The following words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
SIGN: Any visual or graphic device designed through use of words, numbers, characters or symbols to inform or attract attention and which is designed to be visible from outside any building or structure in which, upon which, or attached to which it may be located. Window displays of merchandise and signs of less than one-half (1/2) square foot in area that are part of such displays and are not affixed to windows shall not be considered signs for purposes of this chapter.
SIGN AREA: The total exposed surface on each facing devoted to a sign’s message, including all ornamentation, embellishment and symbols, but excluding any supporting structure that does not form part of the sign proper or of the display. The area of a sign consisting of individual letters or symbols against a wall shall be the sum of the areas within rectangular envelopes completely enclosing each separate letter or symbol or attached group thereof.
SIGN, BILLBOARD: A permanent off site advertising sign containing a message, commercial or otherwise, unrelated to any use or activity on the subject property on which the sign is located, excluding other off site permitted signs.
SIGN, BUSINESS: A sign directing attention to a business, profession, commodity, service, entertainment, person, cause, event or organization conducted, sold, offered, operating or having premises upon the same lot.
SIGN, BUSINESS NEW: Any business not previously occupying the current space that requires a certificate of occupancy prior to opening to the public. Change of ownership and construction projects requiring a new occupancy certificate are excluded (i.e., additions, alterations, etc.). New businesses are those which have never been located within the City of McHenry corporate limits or alternatively businesses which have previously been located within the City’s corporate limits but have moved to a different address within the City.
SIGN, CANOPY: A sign, other than an under canopy sign, attached to or constructed in or on a canopy.
SIGN, CHANGING ELECTRONIC MESSAGE: A sign with a message copy or other display that is produced and periodically changed electronically or electrically that is attached to another sign, or to the support structure thereof. The message copy or display shall be limited to public service announcements, time and temperature, and goods or services available on the premises, and shall consist of words, letters, numbers and punctuation only. Illumination shall be of a constant intensity, and shall not blink, flash or give the appearance of movement.
SIGN, CITY SPONSORED EVENT: Signs advertising an event sponsored by the City, such as band concerts, farmers’ market, Park Department programs, and the like.
SIGN CLEARANCE: The distance to grade from the lowest edge of a sign, excluding any pole or support structure attached to the ground.
SIGN, CONSTRUCTION: A nonilluminated sign displayed prior to or during construction and removed thereafter that identifies a building under construction, together with such information as the owner, the manager, the contractor and subcontractors, the architect and engineer, the source of financing, the projected date of completion, the major tenants, and related information.
SIGN, DEVELOPMENT ENTRANCE: A sign identifying the name of a development and/or the names of tenants occupying spaces within a development.
SIGN, DIRECTIONAL: A sign that serves solely to direct pedestrian or vehicular traffic or parking within a premises or to provide related instructions or facility information, but that which contains no advertising other than the name and logo of the business on the premises.
SIGN, DISPLAY BOARD: A sign on which letters are changed manually and that is attached to another sign, to the support structure thereof, or to a wall for the purpose of displaying advertising or other notices.
SIGN, ELECTION/CAMPAIGN: A nonpermanent sign posted on private property to show support of a political candidate or item.
SIGN FACING: The surface of a sign upon, against or through which the message is displayed or illustrated.
SIGN, FEATHER BANNER: A lightweight portable advertising medium, mounted on a pole that resembles a sail and not exceeding twelve feet (12') in height.
SIGN, FLASHING: A sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light source or which includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing light by means of animation or an externally mounted intermittent light source. Changing electronic message signs, as defined herein, are not considered flashing signs.
SIGN, FREESTANDING: A sign supported by one or more poles, uprights, pylons or braces on the ground and not attached to a building. A freestanding sign shall have not more than two (2) sign facings, each of which shall be identical or nearly identical. The angle for any “V” shaped freestanding signs shall not exceed sixty degrees (60°).
SIGN, GARAGE SALE: A temporary sign announcing the sale of used goods on private property.
SIGN, GOVERNMENT AND UTILITY: Informational signs or displays maintained by a government body or public utility, including traffic or parking regulatory devices, legal notices, warnings of hazards, and similar displays.
SIGN, GOVERNMENT MANDATED: Street address numerals and other signs or exterior displays required to be maintained by government order or regulation; provided, that the content and size thereof does not exceed that required by such order or regulation.
SIGN HEIGHT: The vertical distance measured from the curb level, as defined herein, of the closest public street to a sign to the highest point of the sign, including all structural supports and embellishments. Where a sign is equally close to more than one public street, the mean average of the curb levels of each street shall be used to determine sign height.
SIGN, HELP WANTED: A temporary sign offering employment on the premises.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED: A sign illuminated by a source of artificial light having the principal purpose of furnishing illumination for the sign whether or not said source is part of the structure of the sign.
SIGN, IN-LINE TENANT: A sign associated with a principal use located within a shopping center as part of a single commercial group, whether or not located on the same lot on a premises, and connected by party walls, partitions, canopies or other structural members to other principal uses and which shares a common parking area with other in-line tenants within the same shopping center.
SIGN, MEMORIAL: A sign, including, but not limited to, memorials, headstones, tablets, building plaques or other similar type signage, which does not advertise a business or use.
SIGN, MENU BOARD: A sign used to display a selection of goods or services offered at a business establishment for the convenience of drive-up or walk-up customers, such as at a drive-in restaurant.
SIGN, MOVING: A sign that uses movement, by either natural or mechanical means, or change of lighting, either natural or artificial, to depict action to create a special effect of scene; or signs that rotate or have parts that move or rotate, excluding the scrolling of a static message onto or off a sign board in one direction per message, time and temperature and clock hands.
SIGN, MULTI-USER OUTBUILDING: A sign erected on any structure permanently affixed to the land and constructed or used for the shelter, enclosure or protection of persons located within a shopping center, occupied by more than one principal use and either located on a separate lot or located at the outer edge of a shopping center and having its own dedicated parking area separated from and in addition to the parking area dedicated to the in-line shopping center tenants.
SIGN, NAMEPLATE: A nonilluminated sign that states only the names, addresses and trades or professions of one or more businesses or occupants of the lot where the sign is placed.
SIGN, NONCONFORMING: A sign that complied with the provisions of this Code when first installed but is no longer in compliance due to the adoption of subsequent Zoning Code or Municipal Code text amendments.
SIGN, NONPROFIT: Nonprofit organization displays which may include, but is not limited to, the flag, pennant or insignia of any governmental unit or religious, civic, educational or philanthropic organization, and temporary signs, announcing special events or campaigns of such organizations.
SIGN, PROJECTING: A sign attached to the wall of a building having a face that is not parallel to such wall or that extends more than twelve inches (12") from the face of the wall or higher than the highest point of the roof or the top of the parapet, whichever is higher.
SIGN, REAL ESTATE: A nonilluminated sign used to offer for sale, lease or rent the property upon which or within which the sign is placed or to announce an open house or that the property has been sold.
SIGN, ROOF: A sign erected or maintained upon or over a roof with its principal support on the roof structure. A sign that is erected or maintained upon, but projects no more than twelve inches (12") from, the face of that portion of a mansard roof that is vertical or approximately vertical and that does not extend above the highest point on the vertical portion of the roof, shall be considered a wall sign and not a roof sign.
SIGN, SCOREBOARD: A structure designed to display information, including, but not limited to, scores, team names, date and time, or similar sports information which is incorporated into a stadium or athletic field.
SIGN, SEASONAL DECORATIONS: Decorations temporarily displayed in connection with a local festivity approved by the City Council, or a State or national holiday.
SIGN, SINGLE USER OUTBUILDING: A sign on any structure permanently affixed to the land and constructed or used for the shelter, enclosure or protection of persons located within a shopping center, occupied by one principal use and either located on a separate lot or located at the outer edge of a shopping center and having its own dedicated parking area separated from and in addition to the common parking area dedicated to the in-line shopping center tenants.
SIGN, TEMPORARY: Any sign that can be placed on a lot in a nonpermanent, but structurally safe manner, or that is securely attached to a building facade for the purpose of advertising a grand opening, special sale, event, store closing, subdivision or development, and the like, including, but not limited to, banners, portable signs and sandwich boards.
SIGN, UNDER CANOPY: A sign placed under a building canopy indicating the name of the business, service or tenant only.
SIGN, VEHICLE: Signs placed on, affixed to or within parked motor vehicles and/or trailers that are parked on a public right-of-way, public property or private property so as to be conspicuously visible from a public right-of-way where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct persons to a business or activity located on the same property, excluding signs relating to the sale, lease or rental of the vehicle or which identify a firm operated during the normal course of business.
SIGN, VIDEO SCREEN: A sign which produces movement, a movie, a video or some display by electronic means on a screen face, electronic panel or monitor.
SIGN, WALL: A sign erected upon or parallel to an outside building wall which does not extend more than twelve inches (12") from the face of the wall or higher than the highest point of the roof or the top of the parapet, whichever is higher. A wall sign shall have one sign facing.
SIGN, WARNING: A sign posted on private property, including, but not limited to, “no trespassing”, “no dumping” or “no hunting”, which may also warn people of danger on the property.
SIGN, WINDOW, PERMANENT: A sign placed inside a window and designed to be visible from outside a building with the purpose of identifying for a period of thirty (30) days or more the proprietor or name of a business.
SIGN, WINDOW, TEMPORARY: One or more signs placed inside or upon a window and designed to be visible from outside a building with the purpose of attracting attention for a period of less than thirty (30) days.
(1987 Code § 7.50.5)