For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. A sign which no longer (a) correctly directs or exhorts any person, (b) advertises a bona fide business, service provided, lessor, owner, project, activity conducted, or product available on the premises where the sign is displayed. (A temporary closing of a business, not to exceed 90 days, shall not be considered an abandoned sign.)
AIRBORNE SIGN. A sign on a balloon, flag, pennant, or inflatable sign.
ALTERED. A change of copy, logo, or other means in which the message is changed or enlarged, changing shape or location.
ANIMATED SIGN. Any sign, which includes action or motion.
AVERAGE GRADE. The grade of the finished ground level at the midpoint of each exterior surface of a sign, or a structure, in the event that the sign is attached to the structure. The height of a sign 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 grade prior to construction or the newly 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 of the zone lot, whichever is lower.
BANNER. A temporary sign made of fabric, plastic, paper, or other light, pliable, or non-rigid material, not enclosed in a rigid frame (not including a “fabric sign” as defined herein).
BILLBOARD. Any sign that is freestanding or attached to or part of a building and is an off-premise sign.
BUILDING FACE or WALL. All window and wall area of a building in one plane or elevation.
CANOPY. Any structure attached to a building at the inner end or a freestanding structure, with one or more supports, meant to provide shelter from the weather.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN (AUTOMATIC). A sign such as an electronically or electrically controlled public service time, temperature and date sign, message center, or reader board where different copy changes are shown on the same lamp bank.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN (MANUAL). A sign on which copy is changed manually in the field, i.e., reader boards with changeable letters or changeable pictorial panels.
CHARITABLE PROJECT OR BENEFIT. Proceeds must be for a qualified 501C entity pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.
COMMERCIAL SIGN. A sign other than a real estate “For Sale” or “For Lease” sign, “Open House” sign, political sign, residential nameplate sign, public information sign, traffic control sign, temporary new business opening sign, or exempted sign, which directs the attention of the general public to a business, product, service, or other commercial or business activity.
CONFORMING SIGN. Signs built and maintained in accordance with the terms of this chapter.
CONTRACTOR'S SIGN. A sign intended to identify a contractor or subcontractor on the site of a construction project where the contractor or subcontractor is conducting work.
COPY. The wording or graphics on a sign surface.
ERECT. To build, construct, alter, reconstruct, pour, lay, move upon, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix, and also includes the painting of wall signs, murals or super graphics, or any physical operations on the premises which are required for the construction of a sign including excavation, site clearance, landfill and the like.
FABRIC SIGN. A sign made of fabric or other non-rigid material, enclosed in a permanent frame and erected as a permanent, on-site sign for a business, service, product, or person.
FACADE. The front or main part of a building facing a street.
FACE OF SIGN. The entire area of a sign on which copy could be placed. The area of a sign, which is visible from one direction as, projected on a place.
FINE ART. Sculpture, fountains, or similar objects, which have been identified as FINE ART by the Mayor or designee, and which in no way identify or advertise a product or business.
FLASHING SIGN. Any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light source, or which includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing light by means of animation or an extremely mounted intermittent light source.
FREESTANDING SIGN. Any sign which is not attached to or on the walls, face, or exterior of a building.
GRAND OPENING. The initial opening of an entirely new business.
GROUND LEVEL. The immediate surrounding grade.
HEIGHT OF SIGN. The vertical distance measured from the surrounding grade to the highest point on the sign or sign structure.
HIGH RISE BUILDING. A structure of more than two stories in height.
ILLEGAL SIGN. Signs existing on the effective date of the adoption of this chapter which are not registered in accordance with the terms of § 158.03(C) shall be categorized as illegal.
INDIRECT LIGHTING. A light source separated from the surface and illuminating the sign surface by means of spotlights or similar fixtures.
JOINT DIRECTORY SIGN. A sign, which consists of a composite of several individual signs, identifying the businesses located in a commercial or office complex.
LANDSCAPING. For the purposes of this chapter, LANDSCAPING shall include any combination of shrubs, vines, hedge plantings, plants, trees or palms located in a planting area at the base of the sign. For the purposes of this chapter, the term LANDSCAPING shall not mean solely turf or grass.
LEGALLY NON-CONFORMING. Signs existing on the effective date of the adoption of this chapter which are not in conformance with the chapter but which are registered with city hall in accordance with the terms of § 158.03 shall be categorized as legally non-conforming.
LOGO. A letter, character, or symbol used to represent a person, corporation, or business enterprise.
LOT. A parcel, tract, plot or area of land accessible by means of a street or other permanently reserved principal means of access. It may be a single parcel separately described in a deed or plat, or it may include parts of or a combination of such parcels when adjacent to one another and used as a whole.
MAJOR CORPORATE SPONSOR. The sponsor of a public event, listed on all advertising and other public promotions, resulting from the contribution of funds, equipment, products, and/or in kind services to the event.
MARQUEE. Any permanent roof-like structure at the entry to a building, which projects beyond the building or extends along and projects beyond the wall of the building, and which generally contains a commercial message(s), and is designed to provide protection from the weather.
MINIMUM SIGHT TRIANGLE. A triangular area bounded by the right-of-way lines of a comer lot and a line connecting the two points on the right-of-way lines measured 20 feet from the point of the intersection of the right-of-way lines. For ingress/egress points and private roads, the minimum sight triangle shall be determined using the intersection of the curb line or edge of pavement for the ingress/egress point or private road and the public right-of-way.
MONUMENT SIGN. A freestanding sign, other than a pole sign, which has a skirt, dressed base, or other means of enclosing the structural members which support the sign, and which skirting or dressing has been approved by the Mayor or designee, base must equal at least 50% of sign width and not to exceed 120% of the width of the sign for signs up to eight feet in height. For signs proposed to be taller than 8 feet in height, the width of the approved skirting or dressing must equal a minimum of 50% of the sign width, but shall in no case exceed four feet in width. For the purposes of this chapter, the terms SKIRTING and/or DRESSING shall mean the enclosing of the structural members which support the sign with materials such as decorative masonry, natural and decorative stone, masonry with a stucco finish, and decorative wood such as redwood or cedar when appropriately finished to prevent decay and discoloration.
MULTI-POLE, SINGLE POLE SIGN. A sign whose only structural support consists of exposed poles, posts, beams, or other devices mounted in the ground.
OFFICE COMPLEX/MULTI-TENANT SHOPPING CENTER. Two or more offices or stores sharing customer parking area, regardless of whether said offices or office establishments occupy separate structures or are under separate ownership.
OFFICIAL SIGN. Any sign erected by or at the direction of any governmental body.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN. Any sign other than an on-premise sign.
ON-PREMISES SIGN. A sign which advertises only goods, services, facilities, events or attractions available on the premises where located, or identifies the owner or occupant or directs traffic on the premises. All other signs are off premise signs.
OWNER. A person recorded as such on official records and including duly authorized agent, notary, purchaser, lessee, devisee, or judiciary; anyone having a vested or contingent interest in the property or business in question.
PAINTING. The application of paint in the course of normal maintenance which in no way shall alter the message or group of works or letters.
PERMANENT MULTI-FAMILY or SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign which designates the name of a project, subdivision, or other residential district, and which is located at or in close proximity to the main entrance.
PERSON. Any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation or organization of any kind.
POLITICAL SIGN. Any sign which is designated to influence the action of voters for the passage or defeat of a measure or candidate appearing on the ballot in connection with any national, state or local election.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign not permanently affixed to a building, structure or the ground, and designed or constructed in such a manner that it can be moved or relocated without involving any structural or support changes. This definition includes, but is not limited to, A-frame signs, sandwich signs, curb signs and signs on trailers with or without wheels or on other vehicles which are primarily used as signs.
PREMISES. An area of land, with its appurtenances and buildings, which, because of it unity of use, may be regarded as the smallest conveyable unit of real estate.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT SIGN. A temporary sign for a commercial or multi-family tract which may identify a project under construction and includes the project's name and address, general contractor, architect, financing, and contact agent, with appropriate phone numbers.
PROJECTING SIGN. A wall-mounted sign, erected in lieu of the permitted, free-standing monument sign, which projects from the face of a structure, meeting the following requirements:
(1) The sign shall be pinned away from the wall of the structure a minimum of six inches.
(2) The sign shall not extend over any adjacent right-of-way or property line.
(3) Projecting signs shall be designed as an integral architectural element of the building to which it principally relates. The mounting brackets of such signs will be an integral part of the sign and complementary to the design of the sign. No protecting sign shall be entirely supported by an unbraced parapet wall.
(4) No unshielded lights will be permitted. All lighting fixtures shall be placed in such a way, as they will not be struck or otherwise damaged by the sign in the event of high wind.
(5) Projecting signs shall be designed to meet the wind resistance requirements of § 158.10.
PUBLIC INFORMATION SIGN. Any sign or banner which is intended to identify community, civic and social events, special events, facilities, no-trespassing areas and is not a commercial sign or official sign as defined herein.
READER BOARD. A sign that has changeable or removable lettering.
REAL ESTATE “FOR SALE”, “FOR LEASE”, or “OPEN HOUSE”. A temporary sign designating that the premises upon which it is erected is for sale, rent, or lease or that an open house is being held on the day on which the sign is displayed.
REFLECTIVE SURFACE. Any material or devise which has the effect of intensifying reflected light, including but not limited to scotch light, day glow, glass beads and luminous paint.
REQUIRED SIGNS. Any sign required by law for the protection of the general health, safety and welfare of the public. For the purposes of this chapter, numbers attached to the front plane of a facing and visible from the adjacent public right-of-way or private ingress/egress for the purpose of identifying the street address of the structure shall be considered a required sign. Such numbers shall be a minimum of four inches in height, shall be of a color in distinct contrast to the color of the wall to which it is attached, and shall be plainly visible from the adjacent public right-of-way or private ingress/egress.
RESIDENTIAL NAMEPLATE SIGN. A sign permitted for the sole purpose of identifying the inhabitant residing therein, the house name, or identifying the address of the house. The sign may contain no advertising of any kind.
ROOF LINE. The highest point of the coping on a flat roof, false mansard, or parapet wall; the deck line of a true mansard roof; the ridge line between the upper and lower slopes of a gambrel roof; or the mean height level between the eaves and the ridge of a gable or hip roof.
ROOF SIGN. A sign attached to, and wholly or partially dependent upon, the roof of a structure for support, or attached to the roof in any way, but not extending above the roofline, as defined by this chapter. Such signs will be completely above the roofline, as defined by this chapter. Such signs will be completely enclosed between the sign and the corresponding roof, and shall be designed to meet the wind resistance requirements of § 158.10.
SIGN. Anything of visual appearance primarily used for, or having the effect of, attracting attention from the streets, sidewalks, or other curbside public area for identification purposes, whether illuminated or non-illuminated. An identification logo, description, illustration or device which is affixed to or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure of land, and which directs attention to a product, place, activity, person, service, institution or business, whether illuminated or non-illuminated. For the purposes of removal, the definition of SIGN shall include all of the sign structure. For the purposes of this chapter, this definition shall also include those signs painted directly upon a building or other structure or vehicle. The basic intent behind this definition is not to discourage product displays, design, or art from epitomizing simplicity, good taste, and compatibility with the community's desired image.
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) shall be computed by means of the smallest square, circle, rectangle, triangle, or combination thereof that will 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 zoning ordinance regulations and is clearly incidental to the display itself. The sign area for a sign with more than one face shall be computed by adding together the area of all sign faces visible from one point. When two identical sign faces are placed back, so that both faces cannot be viewed from any point at the same time, and when such sign faces are part of the same sign structure and are not more than 42 inches apart, the sign area shall be computed by the measurement of one of the faces.
SIGN STRUCTURE. The sign and all parts associated with its construction.
SNIPE SIGN. A sign which is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued or otherwise attached to trees, utility poles, stakes, or fences or to other objects, and whose message is not associated with the premises upon which such sign is located.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGN. A permitted sign for the purpose of identifying parking areas and directing the flow of traffic on private property.
WALL SIGN. A sign attached to, painted on, or erected against the wall of a building or structure with the exposed face of the sign in a plan parallel to the face of the wall and not protecting more than nine inches from the face of the wall at any point.
WINDOW SIGN. A sign painted, drawn, or otherwise affixed to the inside of an exterior window or glass door of a commercial or office building.
(Ord. 2003-2, passed 2-17-2003)