A-FRAME SIGN – A small unlit freestanding, on-site, portable Ground Sign that is displayed during business hours and removed when the business is closed. An A-Frame Sign shall abide by the Encroachment provisions specified in Article 5.
ABANDONED SIGN – A Sign that no longer identifies or advertises an ongoing business, product, location, service, idea, or activity conducted on the premises on which the Sign is located. Whether a Sign has been abandoned or not shall be determined by the intent of the owner of the Sign and shall be governed by applicable State Case Law and Statutory Law on abandoned structures.
ALTERATION – A change in the size or shape of an existing Sign. Copy or color change of an existing Sign is not an alteration. Changing or replacing a Sign face or panel is not an alteration.
ANIMATED SIGN – A Sign employing actual motion, the illusion of motion, or light and/or color changes achieved through mechanical, electrical, or electronic means. Animated signs, which are differentiated from changeable signs as defined and regulated by this Code, include the following types:
(1) Environmentally Activated: Animated signs or devices motivated by wind, thermal changes, or other natural environmental input. Includes spinners, pinwheels, pennant strings, and/or other devices or displays that respond to naturally occurring external motivation.
(2) Mechanically Activated: Animated signs characterized by repetitive motion and/or rotation activated by a mechanical system powered by electric motors or other mechanically induced means.
(3) Electrically Activated: Animated signs producing the illusion of movement by means of electronic, electrical, or electromechanical input and/or illumination capable of simulating movement through employment of the characteristics of one or both of the classifications noted below:
A. Flashing: Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by a repetitive cycle in which the period of illumination is either the same as or less than the period of non-illumination. For the purposes of this ordinance, flashing will not be defined as occurring if the cyclical period between on-off phases of illumination exceeds four (4) seconds.
B. Patterned Illusionary Movement: Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by simulated movement through alternate or sequential activation of various illuminated elements for the purpose of producing repetitive light patterns designed to appear in some form of constant motion.
ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTION – Any projection from a building that is decorative and/or functional and not intended for occupancy, and that extends beyond the face of an exterior wall of a building but that does not include signs as defined herein. See also: Awning; Back-lit Awning; and Canopy, Attached and Freestanding.
AWNING – An architectural projection or shelter projecting from and supported by the exterior wall of a building and composed of a covering of rigid or non-rigid materials and/or fabric on a supporting framework that may be either permanent or retractable.
AWNING SIGN – A Sign displayed on or attached flat against the surface or surfaces of an awning. See also: Wall or Fascia Sign. Only the Sign or copy area displayed on an awning shall be used to determine the permitted Sign area – the entire awning shall not be included in a Sign Area calculation (See Figure 1331-1, Awning Sign).
Figure 1331-1 – Awning Sign
BACK-LIT AWNING – An awning comprised of covering material exhibiting the characteristic of luminosity obtained by means of a source of illumination contained within its framework.
BILLBOARD – See Outdoor Advertising (Billboard) Signs.
BUILDING FACADE – That portion of any exterior elevation of a Building extending vertically from grade to the top of a Parapet wall or eaves and horizontally across the entire width of the building elevation.
BUILDING SIGN – A Sign that is applied or affixed to a Building.
CANOPY, ATTACHED – A multi-sided overhead Structure or architectural projection supported by attachment to a Building on one or more sides and either cantilevered from such Building or also supported by columns at additional points. The surface(s) and/or soffit of an attached canopy may be illuminated by means of internal or external sources of light. Similar to a Marquee Sign.
CANOPY, FREESTANDING – A multi-sided overhead Structure supported by columns, but not enclosed by walls. The surface(s) and or soffit of a freestanding canopy may be illuminated by means of internal or external sources of light.
CANOPY SIGN – A Sign affixed to the visible surface(s) of an attached or Freestanding Canopy. May be internally or externally illuminated. Similar to a Marquee Sign.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN – A Sign on which message copy is changed manually in the field through attachment of letters, numbers, symbols and other similar characters of changeable pictorial Panels; also known as a reader-board Sign.
CHANGEABLE SIGN – A Sign with the capability of content change by means of manual or remote input, includes the following types:
(1) Manually Activated – A Changeable Sign whose message copy or content can be changed manually on a display surface.
(2) Electrically Activated – A Changeable Sign whose message copy or content can be changed by means of remote electrically energized on-off switching combinations of alphabetic or pictographic components arranged on a display surface. Illumination may be integral to the components, such as characterized by lamps or other light-emitting devices; or it may be from an external light source designed to reflect off the changeable component display. See also: Electronic Message Center.
COMBINED DEVELOPMENT – Two or more establishments or businesses occupying a common Building or adjoining Buildings which are designed and developed in a coordinated manner and which share parking, Driveways and other common facilities.
COMMERCIAL MESSAGE – Any Sign wording, logo, or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business, product, service, or other commercial activity.
CONFORMING SIGN – A Sign that is legally installed in conformance with all prevailing jurisdictional laws and ordinances.
COPY – The graphic content or message of a Sign.
COPY AREA OF SIGN – The actual area of the Sign copy as applied to any background. Copy area on any individual background may be expressed as the sum of the geometrically computed shape or shapes encompassing separate individual letters, words, or graphic elements on the background.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN – Any Sign that is designed and erected for the purpose of providing direction and/or orientation for pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
DOUBLE-FACED SIGN – A Sign with two faces, back to back.
DYNAMIC FRAME EFFECT – An Electronic Message Sign frame effect in which the illusion of motion and/or animation is used,
ELECTRIC SIGN – Any Sign activated or illuminated by means of electrical energy.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD – A Sign which displays messages, such as time and temperature, in alternating light cycles.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER SIGN (EMC) – An electrically activated changeable Sign whose variable message and/or graphic presentation capability can be electronically programmed by computer from a remote location. EMCs typically use light emitting diodes (LEDs) as a lighting source. (See also following terms principally associated with Electronic Message Centers: Display Time, Dissolve, Dynamic Frame Effect, Fade, Frame, Frame Effect, Scroll, Transition, Travel).
ENTRANCE SIGN – A type of Ground Mounted Sign placed at the point of entry to a residential development or to a Street providing direct and sole access to an individual business or institutional Use located within a Combined Development or Commercial Subdivision.
EXTERIOR SIGN – Any Sign placed outside a building.
EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN – See Illuminated Sign.
FAÇADE – See Building Facade.
FACSIMILE SIGN – An oversized, three-dimensional object, such as a chicken bucket, automobile (or automobile part), or human figure, which may or may not contain advertising matter, and may or may not contain information about products sold on the premises, and is located in such a manner as to attract attention.
FASCIA SIGN – See Wall Sign.
FLASHING SIGN – See Animated Sign, Electrically Activated.
FONT – A set of letters, numerals, symbols, or shapes conforming to a specific set of design criteria.
FOOT CANDLE – An English unit of measurement of the amount of light falling upon a surface (illuminance). One-foot candle is equal to one lumen per square foot. Can be measured by means of an illuminance meter.
FRAME – A complete, static display screen on an Electronic Message Sign.
FRAME EFFECT – A visual effect on an Electronic Message Sign applied to a single frame. See also Dynamic Frame Effect.
GALLERY SIGN – A Sign affixed to a Gallery.
GROUND MOUNTED SIGN – A free-standing Monument Sign with its base permanently attached to concrete foundations directly placed in or upon the ground. For the purposes of this Ordinance, a Ground-Mounted Sign shall be defined as one of the following: (1) two Sign faces that are located back-to-back on a single Structure, or (2) as an option only for entrances to subdivisions (residential and non-residential), two separate single-faced Signs.
GROUND MOUNTED SIGN, LOW PROFILE – A Ground Mounted Sign that that is no more than twelve (12) square feet in area and no more than five (5) feet in height.
GROUND MOUNTED SIGN, MEDIUM PROFILE – A Ground Mounted Sign that is no more than seventy-two (72) square feet in area and no more than ten (10) feet in height.
GROUND MOUNTED SIGN, HIGH PROFILE TYPE 1 – A Ground Mounted Sign that is no more than one hundred (100) square feet in area and no more than thirty (30) feet in height.
GROUND MOUNTED SIGN, HIGH PROFILE TYPE 2 – A Ground Mounted Sign that is no more than two hundred (200) square feet in area and no more than seventy-five (75) feet in height. The Type 2 Sign is for commercial uses located not more than four hundred (400) feet from the center line of the Interstate 81 right-of-way.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN – A Sign that identifies or names a Building and that may include the name of a Building, the Street name and number of a Building, and a logo or other symbol but does not include general advertising of products, goods or services.
ILLUMINATED SIGN – A Sign with an artificial light source incorporated internally or externally for the purpose of illuminating the sign.
INDIRECT ILLUMINATION – Illumination which reflects light from an artificial light source intentionally directed upon a surface. This shall also include silhouettes of letters or symbols placed before a background of reflected light. Indirect Illumination Signs are prohibited within the City.
MARQUEE SIGN – A Sign attached to the face of a Marquee and not projecting above or beneath said Marquee face (See Figure 1331-2, Marquee Sign).
Figure 1331-2 – Marquee Sign
MONUMENT SIGN – A Ground-Mounted Sign that is mounted generally flush with the surrounding grade. It may not be attached to a Pole or Pylon, nor raised by mounting on a man-made berm, wall, or similar Structure (See Figure 1331-3, Monument Sign).
Figure 1331-3 - Monument Sign
OFF-PREMISE SIGN – A Sign identifying/advertising and/or directing the public to a business, or merchandise, or service, or institution, or residential area, or entertainment which is located, sold, rented, leased, produced, manufactured and/or furnished at a place other than the real property on which said Sign is located. Off-Premise Signs are prohibited within the City.
ON-PREMISE SIGN – A Sign erected, maintained or used in the outdoor environment for the purpose of the display of messages appurtenant to the use of, products sold on, or the sale or lease of, the property on which it is displayed.
Figure 6-3 – Monument Sign
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING (BILLBOARD) SIGNS – A permanently installed Sign identifying/advertising and/or directing the public to a business, or merchandise, or service, or institution, or residential area, or entertainment which is located, sold, rented, leased, produced, manufactured and/or furnished at a place other than the real property on which said Sign is located. Outdoor Advertising (Billboard) Signs are prohibited within the City.
PARAPET – A barrier that is an extension of the wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony, walkway or other structure.
PANEL – The primary surface of a Sign that carries the identifying/advertising message.
PENNANT – Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind. Pennant Signs are prohibited within the City.
PERSONAL EXPRESSION SIGN – An On-Premise Sign that expresses an opinion, interest, position, or other non-commercial message.
PORTABLE SIGN – Any Sign designed or intended to be readily relocated whether or not it is permanently attached to a Building, Structure or on the ground. Portable Signs also include Signs on wheels or on portable Structures such as Trailers, tent Signs, A-Frame or T-Shaped Signs and normal advertising placed on motor Vehicles which are not used regularly and are placed in such a manner as to attract attention.
PROJECTING SIGN – A Sign which projects from a Building into a vehicular or pedestrian access way, more than one foot from the surface on which it is mounted, and is mounted usually, but not always, at right angles to the Building (See Figure 1331-4, Projecting Sign).
Figure 1331-4 – Projecting Sign
PYLON (POLE) SIGN – A Ground-Mounted Sign attached to one or more posts, whose base is greater than twenty-four (24) inches above grade [See Figure 1331-5, Pylon (Pole) Sign].
Figure 1331-5 – Pylon (Pole) Sign
ROOF SIGN – Any Sign erected, constructed, and/or painted wholly or partially on or above the roof of a Building. Signs which are mounted flush against a Parapet roof and do not extend above the roofline are permitted in accordance with the regulations for Wall Signs (See Figure 1331-6, Roof Sign). Roof Signs are prohibited within the City.
SIGN – Any temporary or permanent identification, description, animation, illustration, or device, illuminated or non-illuminated, which is visible from any right-of-way, situated indoors or outdoors, and which directs attention to any realty, product, service, place, activity, person, institution, performance, commodity, firm, business or solicitation, or any emblem, painting, banner, poster, bulletin board, pennant, placard or temporary Sign designed to identify or convey information. Signs do not include displays located inside buildings, courts, lobbies, stadiums, or other structures that are not positioned in such a manner so as to be intended to be seen from the exterior of the building or structure.
Figure 1331-6 – Roof Sign
SUSPENDED SIGN – See Projecting Sign.
TEMPORARY SIGN – A Sign advertising a special event and not intended to be displayed on a permanent basis.
WALL SIGN – A Sign that is in any manner affixed to any exterior wall of a Building or Structure and that projects not more than eighteen (18) inches from the Building or Structure wall. Also includes signs affixed to architectural projections that project from a building provided the Copy area of such signs remains on a parallel plane to the face of the Building facade or to the face or faces of the architectural projection to which it is affixed (See Figure 1331-7A, Wall Sign and Figure 1331-7B, Wall/Fascia Sign).
Figure 1331-7A - Wall Sign
Figure 1331-7B - Wall/Fascia Sign
WAYFINDING SIGN – A Sign, frequently off-premise, specifically designed to provide directional or destination information. See also, Off-Premise Sign.
WINDOW SIGN – A Sign which is applied to the Building glass area located such that the identifying/advertising message, symbol, insignia, visual representation, logotype or any other form which communicates information can be read from off-premise.
(Ord. 2021-07. Passed 7-21-21.)