For the purpose of this chapter the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNS. An architectural sign shall include all signs which are attached to a building and have no other supporting members other than those attached to the building. An architectural sign is not a freestanding sign.
BUILDING FACADE. The walls of a building or any other near vertical structural element below the roof surface area(s).
BUILDING FRONTAGE. The length in feet of the ground floor level of a building front and/or sides abutting a public right-of-way.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. A business development is a grouping of two or more business establishments which: (1) share a common, on site, parking lot, and (2) occupy a single building or occupy separate buildings which are physically attached. Business developments include shopping centers.
ELECTRIC MESSAGE BOARD. A sign with a maximum area of 150 square feet per side on which the copy or display of information or objects changes electronically, automatically or mechanically. The display on the sign shall be limited to public service information or advertising for business(es) located on the same property as the sign. The display of information shall be presented in a reasonable fashion and shall not flash in a manner to attract attention. The use of movements or change in lighting to depict animation, or a moving scene shall be limited to such displays that take at least two seconds to complete. Individual movements or action within a display shall not occur more rapidly than at a rate of 2½ times per second (e.g., a ball bouncing, a wheel turning, a hand waiving or an eye winking). The ease of flashing, blinking or pulsation lights to be depict sudden or intense actions such as explosions, moving borders or other like actions shall be prohibited. The administrative official shall determine if the display complies with the regulations.
FESTOON LIGHTS. A group of two or more light bulbs hung or strung overhead which are exposed to persons on a public right-of-way and which are not shaded, shielded, or hooded to prevent the direct rays of light from being visible from the right-of-way.
FLASHING SIGNS. A sign which in total or in part has illumination which changes or intermittently flashes on and off, or gives the appearance of changing or flashing more frequently than five second intervals. Flashing signs do not include time and temperature signs nor electronic message boards.
FLUSH WALL SIGNS. A sign mounted on, attached to, or painted on the exterior of a building where the plane of the sign surface is parallel to and no more than one foot distance from the plane of the building to which it is attached. A flush wall sign is an "architectural sign".
FREESTANDING SIGN. A sign, supported by one or more uprights, poles, or braces placed in or upon the ground; or a sign supported by a structure independent of the building, erected primarily for the display and support of the sign. A freestanding sign is not an architectural sign.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. A sign which has a light source as an integral part of the sign or which has light directed on the sign from an external position.
LOT FRONTAGE. Any portion, piece, division or parcel of land, which abuts a public right-of-way.
MAINTENANCE OF SIGN. Any action, involving the painting or repair of a sign that doesn't alter the shape, area, material, height or any other element of a sign existing prior to the painting and/or repair of the sign. All other actions, which result in a change in the sign's elements, shall be considered as an erection of a new sign.
MOVING SIGN. Any sign which revolves, moves, is animated or gives the visual impression of revolving, moving or animation.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN. A sign not related in its subject matter to the premises on which it is located or to products, accommodations, services, or activities on the premises. However, for businesses which no longer exist, signs on the premises, which would otherwise conform to the provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to be off-premises signs. Off-premises signs include signs erected by the outdoor advertising industry, such as billboards.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign which is not listed below shall be classified as a portable sign:
(1) Any sign which is permanently mounted in the ground.
(2) Any sign which is permanently attached to a building.
(3) Any sign painted or magnetically affixed to a vehicle, if it conforms to the shape of the vehicle and is not a changeable letter or changeable copy sign.
(4) Any sign otherwise affixed to a vehicle, if less than five square feet in surface area and not a changeable letter or changeable copy sign.
PROJECTING SIGN. A sign which is suspended from or supported solely by a building or a wall of a building, and which projects from the plane of the building to which it is attached.
SATELLITE BUSINESS. A business which is part of a business development or shopping center but is located in a building separate from the main building.
SHOPPING CENTER. See the definition of "Business Development."
SIGN. An object, graphic display or device or part thereof situated outdoors or directly visible from outdoors which is used to advertise, identify, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution organization, business, product, service, event, or location by any means including words, letters, figures, logos, trademarks, designs, symbols, fixtures, colors, motion, illumination, or projected images. The following shall not be considered to be signs.
(1) Flags of nations, organization of nations, states, cities, fraternal, religious, and civic organizations.
(2) Merchandise, pictures, models or products, or services incorporated in a window display.
(3) Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing only property numbers, post office box numbers, names of occupants of premises, or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations.
(4) Legal notices, informational, or direction signs erected or required by governmental bodies.
(5) National, state, religious, fraternal, professional, and civic symbols or crest.
(6) Decorations, clearly incidental and customarily and commonly associated with any national, local or religious holiday displayed for a period of not more than 60 consecutive days.
(7) Signs painted on or magnetically affixed to vehicles that do not contain changeable letters or copy; and signs otherwise attached to vehicles that do not exceed five square feet in area and do not contain changeable letter or changeable copy.
SIGNS, NUMBER OF. An individual sign shall be considered to be a single display surface or display device containing elements organized to form a unit. Where matter is displayed in a random manner without organized relationship of elements, or where there is reasonable doubt the relationship of elements, each element shall be considered to be a single sign.
SIGNS, SURFACE AREA OF. The surface area of a sign shall be computed as including the entire area of a regular geometric form or combination of regular geometric forms within which the sign shape may be inscribed and comprising all the display area and including all of the elements of the matter displayed. Structural member not bearing advertising matter shall not be included in the computation of the surface area.
STREET CURB LINE. The street curb line is deemed to be located at the furthest extent of the curb structure from the center line of the street for those streets with a curb structure and the furthest extent of the street surface from the center line of the street for those streets with no curb structure.
TIME AND TEMPERATURE SIGN. A sign whereon the date, time, and/or temperature is indicated by intermittent lighting and is limited to the numerals indicating the date, time and/or temperature.
WINDOW PROMOTIONAL SIGN. A temporary sign, viewable from the exterior of a structure, which is attached to a window for the specific purpose of attracting attention of a passerby to a sale, or to promotional items. By temporary it is meant that a window promotional sign is not intended for display for more than 60 days.
(Ord. 2001-5053, passed 3-6-2001)