The following terms shall apply to this article. Other terms used in this article shall have the meanings set forth in Section 12.03 of this Code, if defined in that section.
Bisecting Line. A line that equally divides the angle created by the projection of intersecting lot lines of a lot adjoining the street of a corner lot as illustrated in Diagram C of this article.
Building Frontage. The projection of the building walls upon the street used for street frontage.
Digital Display. A sign face, building face, and/or any building or structural component that displays still images, scrolling images, moving images, or flashing images, including video and animation, through the use of grid lights, cathode ray projections, light emitting diode displays, plasma screens, liquid crystal displays, fiber optics, or other electronic media or technology that is either independent of or attached to, integrated into, or projected onto a building or structural component, and that may be changed remotely through electronic means. (Added by Ord. No. 180,841, Eff. 8/14/09.)
Face of Building. The general outer surface, not including cornices, bay windows or architectural projections, of any exterior wall of a building.
Freeway. A highway in respect to which the owners or those in possession of abutting lands have no right or easement of access to or from their abutting lands or in respect to which the owners have only limited or restricted right or easement of access, and which is declared to be a freeway, in compliance with the Streets and Highways Code of the State of California.
Identification Sign. A wall sign that is limited to a company logo, generic type of business, or the name of a business or building.
Illuminated Architectural Canopy Sign. An enclosed illuminated structure that is attached to the wall of a building with the face of the sign approximately parallel to the wall and with the message integrated into its surface.
Inflatable Device. A sign that is a cold air inflated object, which may be of various shapes, made of flexible fabric, resting on the ground or structure and equipped with a portable blower motor that provides a constant flow of air into the device. Inflatable devices are restrained, attached, or held in place by a cord, rope, cable or similar method. The term inflatable device shall not include any object that contains helium, hot air or a lighter-than-air substance.
Information Sign. A sign that is limited to a message giving directions, instructions, menus, selections or address numerals.
Main Traveled Roadway of a Freeway. The portion of a freeway, including interchange roadways connecting one freeway with another, which is designed for the movement of large volumes of vehicular traffic, efficiently and safely at high speed, but not including service roadways, landscape areas, or ingress or egress ramps connecting the freeway with other streets.
Monument Sign. A sign that is erected directly upon the existing or artificially created grade, or that is raised no more than 12 inches from the existing or artificially created grade to the bottom of the sign, and that has a horizontal dimension equal to or greater than its vertical dimension.
Nuisance, Public. Trash, debris, rubbish, weeds, graffiti, unpermitted posters/handbills, or illegal postings. (Added by Ord. No. 187,145, Eff. 9/30/21.)
Off-Site Sign. A sign that displays any message directing attention to a business, product, service, profession, commodity, activity, event, person, institution or any other commercial message, which is generally conducted, sold, manufactured, produced, offered or occurs elsewhere than on the premises where the sign is located.
Off-Site Sign Structure. A structure of any kind or character, erected, used or maintained for an off- site sign or signs, upon which any poster, bill, printing, painting, projected image or other advertisement may be placed.
On-Site Sign. A sign that is other than an off- site sign.
Original Art Mural. A one-of-a-kind, hand- painted, hand-tiled, or digitally printed image on the exterior wall of a building that does not contain any commercial message. For definition purposes, a commercial message is any message that advertises a business conducted, services rendered, or goods produced or sold. (Added by Ord. No. 182,706, Eff. 10/12/13.)
Perpendicular Line. A straight line between the point on a sign face that is closest to the street and the point where the line intersects the street lot line at a 90 degree angle, as illustrated in Diagram C of this article.
Pole Sign. A freestanding sign that is erected or affixed to one or more poles or posts and that does not meet the requirements of a monument sign.
Projecting Sign. A sign, other than a wall sign, that is attached to a building and projects outward from the building with one or more sign faces approximately perpendicular to the face of the building.
Projection. The distance by which a sign extends beyond the building line.
Public Art Installation. A facility, amenity or project that does not contain any commercial message and which is either an “approved public arts project” as defined by Section 19.85.4 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code or approved pursuant to Section 91.107.4.6 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code. For definition purposes, a commercial message is any message that advertises a business conducted, services rendered, or goods produced or sold. (Added by Ord. No. 182,706, Eff. 10/12/13.)
Roof Sign. A sign erected upon a roof of a building.
Sign. Any whole or part of a display board, wall, screen or object, used to announce, declare, demonstrate, display or otherwise present a message and attract the attention of the public.
Sign Area. An area circumscribed by the smallest geometric shape created with a maximum of eight straight lines, which will enclose all words, letters, figures, symbols, designs and pictures, together with all framing, background material, colored or illuminated areas and attention-attracting devices, forming an integral part of an individual message except that:
1. Wall signs having no discernible boundary shall have the areas between letters, words intended to be read together and any device intended to draw attention to the sign message included in any computation of surface area.
2. For spherical, cylindrical or other three-dimensional signs the area of the sign shall be computed from the smallest two-dimensional geometrical shape or shapes, which will best approximate the greatest actual surface area visible from any one direction.
3. Sign support structures are excluded if neutral in color.
4. “Time and Temperature” sign copy is excluded from computation of sign area if the copy is less than 56 square feet in area.
Sign Face. The surface upon which the sign message is placed.
Street Frontage. The length of a line separating a lot from one street.
Supergraphic Sign. A sign, consisting of an image projected onto a wall or printed on vinyl, mesh or other material with or without written text, supported and attached to a wall by an adhesive and/or by using stranded cable and eye-bolts and/or other materials or methods, and which does not comply with the following provisions of this Code: Sections 14.4.10; 14.4.16, 14.4.17; 14.4.18; and/or 14.4.20.
Temporary Construction Wall. A temporary solid fence or barrier of wood or similar material that provides protection for pedestrians and is erected and maintained on the perimeter of a construction or demolition site. (Amended by Ord. No. 187,145, Eff. 9/30/21.)
Temporary Sign. Any sign that is to be maintained for a limited duration, not to exceed 30 days, including paper signs and other signs that are not permanently affixed to the ground or building.
Vintage Original Art Mural. An Original Art Mural that existed prior to the operative date of this definition. (Added by Ord. No. 182,706, Eff. 10/12/13.)
Wall Sign. Any sign attached to, painted on or erected against the wall of a building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the wall.
Window Sign. Any sign, except for a supergraphic sign, that is attached to, affixed to, leaning against, or otherwise placed within six feet of a window or door in a manner so that the sign is visible from outside the building.