(a) Sign Code Definitions.
(1) “Abandoned sign.” A sign and/or sign structure which no longer correctly pertains to an activity or product available on the premises where such sign is displayed.
(2) “Architectural detail.” An integral part or element of a building.
(3) “Co-op sign.” A sign which advertises a brand of product or products, in addition to the identification of the premises.
(4) “Incidental signs.” Signs which are subordinate in size to the principal identification signs on the premises, such as price signs, merchandise identification signs, etc.
(b) Sign Definitions. A name, identification, description, display, or illustration which is affixed to or painted upon or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure or piece of land; or affixed to the glass on the outside or inside of a window so as to be seen from the outside of a building and which directs attention to an object, product, place, activity, person institution, organization, or business. The following are types of signs and definitions of related terms:
(1) “Advertising.” A sign which directs attention to a business, product, activity, or service which is not conducted, sold, or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
(2) “Animated.” Any sign which, by method or manner of illumination, flashes on and off, winks, or blinks varying light intensity, shows motion, or creates the illusion of motion, or revolves in a manner to create the illusion of moving.
(3) “Area.” The entire area within a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem, or any figure of similar character with any frame or other material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate such sign from the background against which it is placed. The necessary supports or uprights on which such sign is placed, not being advertising matter, shall not be included in the computation of surface area.
(4) “Awning”, “canopy” or “marquee.” A sign that is mounted on or painted on or attached to an awning, canopy, or marquee.
(5) “Banner.” A sign made of fabric, plastic, paper, or other non-rigid material with no enclosing framework. Such signs are classified as temporary signs and regulated as such.
(6) “Bulletin board.” A structure containing a surface upon which is displayed the name of a religious institution, school or library, auditorium, stadium, athletic field, or area of similar use for the announcement of services or activities to be held therein.
(7) “Business.” A sign which directs attention to a business, profession, service, product, or activity sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
(8) “Changeable copy sign.” A sign, or portion thereof, which is designed to periodically accommodate message or price changes. “Changeable copy signs” include the following:
A. Electronically controlled signs.
B. Manually controlled signs for business purposes.
C. Manually controlled bulletin board signs which are located on the property of a public, institutional, religious, or charitable organization which are used to identify the name of the institution or organization and to announce its activities.
(9) “Construction.” A sign advertising the development or improvement or a property by a builder, contractor, or other person furnishing services, material, or labor to said premises, which sign is intended for a limited period of display and erected on the same lot as the work being done.
(10) “Directional.” A sign directing vehicular or pedestrian movement onto or within a premise with no identification or advertising on the sign.
(11) “Domestic advertising.” A sign advertising the sale of household goods previously used by an individual or his or her family, when such sign is located at the place of residence of the individual or family.
(12) “Electronic message board.” Any sign that uses changing lights to form a sign message or messages wherein the sequence of messages and the rate of change is electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic processes. Such signs shall not fall under the category of animated signs.
(13) “Flashing.” Any illuminated sign on which the artificial light or any part thereof has conspicuous or intermittent variation in intensity or color.
(14) “Free-standing.” A sign which is supported by one or more uprights, poles, or braces, in or upon the ground.
(15) “Governmental.” A sign erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental functions, or required by law, resolution, or other governmental regulation.
(16) “Ground.” A free-standing sign supported by one or more uprights or pylons located in or upon the ground, or something requiring location on the ground, including "billboards" or "poster panels".
(17) “Height.” The vertical distance from the uppermost point used in measuring the area of the sign to the crown of the road on which the property fronts.
(18) “Holiday decoration.” Temporary signs, in the nature of decorations, clearly incidental to and customarily and commonly associated with any national, local, or religious holiday.
(19) “Identification.” A sign which is limited to the name, address, and number of a building, institution or persons, and to the activity carried on in the building or institution, or the occupancy of the person.
(20) “Illumination.” Any sign illuminated by electricity, gas, or other artificial light including reflecting or phosphorescent light.
A. Indirect illumination - A light source not seen directly.
B. Internal illumination - A light source concealed or contained within the sign, and which becomes visible in darkness through a translucent surface.
(21) “Interior” or “exterior.” “Interior” signs are located within a structure and are not intended to be seen from the exterior. Signs affixed to a window or the walls enclosing the display area behind a window, which are obviously intended for viewing from the exterior, shall be considered “exterior” signs.
(22) “Memorial.” A sign, tablet or plaque memorializing a person, event, structure, or site.
(23) “Monument.” A sign whose base is mounted directly on the ground, using no other form of support and six feet or less in height, unless otherwise specified. Such signs shall be a monolithic structure with no open separation between the message area and the ground, whose structure complements the architectural theme or character of the building on the premises to which the sign relates in terms of design and building materials.
(24) “Name plate.” A sign designating only the name and address or the name and professional occupation and address of a person or persons residing in or occupying space in such building or premises.
(25) “On-premises.” Any sign related to a business or profession conducted, or a commodity or service sold or offered, upon the premises where such sign is located.
(26) “On-site informational.” A sign commonly associated with, and not limited to, information and directions necessary or convenient for visitors coming on the property, including signs marking entrances and exits, parking areas, circulation directions, restrooms, and pick-up and delivery areas.
(27) “Painted bulletin.” An advertising structure on which advertising design is painted or painted and posted, and which may incorporate the use of cutouts and/or other embellishments.
(28) “Pole.” A sign that is mounted on a free-standing pole or other support so that the bottom edge of the sign is six feet or more above grade.
(29) “Political.” A sign which promotes, identifies, announces, opposes, or otherwise offers for public consideration any political candidate or issue, partisan or non-partisan.
(30) “Portable.” A sign that is attached to wheels, skids, or other forms of mounting which is not permanently affixed in or to the ground.
A. “Folding portable sign.” Any sign supported by an “A-frame” or “T- frame” base which is designed to be easily movable and is intended for advertising prices and/or incidental goods or services.
B. “Trailer sign.” Any 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, pushed, or pulled by a motor vehicle.
(31) “Poster panel.” An advertising structure measuring not more than 12 feet by 25 feet overall, on which posters are displayed.
(32) “Projecting.” A sign affixed to any building or part thereof, or structure, extending beyond the building wall or parts thereof, or structure, by more than 12 inches. A “projecting sign” shall not include a ground sign as herein defined.
(33) “Promotion.” A temporary sign, the function of which is to announce a special event.
(34) “Real estate.” A sign advertising for sale, lease, or rent the parcel or real estate on which the sign is located. Also, temporary directional signs less than four square feet in message area displayed during the hours in which an "open house" showing of real property for sale, lease, or rent is actually being conducted shall be considered “real estate signs”, even though they may not be located on the parcel of real estate being advertised. "Sold" signs shall be considered commercial advertising signs.
(35) “Roof-mounted.” Any sign which is erected over the roof or parapet above the roofline and/or receives any or all its support from the roof structure.
(36) “Special event.” Signs, banners, flags, pennants, “A-frame” structures, portable wheeled ground signs, and similar advertising devices temporarily erected to provide notice of the following:
A. The initial opening of a new business, new occupancy, new proprietor or management.
B. Events of community-wide interest when sponsored by organizations qualified as a charitable entity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
C. Other special events as determined by the Zoning Administrator to be of a significant nature in the interest of the general community, as per above examples, as opposed to sale events or general advertising.
(37) “Structure.” The supports, uprights, bracing, or framework for signs.
(38) “Subdivision.” A sign advertising the sale or development of subdivision lots, parcels, or tracts and erected upon the property being subdivided and advertised for sale.
(39) “Temporary.” A banner, pennant, poster display or illustration which is affixed to, or painted upon, or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure, or piece of land, and which directs attention to an object, product, place, person, institution, organization, or business and is constructed of cloth, plastic sheet, cardboard, or other like materials and which is intended to be displayed for a period of time no longer than 30 days.
(40) “Wall.” Any sign painted on, attached to, or erected against the wall of a building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the plane of said wall and extending not more than 15 inches from the face of the wall.
(41) “Warning.” Any sign indicating danger or a situation which is potentially dangerous.
(42) “Window, permanent.” Any sign visible from the exterior of a building or structure which is painted, attached, glued or otherwise affixed to a window, or depicted upon a card, paper, or other material and placed on, taped on, or hung immediately behind the window, or displayed from a window for the specific purpose of identifying the proprietor or name of business to passersby.
(43) “Window, temporary.” Any sign visible from the exterior of a building or structure which is painted on a window, depicted upon a card, paper, or other material or placed on, taped on, or hung immediately behind the window, or displayed from a window for the specific purpose of attracting attention of passersby to a sale, or to promotional items, or other products, or services.
(Ord. 06-29. Passed 5-1-06.)