As used in this chapter:
(a) "Identification sign" means a publicly displayed notice that designates a building name or a development. Such a sign shall be permitted only with the approval of the City Planning Commission.
(b) "Political sign" means any sign that has as its purpose the endorsement, support or advocacy of, or opposition to, a candidate for political office, a cause and/or an issue, at any general, primary or special election, at all levels of government.
(c) "Sign" means a stationary, non-mechanical, publicly displayed notice, message or design, including, but not limited to, an illuminated facia on a building, structure or premises, including any portion of the exterior surface of a structure, or visibly readable through any transparent portion of a building, to advertise and/or identify any business or service, whether or not it is transacted in or on such building, structure or premises, or the name of the person or firm conducting the business, or goods sold or services rendered in or on such building, structure or premises, or a political sign. The use of characters, logos, trademarks, insignias, emblems, devices or other symbols in the face area of any permanent sign may be part of the sign, provided that such items are included (and calculated) within the total, permitted, useable sign face area. Line illumination of buildings, portions of buildings, fascia or other outline lighting is prohibited.
(d) "Temporary sign" means a sign which is intended to be displayed for a limited time only. Such signs shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, political signs, real estate availability signs, construction signs, special events signs, holiday decorations, signs and banners announcing grand opening events, for sale signs and other temporary signs as may otherwise be described herein. Temporary signs are permitted in residential districts subject to the provisions of Section 1191.02(b). Subject to the provisions of this chapter, temporary signs shall be permitted for the reasons stated above, but shall not be permitted to propose or promote a commercial transaction or product.
(e) "Directional sign" means a sign containing directional information about public or private attractions of interest to the traveling public.
(f) "Changeable copy sign" means a sign whose informational content can be changed or altered by manual, electric or electronic means. Changeable copy signs include the following:
(1) Manually activated: signs whose alphabetic, pictographic or symbolic informational content can be changed or altered by manual means.
(2) Electrically activated: signs whose alphabetic, pictographic or symbolic informational content can be changed or altered on a fixed display surface comprised of electrically illuminated or mechanically driven changeable segments. This includes the following two types:
A. Fixed message electronic signs: signs whose basic informational content has been pre-programmed to include only certain types of information projections such as time, temperature or other events subject to prior programming.
B. Computer controlled variable message electronic signs: signs whose information content can be changed or altered by means of computer-driven electronic impulses.
(g) "Digital sign" means a sign usually consisting of (or has a portion comprised of) a computer or playback device connected to a large, bright digital screen such as a liquid crystal, light emitting diode, computer, plasma, or similar display. Such signs sometimes also utilize electronic changeable copy.
(Ord. 1997-21. Passed 8-6-97; Ord. 2004-26. Passed 11-8-04; Ord. 2013-17. Passed 11-25-13.)