For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. A sign or sign structure where:
(1) A sign is no longer in use. Discontinuance of sign use may be shown by cessation of use of the premises where the sign is located; and/or
(2) A sign has been damaged, in excess of 50% of the value of the sign, and repairs and restoration are not started within 90 days of the date the sign was damaged, or are not diligently pursued, once started.
AWNING. A shelter projecting from and supported by the exterior wall of a building constructed of rigid or non-rigid materials on a supporting framework.
AWNING SIGN. A sign affixed or applied to the exterior facing surface or surfaces of an awning or a sign hanging from the supports of an awning; provided that, the clearance below the sign shall be at least eight feet.
BUILDING FRONTAGE, PRIMARY. The portion of a building face most closely in alignment with an adjacent right-of-way. A gasoline service station may use the overhanging canopy as a substitute for building frontage when computing the allowable sign area. The longest side of the canopy shall be used to compute the allowable sign area.
BUILDING WALL, SIDE. The wall of a building most nearly perpendicular with a street abutting the buildings lot regardless of whether such is functionally the front, rear, end or side of the building.
CANOPY. A permanent roof-like structure projecting from a building and open on at least one side for the purpose of shielding a pedestrian walkway from the elements, or a free-standing roof-like structure supported by columns intended to shield a vehicular driveway or service area from the elements.
CANOPY SIGN. A sign, affixed or applied to, a canopy or eve, at any angle relative to the adjacent wall, the lowest portion of which is at least eight feet above the underlying grade.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN. A sign whose informational content can be changed or altered by manual, electric, electro-mechanical, electronic or optical means.
COLUMN SIGN. A sign supported by two columns with a minimum width of eight inches or a single column with a minimum width of 12 inches.
COPY. The graphic content of a sign surface in either permanent or removable letter, pictographic, symbolic or alphabetic form.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN. A permanent sign providing information in both a horizontal and vertical format, as opposed to linear, sign copy, on which copy is created through use of a pattern of lights in a dot matrix configuration, which may be changed intermittently. Video signs are not included in this definition. ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGNS permitted under this subchapter shall comply with the following standards.
(1) The rate of change for sign copy from one message to another message shall be no more frequent than every eight seconds and the actual copy change shall be accomplished in four seconds or less. Once changed, the copy shall remain static until the next change.
(2) Displays may travel horizontally or scroll vertically onto electronic message signs, but must hold in a static position after completing the travel or scroll.
(3) Electronic message signs requiring more than four seconds to change from one copy to another shall be turned off during the change interval.
(4) Sign copy shall not appear to flash, undulate or pulse, or portray explosions, fireworks, flashes of lights or blinking of chasing lights. Copy shall not appear to move toward or away from the viewer, expand or contract, bounce, rotate, spin, twist or otherwise portray graphics or animation as it moves onto, is displayed on or leaves the sign face.
(5) No electronic message sign lamp may be illuminated to a degree of brightness that is greater than necessary for adequate visibility, in no case may the brightness exceed 8,000 nits or equivalent candelas during daylight hours, or 1,000 nits or equivalent candelas between dusk and dawn. Signs found to be too bright shall be adjusted or removed as directed by the City Manager.
FRONT WALL. The wall of a structure most parallel to the frontage of the property.
FRONTAGE. The length of the property lines of any one premises along public right-of-way on which it borders.
GRADE. The average level of the ground measured five feet from either end of the base of the sign, parallel to the sign face. For signs mounted on buildings, the GRADE is the average level of the sidewalk, alley or ground below the mounted sign measured five feet from either end of the sign face.
HEIGHT. The height of a sign is the vertical distance measured from the highest point of the sign to the grade of the adjacent street or the surface grade beneath the sign, whichever is greater.
MONUMENT SIGN. A sign that has an engineered footing and a solid supporting base that is generally made of stone, masonry or concrete.
MURAL. Any piece of hand-produced artwork painted, tiled, attached or applied directly on an exterior wail, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A distinguishing characteristic of MURAL PAINTING is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture. The following are not considered MURALS:
(1) Mechanically produced or computer generated prints or images, including, but not limited to, digitally printed vinyl;
(2) Murals containing electrical or mechanical components; or
(3) Changing image murals.
NAME PLATE. A non-electric on-premises identification sign giving only the name, address and or occupation of an occupant or group of occupants.
NON-CONFORMING SIGN. A sign which was erected legally, but which does not comply with subsequently enacted sign restrictions and regulations.
PAN CHANEL SIGN. A sign not contained in a sign box, but rather the lettering and sign logos act as their own sign cabinet.
POLE SIGN. A sign that is a free-standing sign connected to the ground by one or more supports with the lower edge of the sign separated vertically from the ground by a distance of nine feet or greater as measured from grade.
PORTABLE SIGN. A sign that is at all times movable by hand. A PORTABLE SIGN includes, but is not limited to: sandwich boards; yard signs; A-frame signs; and flag signs.
PROJECTING SIGN. A sign that is wholly or partly dependent upon a building for support and which projects more than 12 inches from such building. Maximum projection shall be three feet and maximum thickness shall be one foot. A PROJECTING SIGN shall not project above a roof line.
ROOF LINE. Either the eaves of the roof or the top of the parapet, at the exterior wall. (A mansard roof is below the top of a parapet and is considered a wall for sign purposes.)
ROOF SIGN. Any sign erected over or on the roof line of a building.
SIGN. Any writing, including letter, word or numeral; pictorial presentation, emblem, including device, symbol or trademark; flag, including banner or pennant; or any other device, figure or similar thing which is a structure or any part thereof, or is attached to, painted on or in any other manner represented on a building or structure or device; and is used to announce, direct attention to or advertise; and is visible from any public right-of-way.
SIGN AREA. The entire area made available by the sign structure for the purpose of displaying the message. For painted signs, only that portion of the door, wall or structure actually devoted to the message and associated symbols and background, if any, is included in the area. The SIGN AREA as defined, shall be used in determining the allowable square footage of signs. For double faced signs, only one side of the sign shall be counted in the total maximum area. The address of the site on which the sign sits does not count toward the SIGN AREA.
SNIPE SIGN. A small sign of any material, including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard, wood or metal, attached to any object and having no application to the premises where located (such as, garage sale signs).
TEMPORARY SIGN. A sign not permanently affixed to a structure on a property. These signs primarily include, but are not limited to, canvas, cloth, rigid plastic or paper, vinyl banners or posters hung on a building wall or on a permanent pole such as on a free-standing sign support. Paper signs may only be used for single day events. TEMPORARY SIGNS are regulated under § 155.412 of this chapter. TEMPORARY SIGNS do not include sandwich boards and flags, which are regulated as portable signs.
UNLAWFUL SIGN. A sign that was constructed without the necessary permits or approvals of the city.
WALL SIGN. A sign attached essentially parallel to and extending not more than eight inches from the wall of a building with no copy on the sides or edges. This definition includes signs painted directly on the wall of a building, but exempts murals.
WAYFINDING SIGN.
(1) A sign that is generally within the right-of-way and not on private property that is erected with permission of (and generally by) the jurisdiction with authority over the right-of-way.
(2) WAYFINDING encompasses all of the ways in which people orient themselves in physical space and navigate from place to place.
WINDOW SIGN. A sign installed on the exterior or on or near the interior of a window for the purpose of viewing from outside the premises.
(Prior Code, § 16.080.000) (Ord. 445, passed 5-15-2017; Ord. 450, passed 12-18-2017; Ord. 465, passed 10-21-2019)