailer as being for sale.
Window means an opening covered in glass built into the wall or roof which functions or appears to function to admit light to a building or structure.
Window sign means any sign which is painted on, applied to, attached to or projected upon or within the exterior or interior of a building glass area, including doors, whose identification, message, symbol, insignia, visual representation, logotype, or any other form which communicates information can be read from off-premises, contiguous property or public right-of-way.
Window sign, temporary, means a window sign of a temporary nature used to direct attention to the sale of merchandise or a change in status of the business, including, but not limited to, signs for sales, specials, going out of business, and grand openings.
(Code 1989, § 92.147; Ord. of 9-28-1993; Ord. of 11-18-2003; Ord. of 3-9-2010)