The following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
ABANDONED SIGN. A sign that advertises a business, lessor, owner, product, service or activity that is no longer located on the premises where the sign is displayed. Whether a sign has been abandoned or not shall be determined by the intent of the owner of the sign and governed by applicable law.
ADD-ON SIGN. A sign that is attached as an appendage to another sign or sign support.
ANIMATED SIGN. Any sign, display, device or portion of sign which is designed to provide movement of any part of the sign. Animated signs also include any artificial light which flashes, scrolls or which gives the appearance of movement at any time (see FLASHING or MOVING SIGN).
AWNING. A retractable or fixed roof-like shelter projecting from and attached to the exterior wall of a building, typically located over a window or door.
AWNING SIGN. Any sign that is painted on, printed on, cut out from, projected on, or attached to the surface of an awning.
BANNER SIGN. Any sign on paper, cloth, fabric, adhesive material or other non-rigid material of any kind, with or without frames.
BILLBOARD. A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered other than on the premises (see OFF-PREMISES SIGN).
CANOPY. A roof-like architectural structure or shelter without walls that is usually free-standing, as in a gas pump canopy.
CANOPY SIGN. Any sign that is painted on, printed on, cut out from, projected on, or attached to the surface of a canopy.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN (ELECTRONIC). A sign or part of a sign where the individual letters, images, numbers or any part of the sign face can be changed electronically in display. Electronic changeable copy signs do not include animated signs or flashing or moving signs, as defined herein.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN (MANUAL). A sign or part of a sign that is designed so that the message can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or surface of the sign, by physically replacing the characters, letters or illustrations, but not by electronic or electric means.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN. A sign located on the premises of an establishment which indicates traffic flow.
DOUBLE-FACED SIGN. A sign on which both sides are visible and used as signs. A sign is considered double-faced when the angle of intersection of the faces is less than 90 degrees.
ENTRANCEWAY SIGN. An architectural feature that defines, identifies, and differentiates the entrance to a residential subdivision, apartment community, condominium development, mobile home park or office, business or industrial park, or similar development.
FLAG. A banner of distinctive design used as a symbol, standard or emblem.
FLASHING OR MOVING SIGN. A sign or any part of a sign that has intermittently reflecting lights, or which uses intermittent, flashing, scintillating, or varying intensity of illumination or color to
create the appearance of movement, or that has any visible portions in motion, either constantly or at intervals, whether caused by artificial or natural means (see ANIMATED SIGN).
GROUND SIGN. A sign supported by one or more uprights, poles, braces, a masonry base, or a monument(s) placed in or upon the ground, fastened to a secure and permanent foundation, and not attached to any building. Ground signs include monument signs, pole and pylon signs.
(1) MONUMENT SIGN. A ground sign mounted on a base that is in contact with the ground.
(2) MONUMENT SIGN BASE. The lower part of a monument sign, which may appear as a separate architectural feature, typically constructed of brick, stone or other masonry, and which serves as the sign's ground support.
(3) POLE OR PYLON SIGN. A ground sign mounted on a freestanding pole(s) or other support(s) with a clear space between the bottom of the sign face and the grade.
HISTORICAL MARKER. Any sign issued by the State of Michigan Historical Commission or other state or Federal historical agency.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. A sign that is lighted by a direct or indirect source of light.
INCIDENTAL SIGN. A small sign designed and located to be read only by people within the site and generally not visible or legible from the right-of-way or adjacent properties. Examples include, but are not limited to, credit card signs, signs indicating hours of business, open or closed signs, no smoking signs, signs on ATMs, vending machines, kiosks, charitable collection boxes and similar structures, signs used to designate bathrooms, handicapped signs, traffic control signs that conform to the requirements of the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and other signs providing information to be read at close proximity.
INFLATABLE SIGN. A sign that is either expanded or its full dimensions are supported by gases contained within the sign, or a sign part, at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
LOT. See ZONING LOT.
MARQUEE. A permanent, roofed structure attached to and supported by the building and projecting over public property.
MARQUEE SIGN. A sign attached to or hung from a marquee, projecting from and supported by the building.
MURAL. A large picture, image, design or representation of artistic nature painted, adhered, drawn or sculpted on a vertical exterior building wall which may or may not contain text, logos, or symbols.
NEON SIGN. A sign consisting of glass tubing, filled with neon or another gas, which glows when electric current is passed through it.
NONCONFORMING SIGN. Any sign that was lawfully erected and maintained prior to the effective date of this chapter and any amendments thereto, and that fails to conform to all applicable chapter regulations.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN. A sign which contains a message unrelated to a business or profession conducted on the premises, or to a commodity, service or activity, not sold or offered upon the premises on which the sign is located (see BILLBOARD).
PENNANT. A long, tapering, triangular flag, often bearing an emblem.
PERMANENT SIGN. A sign attached or affixed to a building, window, structure or to the ground in a manner that enables the sign to resist environmental loads, such as wind, and that precludes ready removal or movement of the sign and whose use appears to be indefinite.
PORTABLE SIGN. A sign constructed to be readily movable from one location to another and not permanently affixed to a building, structure or the ground, such as, but not limited to "A" frame, "T" shaped or inverted "T" shaped structures, including those mounted on wheeled trailers. Portable signs shall not include yard signs as defined in this chapter (see VEHICLE SIGN).
PREMISES. A lot, combination of lots or parcels of property in the same ownership or control which are not divided by a public street, and which form a complete parcel of land for development purposes.
PROJECTING SIGN. A sign attached at one end to a building, other structure or any part thereof, and extending beyond the attachment surface by more than 12 inches. A projecting sign is typically mounted perpendicular to the building wall and is distinguished from a wall sign based on the distance the sign extends from the surface of the building.
ROOF SIGN. Any sign mounted upon, above or supported by the roof of any building or structure, except that a sign mounted upon a mansard fascia that does not project above the highest point of the roof or parapet shall be a WALL SIGN.
SIGN. The name, identification, description, object, device, structure, display or illustration that is affixed to, or painted, or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure or piece of land, and which directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person, institution, service, event, organization or business by any means, including words, letters, figures, design, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination or projected images, and which is visible from any public street, sidewalk, alley, park or public property. This definition does not include signs primarily directed at persons who are inside the building or goods displayed in a business window.
SIGN SETBACK. The distance measured from the street property line from which the sign is to be primarily viewed to the nearest edge of the sign.
SPINNER. A rotating disc or propeller-like sign that rotates in the wind or from some other source of power and is typically threaded on a line with other spinners to attract attention.
STREAMER. Any long, narrow material that is intended to float and move in the wind.
TEMPORARY SIGN. A sign, with or without a structural frame, that is not permanently fastened to any structure and is intended for a limited period of display, including but not limited to portable signs, inflatable signs, banners, pennants, spinners, streamers, yard signs, and temporary wall signs and temporary window signs.
VEHICLE SIGN. A sign painted or attached to a vehicle. Vehicles which are generally used daily off-site and which are not parked in a location intended to draw attention to the sign or site, are not included in this definition.
WALL SIGN. A sign which is attached directly to or painted upon a building wall and which does not extend above the height of the wall to which it is attached, nor more than 12 inches therefrom, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the building wall. Wall signs include signs mounted flat against the building facade, provided those signs do not protrude beyond any boundary of the facade.
WINDOW SIGN. A temporary or permanent sign painted on or affixed to a window surface, suspended so as to hang more or less parallel with the window surface, or otherwise displayed in a manner intended to be viewed from outside the window.
YARD SIGN. A temporary sign that is freestanding, not permanently anchored or secured to the ground, and typically having a metal or wire support structure.
ZONING LOT. All or parts of a lot or group of contiguous lots under single or common ownership that are considered to be a single undivided lot under the Village Zoning Ordinance Nos. 13.06 through 13.09, as amended. The term LOT as used in this chapter shall mean ZONING LOT.
(Ord. 14.21, passed 5-23-18)