For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. Any permitted sign or sign structure that was erected on a premises in conjunction with a particular use that has been discontinued for a period of 30 days or more, or any permitted temporary sign for which the permit has expired.
A-FRAME SIGN. A portable sign capable of standing without support or attachment. Also known as a SANDWICH BOARD.
AWNING. Any structure made of flexible fabric or similar material covering a metal frame attached to a building, whether or not the same is so erected as to permit its being raised to a position flat against the building when not in use.
BANNER (Also PENNANT and FLAG). Any animated, rotating, fluttering or non-stationary device made of flexible materials designed to attract attention.
CANOPY. Any structure, other than an awning, made of flexible or inflexible material, supported by the ground or sidewalk, and/or partially supported by the building.
CHANNEL LETTERS. A sign composed of individual letters, either internally or externally illuminated, applied to a building, wall, or sign structure. Channel letters may have a plastic or glass face.
DIRECTORY SIGN. Signage allowed within a development project that identifies multiple tenants and/or their locations within the development. This is not to be confused with directional signs, which merely indicate directional information such as "enter", "exit", "parking", and the like.
FREE-STANDING SIGN. Any sign supported by a sign structure secured in the ground, wholly independent of any other support.
FRONTAGE. The linear distance of the primary building facade, as determined by Zoning Administrator or designee, parallel to the street right- of-way.
GRAPHICS. Any drawing, symbol, picture, motif or logo displayed on a sign face.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign directly or indirectly lighted by an artificial light source.
INFLATABLE SIGN. Any sign that is either expanded to its full dimensions or supported by gases contained within the sign, or sign parts, at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. Untethered airships are not considered to be inflatable signs.
INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign that has light transmitted outward through its face or any part thereof.
INTERPRETIVE SIGN. A sign that refers to all the ways in which information is communicated to visitors to an educational, natural, or recreational site, such as a museum, park, or science center, about the nature, origin, and purpose of historical, natural, or cultural resources, objects, sites, and phenomena.
MARQUEE SIGN. A roof-like structure or panel attached to a building, and bearing a sign board or sign area designed for changeable copy.
MASTER SIGN PROGRAM. A coordinated sign plan that includes details of all signs (not including exempt or temporary signs) that are, or will be, placed on a site, including master identification, individual businesses and directory signs within a shopping center, retail center, or office park as defined herein.
NONCONFORMING SIGN. A sign lawfully erected and legally existing on the effective date of this chapter, or of amendments thereto, but which does not conform to the provisions of this chapter.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN. Any sign located, or proposed to be located, at any place other than within the same platted parcel of land on which the specific business or activity being identified on such sign is itself located or conducted. A noncommercial speech sign shall not be considered an off-premises sign, but if located on commercially zoned property or commercial uses in planned development districts, it must adhere to all other regulatory requirements for commercial signage such as size, number, height, area, setbacks, and the like. Nothing contained in this definition shall be construed to apply to noncommercial messages or information placed on any sign.
ON-PREMISES SIGN. A sign that advertises activities, goods, products and the like that are available within the building or on the lot where the sign is located.
ON-SITE ADVISORY SIGNS. A sign that provides services, direction or courtesy information intended to assist the public, and is not displayed for the general purpose of advertising products or services. Information signs shall include the location of business facilities (e.g., store entrances, walk-up windows and self-service operations) and courtesy information (e.g., hours of operation, handicapped accessibility, restrooms). On-site advisory signs shall not include fuel price signs, nor shall they be part of any sign whose primary function is business identification.
PERMITTED SIGN. Any sign for which the town has issued a permit.
POLITICAL SIGN. Any sign erected for the purpose of advertising a candidate for public office, or stating a position on a public issue on which an election or referendum is pending with respect to a particular campaign.
PORTABLE SIGN. A sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels, A-frames and balloons. Banners are not considered portable signs.
PREMISES. A plat of record that is affected, either directly or indirectly, by the contents of this subchapter.
PRIMARY BUILDING FACADE. That facade most clearly articulated as the visual or focal point of the building, usually associated with the main entrance. The Zoning Administrator or designee will make this determination for buildings with corner entrances or with more than one facade facing the street.
PROJECT SIGN. Any sign erected and maintained on the premises temporarily during construction and displaying information, such as the name of the architect, contractor, developer, finance organization, subcontractor or materials vendor upon which property such individual is furnishing labor, services, or material.
PROJECTING SIGN. Any sign attached to, and projecting more than 18 inches from, the face of a building.
PUBLIC WAY. Any street, highway, road, pathway, beach, or waterway, whether privately or publicly owned, that is designed or used for outdoor vehicular, watercraft, or pedestrian traffic, either by public right or custom, or by invitation of one or more owners.
READERBOARD SIGN. A sign on which copy is changed manually in the field, including but not limited to, theater marquee signs, business directories, church signs, and gas pricing signs.
READERBOARD SIGN; ELECTRONIC. A sign with copy that is displayed through the use of electric lights, illumination, or other electronic format, and that may be changed at will for the purpose of advertisement or announcement.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. Any temporary sign pertaining to the sale, exchange, lease or rental of buildings or real property, or other form of exchange.
ROOF SIGN. Any sign erected over or on the roof of a building.
SETBACKS. All setbacks are measured from the foremost plane of a sign or sign structure.
SIGN. Any object or thing, specifically including humans or animals attired and/or acting in a manner to attract attention to a place or product containing an advertising message, announcement, declaration, color scheme, insignia, surface or space erected or maintained in view of the public thereof with the purpose of commercial identification, advertisement or promotion of the commercial person, business entity, product or service shall be considered a SIGN and subject to all standards governing the same; provided, however, that to the contrary heretofore notwithstanding, POLITICAL SIGNS as defined by § 156.151 shall be considered a SIGN, subject to the provisions for the same contained within the SIGN division of this chapter, and further provided that signature design elements that have been approved pursuant to § 156.310(E)(1)(l) or (E)(1)(m) of this chapter shall be considered a SIGN for the purposes of calculating the number of allowed signs, or the dimensional requirements thereof, contained in this subchapter.
SIGN AREA. The area contained within a single continuous rectangular perimeter enclosing all parts of such sign, but excluding any structural elements outside the limits of the sign that are required for its support and provided further that signs cannot be cut in sections, nor are originally manufactured or configured in sections or other manner to effectively portray an image or message that would otherwise exceed a stated sign area size limitation if depicted on an individual sign face.
SIGN FACE. The part of the sign that is or can be used for the display of any copy or graphics, including any background material, panel, trim, color, or illumination that differentiates the sign from a facade or sign structure.
SIGN STRUCTURE. Any supporting structure erected, used or intended for the displaying any sign, with or without a sign thereon.
SPECIAL EVENT SIGN. Any sign erected to announce a special event or function that is of general interest to the community, and for which a special event permit has been issued.
TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION. Any organization that has been granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service, and that has a local membership that raises funds to be used to support the organization and its activities.
TEMPORARY SIGN. Any sign intended to be erected or displayed for a limited period of time, and/or is not permanently attached, affixed or anchored in the ground or building.
TRAFFIC DIRECTIONAL/SAFETY SIGN. Any sign that is designed, sized and erected solely for the purpose of vehicular or pedestrian traffic direction or safety, and without any commercial copy or graphics.
VEHICLE SIGN. Any permanent or temporary sign, affixed to, painted or represented on, or placed in or upon any vehicle.
WALL SIGN. A sign attached directly to an exterior wall of a building or dependent upon a building for support, with the exposed face of the sign located in a place substantially parallel to such exterior building wall to which the sign is attached.
WINDOW SIGN. Any sign on a building, either exterior or interior, within two feet of the window, intended to be viewed from the exterior of such building. On-site advisory signs are not considered window signs.
(Ord. 97064, passed 12-9-97; Am. Ord. 02024, passed 6-11-02; Am. Ord. 10043, passed 9-14-10; Am. Ord. 11006, passed 2-8-11; Am Ord. 13076, passed 2-12-14; Am. Ord. 14047, passed 8-12-14; Am. Ord. 16039, passed 6-15-16; Ord. 17004, passed 3-16-17; Am. Ord. 20049, passed 9-11-20)