1. General Definitions.
ANIMATED SIGN - any sign or part of a sign which changes physical position by any movement or rotation or which gives the visual impression of such movement or rotation.
SIGN - any object, device, display or structure, or part thereof, visible from a public way, which is used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to a person organization, institution, business, product service, event or location. A sign includes writing, representation or any other figure of similar character within a building when located in a window.
SIGN AREA - the entire face of a sign, including the advertising surface and any framing, trim or molding, but not including the supporting structure.
SIGN FACE - the area of display surface used for the message.
2. Signs defined according to location on premises and/or method of attachment.
AWNING, CANOPY OR MARQUEE SIGN - a sign that is mounted or painted on, or attached to an awning, canopy or marquee that is otherwise permitted by ordinance.
BANNER SIGN - a temporary sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is temporarily mounted to a pole or a building.
FLAG SIGN - any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols used as a form of advertisement.
FREESTANDING SIGN - any nonmoveable sign not affixed to a building
GROUND SIGN - any sign other than a pole sign permanently placed upon or supported by the ground independent of any other structure.
INTEGRAL ROOF SIGN - any sign erected or constructed as an integral or essentially integral part of a normal roof structure of any design such that no part of the sign extends vertically above any portion of the roof and such that no part of the sign is separated from the rest of the roof by a space of more than 6 inches or which is painted on the roof.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN - a sign which directs attention to a business or profession conducted or to a commodity or service sold, offered or manufactured or to an entertainment offered off the premises where the sign is located.
ON-PREMISES SIGN - a sign located on the same premises on which the use is located and clearly incidental and associated with the operation of that use.
PAINTED WALL SIGN - a permanent mural or message painted directly onto a building surface.
PENNANTS - a temporary sign made of 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.
POLE SIGN - a sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole or other support so that the bottom edge of the sign face is nine feet or more above grade.
PORTABLE SIGN - a sign that is not permanently affixed to a building, structure or the ground.
PROJECTING SIGN - a sign that is erected on the outside wall of a building that projects out at an angle.
ROOF SIGN - a sign which is erected, constructed and maintained on or above the roof line of any building or structure.
TEMPORARY SIGN - any sign which is moveable, not permanently attached to the ground, a structure or other sign, and designed or constructed in such a manner that it can be moved or relocated without involving any structural or support changes, intended for a limited period of display or constructed out of cloth, canvas, plastic, sheet, cardboard or other like material.
TRAILER SIGN - a sign which is attached to, supported by or part of a structure which is designed to be moved on trailer wheels, skids, or other similar device; or transported by a motor vehicle. It is designed to be moved and is not permanent, nor is it intended to be permanently attached to a building, structure or the ground.
WALL SIGN - a sign fastened to or painted on the wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for or forms the background surface of the sign and which does not project more than 12 inches from such building or structure.
WINDOW SIGN - a sign that is applied or attached to the exterior or interior of a window within a building so that it is visible from the exterior of the structure through a window.
3. Signs defined according to type of message conveyed.
ADDRESS SIGN - a sign or nameplate, located on the premises, giving the name or address, or both of the owners or occupants of a building or premises.
BILLBOARD - a sign which directs attention to a business or profession conducted, or to a commodity or service sold, offered or manufactured, or to an entertainment offered off the premises.
BULLETIN BOARD - a permanent sign with moveable letters, words, or materials, indicating the names of persons associated with, products and/or services offered on the premises.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN - a sign designed to allow frequent message changes, either electronically or manually, such as time and temperature or a theater marquee sign.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN - a temporary sign identifying an architect, contractor, subcontractor, owners, financial supports, material supplier and similar individuals or firms having a role in construction on the property on which the sign is located
DEVELOPMENT SIGN - a permanent sign which, by symbol or name, identifies a development, including a subdivision, neighborhood, residential development, shopping center or commercial, industrial or office complex.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN - a sign limited to providing entrance and exit information necessary to direct traffic flow which does not include any commercial message, but can include business name or logo.
HOME OCCUPATION SIGN - a sign containing only the name and occupation of a permitted home occupation.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN - a sign indicating the name, owner, manager, logo, trademark or other identifying symbol, and address of a building, business, development or establishment on the premises where it is located. “Name” may include the type of goods or services rendered, but not brand names.
INFORMATION SIGN - a sign commonly associated with information necessary or convenient for visitors coming on the property, including signs marking parking areas, circulation direction, bathroom facilities, pickup and delivery areas or telephone which does not include commercial messages or names.
JOINT IDENTIFICATION SIGN - a group of signs clustered together in a single structure or compositional unit used to advertise several occupants of the same building or building complex.
MEMORIAL SIGN - a sign, tablet or plaque memorializing a person, event, structure or site.
POLITICAL SIGNS - a temporary sign announcing or supporting political candidates or issues in connection with any national, state or local election.
PRIVATE SALE OR EVENT SIGN - a temporary sign advertising private sales of personal property such as house sales, garage sales and the like or private not-for-profit events such as picnics, carnivals, bazaars, game nights, art fairs or craft shows.
PRODUCT SIGN - a sign or portion of a sign that depicts a specific name brand product that is sold on the premises.
REAL ESTATE SIGN - a sign which directs attention to the promotion, development, rental, sale or lease of the property on which the sign is located.
TEMPORARY SIGN - a sign intended to be used for a period of no more than 30 days. Exceptions for pennants and similar devices intended for civic purpose may be granted by special permit.
4. Signs defined according to degree of illumination.
DIRECT EXTERNAL LIGHTING - lighting that is external but integral to the sign, such as flood or spotlights, lights directed toward the sign.
FLASHING SIGN - any directly or indirectly illuminated sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light source by means of animation or an external intermittent light source.
ILLUMINATED SIGN - any sign lit by electrical bulbs, fluorescent lights, neon bulbs or exposed to artificial light either by lights on or in the sign or directed towards the sign. Neon tubes used as abstract, graphic, decorative or architectural elements shall also be considered to constitute an illuminated sign.
(Ord. 462, 8/14/1995; as added by Ord. 567, 2/13/2006)