For the purposes of this chapter the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings ascribed to them respectively.
(A) ABUTTING. Any air space less than 10 feet.
(B) ALTER. Any change.
(C) AWNING. Any structure made of cloth or metal with a metal frame attached to a building, and projecting over a thoroughfare, when the same is so erected as to permit its being raised to a position flat against the building when not in use.
(D) BULLETIN BOARDS. A board for posting notices.
(E) CANOPY. Any structure, other than an awning, made of cloth or metal with metal frames attached to a building, projecting over a thoroughfare, and carried by a frame supported by the ground or sidewalk.
(F) ELECTRONIC DISPLAY SCREEN. A sign, or a portion of a sign, that displays an electronic image or video, which may or may not include text.
ELECTRONIC DISPLAY SCREENS include television screens, plasma screens, digital screens, flat screens, LED screens, video boards, holographic displays, or other technologies of a similar nature.
(G) ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER. Any sign, or portion of a sign, that uses changing lights to form a sign message or messages in text form, wherein the sequence of messages and the rate of change is electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic processes.
(H) ELECTRONIC SIGN. A sign capable of displaying text, graphics, video, symbols, or images that can be electronically or mechanically changed by remote or automatic means, and that directs attention to a business, activity, product, commodity, service, entertainment, or communication that may or may not contain an electronic display screen or an electronic message center.
(I) ERECT. To build, construct, alter, attach, hang, place, suspend, or affix, and shall also include the painting of walls and wall signs.
(J) FACING or SURFACE. The surface of the sign upon, against, or through which the message is displayed or illustrated on the signs. The square footage of a sign, wherever the same is required to be computed, for the purposes of this chapter, shall be determined by computing the square footage of the FACING or SURFACE of the sign.
(K) FESTOONS. A string of ribbons, tinsel, small flags, or pinwheels.
(L) FREESTANDING. Any sign supported by uprights or braces placed into the ground and not attached to any building.
(M) GOOSENECK REFLECTOR. Any lighting unit that is extended out to cast light on the surface of the sign.
(N) ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs, or an outline illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as part of the sign proper.
(O) INCOMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL. Any material which will not ignite at or below a temperature of 1,200° F., and will not continue to burn or glow at that temperature.
(P) MARQUEE. Any hood, mansard fascia, or awning of permanent construction projecting from the wall of a building above an entrance, and extending over a thoroughfare.
(Q) MONUMENT SIGN. A sign that is supported on a base that is equal width and depth to the frame of the sign itself. A MONUMENT SIGN must be constructed of materials to match the principal structure, and have a maximum of two opposing sides of advertising.
(R) NATIONAL INSIGNIA. A distinguishing mark or sign extending throughout a nation.
(S) OTHER ADVERTISING STRUCTURE. Any marquee, mansard fascia, canopy, or awning, as further defined herein.
(T) PERSON. Any person firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind.
(U) POLE SIGN. A permanent, freestanding sign that is mounted on a pole(s) or other similar support(s), which is placed on and anchored in the ground or on a base, and that is independent from any building or other structure.
(V) SHOPPING CENTER. A planned complex of business buildings which share common parking and driveways, located within a parcel or parcels of land under one ownership within a B zoning district.
(W) SIGN. Every sign, article, billboard, identification sign, freestanding sign, wall sign, roof sign, illuminated sign, marquee, awning, and canopy, that shall include any announcement, declaration, demonstration, display illustration, or insignia used to advertise or promote the interest of any person, when the same is placed out-of-doors in view of the general public.
(X) WALL SIGN. Painted walls and all flat signs of solid face construction which are placed against a building or other structure, and attached to the exterior front, rear, or side wall of any building or other structure.
(Ord. 90-32, passed 10-2-90; amend Ord. O-38-09, passed 12-1-09; Am. Ord. O-05-10, passed 2-16-10)