For the purposes of this chapter the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section unless the context indicates otherwise:
"Awning" means any structure made of cloth or metal with a metal frame attached to a building and projecting over a thoroughfare, when the same is so erected as to permit its being raised to a position flat against the building when not in use.
"Billboard" means any board, fence, sign or structure erected for advertising purposes or upon which any advertisement is shown or whereupon any poster, bill printing, painting, device or other advertising matter of any kind whatsoever may be placed, stuck, tacked, posted, printed, painted, pasted or fastened. This definition shall not be held to include any board, sign or surface used to display official notices issued by any court or public office or posted by any public officer in the performance of a public duty or used to display announcements of meetings, shows or performances to be held upon premises whereon such billboards or bulletin boards are displayed or used to advertise any business conducted on the premises where such billboard or bulletin board is located; nor shall it be held to include a real estate sign advertising for sale or rent the property upon which it stands.
"Canopy" means any structure, other than an awning, made of cloth or metal with metal frames attached to a building, projecting over a thoroughfare and carried by a frame supported by the ground or sidewalk.
"Erect" means to build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix and also the painting of wall signs.
"Facing" or "Surface" means the surface of the sign upon, against or through which the message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.
"Ground sign" means any sign supported by uprights or braces placed upon the ground and not attached to any building.
"Horizontal projecting sign" means any projecting sign which is greater in width than in height.
"Illuminated sign" means any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outline illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as a part of the sign proper.
"Incombustible material" means any material which will not ignite at or below a temperature of twelve hundred degrees Fahrenheit and will not continue to burn or glow at that temperature.
"Marquee" means any hood or awning or permanent construction projecting from the wall of a building above an entrance and extending over a thoroughfare.
"Other advertising structure" means any marquee, canopy, awning or street clock as further defined in this chapter.
"Outdoor advertising" means advertising on any board, fence or structure or the placing thereon of any poster, bill, printing, painting, device or any advertising matter of any kind whatsoever and the pasting, posting, painting, printing, nailing or tacking or otherwise fastening of any handbill, card, banner, sign, poster, advertisement or notice of any kind upon any property or place.
"Projecting sign" means any sign which is attached to a building or other structure and extends beyond the line of such building or structure or beyond the surface of that portion of the building or structure to which it is attached. All projecting signs shall be illuminated signs.
"Roof sign" means any sign erected, constructed and maintained wholly upon or over the roof of any building with the principal support on the roof structure.
"Sign" means every sign, billboard, ground sign, wall sign, roof sign, illuminated sign, projecting sign, temporary sign, marquee, awning, canopy and street clock and any announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration or insignia used to advertise or promote the interests of any person when the same is placed out of doors in view of the general public.
"Structural trim" means the molding, battens, cappings, nailing strips, latticing and platforms which are attached to the sign structure.
"Temporary signs" means any sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wall board or other light materials with or without frames, intended to be displayed for a short period of time only.
"Vertical projecting sign" means any projecting sign which is greater in height than in width.
"Wall sign" means all flat signs of solid face construction which are placed against a building or other structure and attached to the exterior front, rear or side wall of any building or other structure. (Prior code § 21-1-1)