A. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings given in this section:
A-FRAME SIGN: A temporary sign which resembles the shape of the letter "A" in profile view, also referred to as a "sandwich board", "sidewalk board" or "curb sign".
ABANDONED SIGN: A sign located on property which becomes unoccupied or unused for a period of six (6) or more consecutive months, or any sign which pertains to a business, product, service, event, or purpose which no longer applies, or a sign structure void of any sign copy and/or panels.
ALTERATION: Any change of copy, sign face, color, size, shape, illumination, position, location, construction, or supporting structure of any sign.
ANIMATED SIGN: A sign employing actual motion or the illusion of motion. Animated signs include the following types:
1. Environmentally Activated: Animated signs or devices motivated by wind, thermal changes, or other natural environmental input. The definition includes spinners, pinwheels, pennant strings, and/or other devices or displays that respond to naturally occurring external motivation.
2. Mechanically Activated: Animated signs characterized by repetitive motion and/or rotation activated by a mechanical system powered by electric motors or other mechanically induced means.
APARTMENT SIGN: A ground sign containing the name of and/or information about a multi-family dwelling.
AWNING SIGN: A wall sign consisting of cloth, plastic, or other nonstructural covering that either is permanently attached to a building or can be raised or retracted to a position against the building.
BANNER SIGN: A temporary sign usually of cloth, paper, plastic, light metal, wood, or other materials that is attached to the ground, to a freestanding sign, or is mounted to a building.
BENCH SIGN: Any advertising attached to or painted on a bench that is located immediately adjacent to and abutting a building for the purpose of providing seating for customers or citizens.
BILLBOARD: See definition of Off Premises Advertising Sign.
CANOPY SIGN: A wall sign that is part of or attached to a canopy, made of fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door or entrance.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN: A sign on which copy is changed manually in the field.
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SIGN: Any temporary sign used for the purpose of identifying a new construction project and/or owner, developer, contractor, and architect located on the property where the advertised use is to be located.
COPY: Any sign wording, logo, or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises, or calls attention to a business, product, service, or other business activity.
DILAPIDATED SIGN: Any sign, whether permanent or temporary, which is structurally unsound, has defective parts, has become partially or wholly detached from its frame or other attachment device, or is in need of painting or maintenance. A dilapidated sign may be identified by one or more of the following characteristics: rust or holes in the sign panel, display material, or sign structure; broken, missing, loose, or bent parts and materials; faded or flaking paint; nonoperative or partially nonoperative illumination; missing letters in sign copy, or any sign structure that is void of sign copy and/or panels.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN: A sign which serves to designate the location or direction of any place or area, principally for pedestrian or vehicular traffic, on the premises where the sign is located.
ELECTRICAL SIGN: Any sign containing electrical wiring in, on, or attached to it or which is intended to be energized by an electrical energy source.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN: Any on premises freestanding sign or portion of a freestanding sign that uses changing lights to display an electronic image, video, or text messages. The time and display duration of the messages and/or images is electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic processes. This definition includes the following types:
1. Electrically Activated: Signs producing the illusion of movement by means of electronic, electrical, or electromechanical input and/or illumination capable of simulating movement through employment of the characteristics of the classifications noted below:
a. Static: Signs or portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by a repetitive cycle in which the period of display is a minimum of ten (10) seconds or more and the duration between displays is three (3) seconds or less.
b. Flashing: Signs or portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by a repetitive cycle in which the period of display is less than ten (10) seconds.
c. Patterned Illusionary Movement: Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by simulated movement through alternate or sequential activation of various illuminated elements for the purpose of producing repetitive light patterns, or text designed to appear in some form of constant motion for a period of three (3) seconds or more.
FACADE: The side of a building below the eaves.
FEATHER SIGN: A banner sign usually of cloth, plastic, or similar nonrigid material used for advertising purposes and attached to the ground, or mounted to a building not to include official flags, pennants, or insignia of the United States, the state of Oklahoma, other states of the nation, counties, municipalities, and official flags of foreign nations.
FLAG OR PENNANT: Any cloth, bunting, plastic, paper, or similar nonrigid material used for advertising purposes attached to any structure, staff, pole, line, framing, not including official flags of the United States, the state of Oklahoma, and other states of the nation, counties, municipalities, and official flags of foreign nations.
GENERAL BUSINESS SIGN: An on premises freestanding sign which directs attention to a business, product, activity, or service that is conducted, sold, or offered on the premises where the sign is located.
GROUND SIGN: A freestanding sign with a solid base directly and continuously connected to the sign.
HEIGHT: The vertical distance from finished grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign, excluding decorative embellishments, to the grade of the adjacent street or the surface grade beneath the sign whichever is less.
ILLEGAL NONCONFORMING SIGN: A sign which was in violation of any of the laws of the city governing the erection, placement, or construction of such sign at the time of its erection, and which sign has never been erected or displayed in conformance with all such laws, including this chapter.
ILLUMINATED SIGN: Any sign, except a neon sign, designed to give forth artificial light or designed to reflect light from one or more sources of artificial light erected for the purpose of providing light for the sign.
ILLUMINATION, DIRECT: A lighting by means of an artificial light source, including neon tubing, which is visible either through exposed lighting on the sign face or through transparent or translucent material from a light source within the sign.
ILLUMINATION, INDIRECT: A sign which does not produce artificial light from within itself but which is opaque and backlighted or illuminated by spotlights or floodlights not a part of or attached to the sign itself, or a sign illuminated from within but with no exposed or exterior bulbs, tubes or other light source which are not visible to persons viewing the sign from any street, sidewalk, or adjacent property.
INSTITUTIONAL SIGN: A ground sign placed on a premises of an institution containing the name of and/or information relating to uses such as: public facilities, schools, religious assembly, hospitals, or government owned facilities.
LEGAL NONCONFORMING SIGN: An existing sign that was lawfully constructed or installed prior to the adoption or amendment of this chapter, and was in compliance with all of the provisions of this code then in effect but which does not presently comply with the provisions of this chapter as they now exist.
MONUMENT SIGN: A ground sign that has a solid supporting base equal to or greater than the width of the sign face, generally made of stone or concrete, with no separation between the sign and base.
MULTI-TENANT SIGN: An on premises sign identifying individual businesses within a commercial building or buildings where the uses share the same lot, access, and/or parking facilities or a coordinated site plan.
MURAL: A work of graphic art, as opposed to a sign, that is painted or applied to a building wall(s) which contains no advertising or logos.
NAMEPLATE: Any sign which designates the name, using plates, of the person(s) occupying the premises.
OFF PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN: A sign, whether freestanding, temporary, painted on, or attached to a building, which directs attention to a business, product, accommodation, service, event, or other activity which is conducted, sold, offered, or provided at a location other than the premises where the sign is located. Such signs are also commonly known as "billboards", but may include signs of all shapes and sizes.
POLE SIGN: A freestanding sign connected to the ground by one or more supports, where the lower edge of the sign device is separated vertically from the ground by air.
POLITICAL SIGN: A temporary sign identifying, either singly or combined, a political candidate, slate of candidates, issue, or party. These signs are used or intended to be used for the display of any announcement, advertisement, or notice of any individual candidate or slate of candidates for any public office or similar political purposes.
PORTABLE SIGN: A temporary sign designed to be transported from place to place, including, but not limited to, signs transported by means of wheels.
REAL ESTATE SIGN: Any temporary sign which announces the sale, rental, or lease of property by the owner or real estate company.
RIGHT OF WAY: The area in the front, side, or rear of a property that has been dedicated to the public, either by a plat or an easement.
ROOF: The exterior surface and its supporting structure on the top of a building or structure; the structural makeup of which conforms to the roof structure, roof construction, and roof covering sections of the international building code.
ROOF SIGN: Any sign erected and constructed wholly on and above the roof of a building, supported by the roof structure, and extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof.
SETBACK: The minimum allowable horizontal distance from a given point of line of reference, such as a street right of way, to the nearest vertical wall or other element of a building or structure.
SIGHT TRIANGLE: Is defined in chapter 15, "Access Management", of this title.
SIGN: All or part of any object, structure, or device intended to be viewed by the public for advertisement or identification of a business, location, object, person, institution, organization, product, service, or event by means of including words, pictures, logos, symbols, colors, motion, illumination, or projected images. The term "sign" may be used in conjunction with other terms; for example, "ground" or "roof" to further define the term and usage.
SIGN AREA: Consists of the entire surface area of the sign on which copy may be placed. The supporting structure or bracing of a sign is not counted as a part of the sign face unless such structure or bracing is made a part of the sign's message. The sign area for a wall sign that contains only letters and no background is the area of the smallest rectangle which can encompass all words, letters, figures, emblems, and other elements of the sign message.
SIGN STRUCTURE: Any part of a sign, including the base, supporting columns or braces, display surface, or any appendage thereto.
SITE PLAN: An accurately scaled plan that illustrates the existing conditions on a land parcel as well as depicting details of a proposed development. Among the features generally found on a site plan are the property boundaries, existing streets and buildings, as well as utilities and utility easements.
STREET FRONTAGE: The length of the property line bordering a public street. For corner lots, each street property line shall be a separate street frontage.
SUBDIVISION ENTRY SIGN: A sign integrated into the entrance treatment (i.e., entrance wall) with the name of the subdivision or development on one or both sides of each principal entrance.
SUSPENDED SIGN: A wall sign suspended from a marquee, canopy, or other architectural projection of a building as herein defined.
TEMPORARY SIGN: Any advertising display which is intended for a temporary period of display and constructed out of cloth, canvas, cardboard, paper, wallboard, plywood, metal, or other light temporary material.
VEHICLE MOUNTED SIGN: A sign mounted or displayed on any truck, bus, car, trailer, boat or other vehicle which is not actively used as a vehicle.
WALL SIGN: A sign attached to or painted on the exterior wall of a building with the display surface of the sign approximately parallel to the building wall. The definition includes awning signs, canopy signs, facade signs, suspended signs, and any other sign that otherwise projects from a structure.
ZONING DISTRICT: Any section of the city for which the regulations governing the use of land and the use, density, bulk, height and coverage of buildings and other structures are uniform for each classification of building therein. (Ord. 6195, 12-8-2014; amd. Ord. 6215, 11-9-2015)
B. When an interpretation is required for any definition that is not included in this chapter, the code official shall make a determination. (Ord. 6195, 12-8-2014)