For the purpose of this Chapter, the following definitions shall apply. Unless specifically defined below or in Chapter 185 (Zoning Code), the words or phrases used in this Chapter shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning they have in common usage and to give this Chapter its most reasonable application.
AGGREGATE. When used in reference to the total allowable sign area, the total available display area of all sides or portions of a sign shall constitute the aggregate sign area.
ALTER. This term shall include, but not be limited to, the addition of sign surface area, the changing or relocation of light source or the relocation of an outdoor advertising display from one position to another. This term shall include any and all structural changes in the sign, but shall not include the changing of copy on a sign, including a sign which is designed as a changeable copy sign.
APERATURE SIZE. See SIGN SURFACE AREA.
BASE. This term shall include, but not be limited to, the bottom support surface of any sign where it meets the ground.
BEACON LIGHT. Any outdoor high intensity light which consists of one or more beams capable of being directed in any direction or directions, capable of being revolved automatically, or capable of having any part thereof revolve automatically, or which flashes.
BUILDING FRONTAGE. The linear length of a building facing a public street right-of-way, exclusive of alleys.
COPY. The letters, colors, text or other graphics displayed upon the sign surface area.
ERECT. Build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix, and shall include the painting of wall signs.
ESTABLISHMENT. An establishment is any commercial, industrial, institutional, educational, office, social, business, or financial entity.
FASCIA. A horizontal construction component that is used to cap the ends of a structural roof truss.
FRAME. The outermost corners or edges of a sign cabinet (see also Sign Cabinet).
GOVERNMENTAL BODY. The city, county, state or government of the United States, and any branch, agency, board or department thereof.
GROUND LEVEL. Ground level shall mean the finished grade at the base of a sign structure.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. The City Department that administers and enforces the Land Development Code and the Florida Building Code.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR. The City officer or other designated authority, or their duly authorized representative, in charge of the Growth Management Department.
HEIGHT. The vertical distance between the uppermost portion of a sign and ground level.
LUMENS. A quantifiable measure of light.
MAINTAIN. Maintain shall include general servicing and upkeep in a safe and operable condition and free from excessive wear and tear.
NOTICE. Written notification given by certified mail delivery or to the last known address of the person to be notified, or by hand delivery to such person and, if such notification related to a violation of this Chapter, the physical posting of written notification on the sign structure or real property on which the sign is located. If certified mail delivery or hand delivery is not possible, then an advertisement in any regularly published newspaper in the City shall suffice.
OWNER. The person owning the fee simple title to the property upon which a sign is located for which a permit is required.
PARAPET. The vertical wall section that extends above a roof.
PERMITTEE. The owner of a sign for which a permit is required.
PERSON. Any individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation or other legal entity.
PLACEMENT. The location that a sign occupies on a lot or building.
PREMISES. A lot or parcel of land or combination of contiguous lots or parcels under single ownership.
PUBLIC or PRIVATE WAY. Any public or private thoroughfare utilized for vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
RELOCATE. Any change in the position of a sign from its original location.
REPLACE. Rebuild, enlarge or change in size, structure or lettering other than repainting, or repair to electrical apparatus.
SIDEWALK. The paved portion of a right-of-way specifically designed for pedestrian traffic.
SIGN.
(1) Any permanent or temporary object, which is visible from a public place, including public roadways, and which is designed to attract attention to the subject matter of its copy or image. Specifically excluded from this definition is works of art, flags or emblems of any nation, state or political subdivision.
(2) SIGNS include the following defined classes of signs:
(a) PERMANENT SIGNS. Signs made of durable material and fixed to a building, supporting structure, or the ground in such a manner as to be immobile without the use of extraordinary means, such as disassembly. The following types of signs shall be permanent signs:
(i) ANIMATED SIGN. Any sign with physical action or motion, or giving the appearance thereof, through the use of illumination wind or other mechanical means. Animated signs shall include flashing or oscillating signs and swinging signs, sky trackers and shall exclude electronic message signs and time or temperature units.
(ii) AWNING SIGN. A roof-like structure extending and supported from the exterior wall of a building and which is composed of non-rigid materials (except for the supporting framework) upon which a sign is indelibly drawn, painted or printed.
(iii) BENCH SIGN. A bench whose primary purpose is collateral with providing transportation service to the public upon which a sign is indelibly drawn, painted or printed.
(iv) BILLBOARD SIGN. Any freestanding sign, which may, without limitation, be a sign having changeable copy sign or an Electronic Message Sign, which identifies or advertises a use, establishment, product, activity or service not sold, produced, manufactured, located, provided or furnished on the parcel on which the sign is located (or which identifies a use, product, activity or service which is only incidentally sold or available on that parcel). Billboard Signs may be illuminated or non-illuminated and include Digital Billboards.
(v) DIRECTORY SIGN. Any sign that states the name and/or occupation of the occupants of a structure or gives the use of the structure, including office building directories, houses of worship directories and apartment house directories.
(vi) ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN. A non-billboard Illuminated Sign emitting an illuminated message, image or design created electronically by any light source, light emitting diodes ("LEDs"), bare electric bulbs, luminous tubes, fiber optics, or any other combination of light sources creating a message. This definition shall include time, temperature and date signs. Each message on the sign must be displayed for a minimum of (8) eight seconds and all static message changes shall be completed within one (1) second. Each display must have a light sensing device that will adjust the brightness, as ambient light conditions change. An Electronic Message Sign which has copy which moves continuously or appears to be moving, flashing, changes color, pulses or alternates shall be considered an Activated Sign.
(vii) MARQUEE SIGN. Any sign which is attached to, or hung from, a permanent, roof-like structure which is supported by a building wall and which projects out from the building line usually, but not necessarily, over a public right-of-way such as a sidewalk.
(viii) MONUMENT SIGN. Any on-premises, freestanding sign supported by structures or supports in or upon the ground and independent of support of any building(s) and which has a maximum height of ten (10) feet. A monument sign may be a directly illuminated sign, electronic message sign, or indirectly illuminated sign.
(ix) POLE SIGN. A freestanding sign supported by one (1) or more poles in or upon the ground.
(x) PYLON SIGN. Any sign, other than a portable sign, which is supported by structures or supports in or upon the ground and independent of support from any building and having eight (8) feet or more ground clearance when measured from the grade at the base of the sign to the bottom of the sign face. The structural elements of a pylon sign shall not exceed one and one-half (1½) feet in diameter.
(xi) ROOF SIGN. Any sign that is erected, constructed or maintained on the roof of a building or structure above the eaves, or above mansards, parapets, or other similar architectural features of buildings or structures which are capable of supporting signs.
(xii) TRANSIT SHELTER SIGN. Any sign that is attached to a shelter on or abutting a public right of way, which shelter is intended for use in connection with public transportation.
(xiii) WALL SIGN. A sign which is attached to or erected against the wall of a building with its face in a parallel plane to the plane of the building façade or wall. This definition shall include the painting of a sign on a wall surface. For a building façade with multiple heights or roof lines, the wall sign shall not project more than five (5) feet above the parapet of a roof line that is more than 50% of the length of the building façade. Any wall sign contrary to this requirement shall be considered a roof sign.
(xiv) WAYFINDING SIGN. A sign that provides information regarding the location of nearby establishments in Commercial or Industrial Zone property that do not have frontage on an Arterial or Major Collector street. Wayfinding signs must be located on private property with written permission of the property owner and may not be erected in any public right-of-way. More than one entity may co-locate on a Wayfinding sign. The property for an establishment using a Wayfinding sign shall be located within 2,640 feet (1/2 mile) of said sign.
(b) TEMPORARY SIGN. Any sign that is not a permanent sign.
(i) Temporary signs shall only be installed or placed with the express consent of the occupant or owner of the premises.
(ii) Temporary signs may only be placed on privately owned property.
(iii) Temporary signs shall follow the guidelines as outlined per each zoning district in the appendixes below.
(iv) The following types of signs shall be temporary signs:
a. A-FRAME SIGN. A sign consisting of two (2) sign faces connected at the top with either hinges or fixed fastening devices.
b. BANNER SIGN. Any sign intended to be hung either with or without frames, possessing characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentations applied to paper, plastic or fabric of any kind, and shall include flags, and streamers.
c. CONSTRUCTION SIGN. Any temporary sign erected between the time of issuance of a building permit and the issuance of a certificate of occupancy and located on the premises where construction is taking place, indicating the description of the project, the names and telephone numbers of the architects, engineers, landscape architects, contractors, or similar artisans, and the owners, financial supporters, sponsors and similar persons having a role or interest in the structure or project.
d. FEATHER SIGNS. A sign supported by a single monopole with an affixed, cloth-like material that moves and flexes with the wind.
e. FREESTANDING FRAME SIGN. Any self-supporting two-sided sign with a total sign area of no more than sixty-four (64) square feet and which has a maximum height not exceeding eight (8) feet.
f. FUTURE IMPROVEMENT SIGN. Any sign which describes proposed development to take place on the premises.
g. HUMAN SIGN HOLDER. Any sign that is supported, in whole or in part by a person.
h. INFLATED SIGN. A sign constructed from nonporous material, which is inflated with air or any lighter-than-air gas. Included in this definition are inflated signs which represent the form of a person, place or thing. Aircraft which may meet this definition are not considered inflated signs.
i. PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign not permanently erected on a premises and which may be moved readily from place to place; except that this definition shall not apply to Vehicle Signs or signs displayed through, but not on, windows.
j. REAL ESTATE SIGN. Any sign used solely for the purpose of offering the sale or lease of the premises and/or building on which the sign is located.
k. VEHICLE SIGN. Any sign erected upon a vehicle wherein the principle purpose of the vehicle is not general transportation, but merely the support of the sign itself. Signs mounted upon taxis, buses, or other modes of general public transportation when in the course of their normal service are excluded from this definition.
l. WINDOW SIGN. A window sign is one that lets light or air through to the habitable part of the building and which is painted on, attached to, or visible through a window. A window sign does not include the display of merchandise.
(c) ABANDONED SIGN. Any:
(i) sign which through age and/or obsolescence no longer conforms to the structural or maintenance specifications of this chapter; or
(ii) pole, pylon or structure expressly installed for the purpose of affixing a sign which bears no sign or copy for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months; or
(iii) sign which displays information which incorrectly identifies the business, owner, lessor, or principal activity conducted on the site; or
(d) ACTIVATED SIGN. Any sign which:
(i) contains or uses for illumination any light, lighting device or lights which change color, flash or alternate, or change appearance of said sign or any part thereof automatically, except electronic message signs;
(ii) contains moving parts as part of its normal operation;
(iii) depicts or contains copy which moves or appears to be moving.
(e) DIGITAL BILLBOARD. Any Billboard Sign utilizing digital message technology, capable of changing the static message or copy on the sign electronically. A Digital Billboard may be internally or externally illuminated. A Digital Billboard shall contain static messages only, and shall not have animation, movement, or the appearance or optical illusion of movement, of any part of the sign structure. Each static message shall not include flashing or the varying of light intensity. Digital Billboards shall be operated in accordance with Fla. Admin Code Rule 14-10.004(3). Digital billboards shall not be considered as Animated, Activated or Flashing type lighting.
(f) FLASHING SIGN. Any sign on which all or any portion of the electrical lighting device(s) on such signs go on and off at alternate intervals. Any revolving Illuminated Sign shall be considered a Flashing Sign for purposes of this chapter. Digital billboards shall not be considered Flashing Signs for purposes of this chapter.
(g) GOVERNMENT SIGN. Any sign erected by or at the direction of a public official in the performance of such official's office or duty.
(h) ILLEGAL SIGN. An unpermitted sign which was not lawfully erected or a permitted sign not constructed in accordance with the representations set forth in the permit documents or a sign constructed in violation of city codes.
(i) ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign using an artificial light source.
(j) INTERIOR SIGN. A sign which is located in the interior of a structure or which is located outside a structure but, because of the sign's placement, design or orientations is not visible to persons from a location other than the parcel on which the sign is located. Interior signs are not regulated by this Chapter.
(k) REVOLVING SIGN. Any sign so erected or constructed as to periodically or continuously change the direction toward which any plane containing the display surface area is oriented.
(l) SNIPE SIGN. Any sign made of nondurable material and which is attached in any way to a utility, tree, fence post or any other similar object, or inserted with one or more stakes into the ground.
(m) SUBDIVISION SIGN. Any permanent sign located at the entry of a subdivision or neighborhood, mobile home park, townhouse, or other planned residential development.
SIGN CABINET. The self-supporting structural or non-structural frame that contains the sign face.
SIGN FACE. The part of the sign that is or can be used to identify, display, advertise, communicate information, or for visual representation which attracts or intends to attract the attention of the public for any purpose.
SIGN NUMBER. For the purpose of determining the number of signs, a sign shall be construed to be a single display surface or device containing elements organized, related, and composed to form a single unit. In cases where material is displayed in a random or unconnected manner, or where there is reasonable doubt as to the intended relationship of such components, each component or element shall be considered to be a single sign. A sign with sign surface on multiple sides of such sign shall be construed as a single sign, and the total area of such sign shall be the area computed on a single side of the sign.
SIGN STRUCTURE. Any structure which is designed specifically for the purpose of supporting a sign, has supported or is capable of supporting a sign. This definition shall include any decorative covers, braces, wires, supports or components attached to or placed around the sign structure.
SIGN SURFACE AREA. The total area of each sign face which may be used to display copy, including background, but not including the frame and structural supporting elements. The sign surface area shall be computed for the entire area within the periphery of a geometric form, or combination of geometric forms. The surface area of the sign shall be measured from the outside edges of the sign or the sign frame, whichever is greater. The sign area shall include the total of a single side of a sign surface upon which copy could be placed. Where a sign is composed of individual letters, characters or symbols applied directly to a building, canopy, marquee, mansard, fascia, façade, parapet, awning, the area of the sign shall be the smallest geometric shape which will enclose all of the letters, characters or symbols. The area of a multi-faced sign shall be the total area of each sign face.
SIGN UNIT. Any display and/or display device containing elements organized, related and/or composed to form a single unit. Where the display of any elements is in a random manner without any organized relationship of elements, each element shall be considered a separate sign. A double-faced sign shall be considered a single sign.
STREET FRONTAGE. The length of the property line for a single parcel which runs parallel to and along each public right-of-way (exclusive of alleys) it borders.
WALL. The surface of the exterior of a principal building exposed to the public view within a single plane, inclusive of windows and/or doors.
ZONING DISTRICT. The various zoning districts as established and described in the zoning regulations set forth in Chapter 185 of this code of ordinances.
(Ord. 2017-39, passed 6-15-2017; Am. Ord. 2019-68, passed 1-2-20; Am. Ord. 2020-20, passed 3-19-20; Am. Ord. 2021-26, passed 5-20-21)