§ 152.206 SIGN CODE DEFINITIONS.
   Words and phrases not otherwise defined in this code shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of American English. In making interpretations of the meaning of words or phrases, any person or board responsible for interpreting the code may refer to definitions in the applicable fire code, State building code, state statutes, as well as any reports or dictionaries available through the American Planning Association (APA), the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the Institute of Traffic Engineers (ITE), and similar professional organizations related to the term that requires interpretation.
   COMMERCIAL MESSAGE. Any sign wording, logo, or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business, product, service, or other commercial activity. A message intended to direct attention to a political candidate, election issue, political, social, religious, community or public service issued or idea, aim, viewpoint, aspiration, or purpose and not intended to produce any commercial benefit or term to encourage a commercial transaction shall not be deemed a commercial message.
   ERECT. To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix, and includes the painting of wall and/or window signs.
   EVENT. Something that happens or is regarded as happening; an occurrence, especially one of some importance. the outcome, issue, or result of anything: Something that occurs in a certain place during a particular interval of time.
   FAÇADE. The exterior walls of a building or building face exposed to public view; the exterior face of a building which gives it a distinctive character.
      (1)   FAÇADE, FRONT. The façade of a building that contains the primary entrance of the building.
      (2)   FAÇADE, SECONDARY. The secondary facades are all facades that are not determined to be the primary façade.
   FLAG. A flat piece of cloth or similar material, with distinct, patterns or symbols used to represent a country or group, having one end of the cloth attached to a vertical staff (directly or by rope and pulley mechanism) and all other ends free-flowing under natural movement of wind. Flags and flagpoles shall not be located within any right-of-way.
   HEIGHT OF SIGN. The height of a sign which shall be computed as the distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of: existing graded prior to construction; or the new established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating solely for the purpose of locating the sign. In cases in which the normal grade cannot reasonably be determined, sign height shall be computed on the assumption that the elevation of the normal grade at the base of the sign is equal to the elevation of the nearest point of the crown of a public street or the grade of the land at the principal entrance to the principal structure on the zoned lot, whichever is lower.
   MARQUEE. A permanent structure projecting beyond a building wall at an entrance to a building or extending along and projecting beyond the building's wall and generally designed and constructed to provide protection against the weather.
   PARAPET OR PARAPET WALL. A building façade that rises above the roof level, typically obscuring a gable or flat roof as well as any roof mounted equipment.
   RACEWAY. An elongated metal enclosure used to mount individual channel lettering and to conceal related transformers and wiring.
   SIGN. Any object, device, fixture, placard, painted surface, awning, banner, or balloon, display or structure or part thereof using graphics, lights, symbols and/or written copy design, used for the purpose of advertising, informing, identifying, attracting attention to, or promoting the interest of any person, institution, business, event, product, goods or services; provided that the same is visible from a street, way, sidewalk, or parking area. Types of signs:
      (1)   SIGN, ABANDONED. A sign that no longer identifies or advertises a bona fide business, lessor, service, owner, project or activity.
      (2)   SIGN, A-FRAME SIDEWALK. A freestanding sign which is ordinarily in the shape of an "A" or some variation thereof, which is readily moveable, and is not permanently attached to the ground or any structure. See also the definition of SIGN, T-FRAME SIDEWALK.
      (3)   SIGN, AIR-ACTIVATED. A sign, all or any part of, which is designed to be moved by action of forced air so as to make the sign appear to be animated or otherwise have motion.
      (4)   SIGN, ANIMATED OR MOVING. Movement or the appearance of movement of a sign display through the use of patterns of lights, changes in color or light intensity, computerized special effects, video display, or through any other method; except for the scrolling or traveling of a static message or scene onto or off a sign board in one direction per message. Scrolling is the vertical movement of a static message or display on an electronic sign.
      (5)   SIGN, AWNING. A sign painted on, printed on or attached flat against the surface of an awning.
      (6)   SIGN, BALLOON. A sign that is an air inflated object, which may be of various shapes, made of flexible fabric, resting on the ground or a structure, and equipped with a portable blower motor that provides a constant flow of air into the device. Balloon signs are restrained, attached or held in place by a cord, rope, cable, or similar method. See also the definition for AIR-ACTIVATED SIGN.
      (7)   SIGN, BANNER. A temporary sign composed of canvas, plastic, fabric or similar lightweight, non-rigid material that can be attached to a structure with cord, rope, cable, or a similar method. Where a banner sign is supported by stakes or another type of supporting structure for posting in the ground, such sign shall be classified as a temporary YARD SIGN.
      (8)   SIGN, BILLBOARD. A permanent structure which is used for the display of off-site commercial messages, which means not on the same site where the product, business, or services are sold/provided. Billboard is usually leased or rented space with an advertising message.
      (9)   SIGN, BUILDING. Any sign attached to any part of a building including awning, canopy, marquee, projecting, hanging, or wall signs.
      (10)   SIGN, CANOPY A permanent structure made of cloth, metal or other material attached or unattached to a building for the purpose of providing shelter to patrons or automobiles, or as a decorative feature on a building wall. A canopy is not a completely enclosed structure but typically is supported by features other than the building façade (e.g., structural legs, building extensions, etc.). See also definition of SIGN, AWNING.
      (11)   SIGN, CHANGEABLE COPY. A sign designed so that the characters, letter or illustrations can be changed or rearranged manually or electronically without altering the sign display surface. May also be known as reader-boards. See also the definition of ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER.
      (12)   SIGN, COMMERCIAL. A sign that contains a commercial message. See Definition for COMMERCIAL MESSAGE.
      (13)   SIGN, DETERIORATED. A sign showing signs of weathering, rust, corrosion, exposed wiring, chipped paint or faces, cracked, broken, torn, or missing faces, or loose materials, or other evidence of disrepair.
      (14)   SIGN, DIRECTIONAL. A sign directing vehicular or pedestrian movement onto and off the premises upon which such sign is located or within a premise upon which such sign is located.
      (15)   SIGN, DRIVE-THROUGH. Any signage allocated along a drive-through lane that is oriented toward the customer or user in the drive through lane.
      (16)   SIGN, DRIVEWAY. A small permanent sign located near driveway access points and/or at the intersection of internal access drives.
      (17)   SIGN, ELECTRONIC COPY. Any sign, or portion of a sign, that displays an electronic image or video, which may or may not include text, including but not limited to television screens, plasma screens, digital screens, LED screens, video boards, holographic displays and similar media with letters or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged automatically on a lamp bank or through mechanical means (e.g. electronic or digital signs).
      (18)   SIGNS, EXEMPT. Signs exempted from permit requirements and not subject to the provisions of this Zoning Code.
      (19)   SIGN, FLAG. A flat piece of cloth or similar material, with distinct, patterns or symbols used to represent a country or group, having one end of the cloth attached to a vertical staff (directly or by rope and pulley mechanism) and all other ends free-flowing under natural movement of wind. Flags and flagpoles shall not be located within any right-of-way.
      (20)   SIGN, FLASHING. A sign which contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source, used primarily to attract attention, where such intermittent or sequential flashing occurs less than every five minutes.
      (21)   SIGN, FREESTANDING. Any sign supported upon the ground by a monument, pedestal, pole, bracing, or other permanent measure and not attached to any building. See also the definition of SIGN, MONUMENT and SIGN, POLE.
      (22)   SIGN, GOVERNMENT/COMMUNITY SIGN. A sign erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental functions, or required by law, ordinance or other governmental regulation and such signs that are approved by the village as part of an annual holiday event or village activity.
      (23)   SIGN, GROUND. Any permanent or temporary sign six feet in height or less placed upon the ground or attached to a supporting structure not attached to any building.
      (24)   SIGN, HANGING. A sign that is affixed underneath and hanging, or suspended, from a marquee, awning, canopy, or ceiling of a building or structure.
      (25)   SIGN, HUMAN. A sign held by or attached to a human being who stands or walks on the ground at a business or other location. A human sign includes a person dressed in a costume for the purpose of advertising or otherwise drawing attention to an individual, business, commodity, service, activity or product.
      (26)   SIGN, ILLEGAL. Any sign which is contrary to the requirements of the Zoning Code and which does not satisfy the nonconforming specifications stated in the Zoning Code.
      (27)   SIGN, ILLUMINATED. A sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting either by lights on or in the sign or directed toward the sign.
      (28)   SIGN, MARQUEE. A sign attached to and made a part of a marquee or any similar projections from a building, with changeable, fixed or both types of lettering in use.
      (29)   SIGN, MONUMENT. A permanent freestanding sign other than a pole sign, not attached to a building, which is placed upon or supported by the ground independently of any other structure, typically on a monument or pedestal structure.
      (30)   SIGN, NONCONFORMING. Any sign which was erected legally prior to the adoption of this code, but which does not comply with subsequently enacted sign restrictions and regulations or a sign which does not conform to the sign code requirements.
      (31)   SIGN, ON-PREMISES. A sign used to identify, advertise or promote persons, products or services available on the lot on which it is located.
      (32)   SIGN, PENNANTS. Triangular or irregular piece of fabric or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, commonly attached by strings or strands, or supported on small poles, intended to flap in the wind.
      (33)   SIGN, PERMANENT. A sign permitted by this code to be located on the premises for an unlimited period of time and designed to be permanently attached to a structure or the ground that is constructed of rigid, non-flexible materials.
      (34)   SIGN, POLE. A permanent freestanding sign supported by one or more uprights, poles or braces placed in or upon the ground surface and not attached to any building.
      (35)   SIGN, POLITICAL. A sign constructed of plywood, paper products, plastic or canvas and is neither permanently anchored to the ground, nor permanently affixed to a structure, nor mounted on a chassis, and is intended to be displayed for a limited period of time. Also referenced as "yard sign". Campaign signage in Ohio is required to include a disclaimer that states "Paid for by" and includes the name and address of the person or group responsible for the sign (R.C. § 3517.20). If a group, such as a business, political party, or political action committee funds the sign, the disclaimer should include the name of the chairperson or treasurer of the responsible entity. If the sign is not expressly approved by the candidate that it promotes, the sign must also state that it is not authorized by the candidate or his/her committee (R.C. § 3517.105). Ohio law (R.C. § 5516.06) also provides that temporary signage (including political signs) may not be placed within 660 feet of the edge of the right-of-way for state primary highways. Signs may not be displayed in the 100-foot area surrounding a polling location on the day of an election.
      (36)   SIGN, PORTABLE. A sign intended to be movable and not permanently affixed to a building, structure, vehicle, or the ground. Any sign with provisions for attaching devices, such as, wheels for movement or transportation; any sign over six square feet made of materials other than wood, cardboard, canvas, or paper products. This definition shall not include SIGN, A-FRAME SIDEWALK or SIGN, T-FRAME SIDEWALK.
      (37)   SIGN, PROJECTING. A sign that is affixed perpendicular to a building or wall and extends more than 18 inches beyond the face of such building or wall.
      (38)   SIGNS, PYLON. A permanent sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole or support in which the sign exceeds six feet in height.
      (39)   SIGN, TEMPORARY. A sign constructed of plywood, paper products, plastic or canvas and is neither permanently anchored to the ground, nor permanently affixed to a structure, nor mounted on a chassis, and is intended to be displayed for a limited period of time. Also referenced as "yard sign".
      (40)   SIGN, T-FRAME SIDEWALK. A freestanding sign which is ordinarily in the shape of an upside down "T" or some variation thereof, which is readily moveable, and is not permanently attached to the ground or any structure. See also the definition for SIGN, A-FRAME SIDEWALK.
      (41)   SIGN, WALL. A sign attached directly to an exterior wall of a building and which does not extend more than 15 inches from nor above the roof line or beyond the limits of the outside wall, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the building wall. Murals and other painted signs are considered wall signs pursuant to this section as are projecting signs.
      (42)   SIGN, WINDOW. Any sign that is applied to the interior or exterior of a window or door, or a sign located near a window or door within a building, for the purpose of being visible and read from the outside of the building.
      (43)   SIGN, YARD. A sign constructed of plywood, paper products, plastic or canvas and is neither permanently anchored to the ground, nor permanently affixed to a structure, nor mounted on a chassis, and is intended to be displayed for a limited period of time. A yard sign is always considered temporary in nature.
   SIGN AREA. The area of a sign face (which is also the sign area of a wall sign or other sign with only one face) which shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle rectangle, triangle or combination thereof that shall encompass the extreme limits of the writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display or used to differentiate the sign from the backdrop or structure against which it is placed, but not including any supporting framework, bracing or decorative fence or wall when such fence or wall otherwise meets this Zoning Code regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself. For the purpose of this subchapter, a sign is the square foot measurement of one face. If the sign is multi-sided (more than two or solid in nature as in two sides of a building, the allowing square foot area shall be determined by adding all the area of all sides and dividing by two but not to exceed the allowable sign area of that district.
   SIGN COPY. Those letters, numerals, and figures, symbols, logos, and graphic elements comprising the content or message of a sign.
   SIGN FACE. The surface of the sign upon, against or through which the message of the sign is exhibited.
   STATIC/INSTANT MESSAGE CHANGE ON ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTERS. A static or instant message change is when one message changes to another message instantly without scrolling, flashing, or other movement of the message.
(Ord. 2021-02, passed 3-16-21) Penalty, see § 152.999