For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADMINISTRATOR. The designated government official whose responsibility it is to administer the provisions of this chapter. These activities may include, but are not limited to, reviewing applications for sign permits, corresponding and/or meeting with applicants, issuing and denying sign permits, inspecting signs and interpreting and enforcing the provisions of this chapter.
ANIMATION. Copy or images that flash or move or otherwise change.
APPROVED COLORS. All signs must consist of red, green, yellow, blue, white, or black colors in both lettering and background. Registered corporate logos are excluded from this provision.
AWNING. A cloth or nonstructural covering that either is permanently attached to a building or can be raised or retracted to a position against the building when not in use.
BACKLIT AWNINGS. A cloth or nonstructural covering that is permanently attached to a building which is lit by a light source intended to illuminate the awning material.
BANNER. A cloth, paper, fabric or other material sign that is mounted on any wall, window or other surface that identifies the business, commercial or retail center or a specific event.
BARE-BULB ILLUMINATION. A light source which consists of light bulbs with a (20 watt maximum wattage) for each bulb.
BILLBOARD (OFF-PREMISE SIGN. A sign which advertises products or services not sold or distributed on the property on which the sign is located.
BUILDER IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign denoting the name/logo of the builder.
BUILDING. A structure having a roof supported by columns or walls and for the shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, materials or property of any kind.
CANOPY. See AWNING.
CHANGEABLE COPY. A sign that is designed so that characters, letters or illustrations can be changed or rearranged without altering the permanent face or surface of the sign.
CONTRACTOR SIGN. A temporary sign denoting a business, service or other commercial entity which is engaged in the construction, alteration, repair, demolition, or other related activity with regard to improvements to real estate, including but not limited to activities such as roofing, remodeling, landscaping, fencing, replacement windows, patio or deck construction, swimming pool construction or outbuilding construction.
DEVELOPMENT PHASE SIGNS. A sign that announces or identifies the future development of a parcel and/or parcels of land and identifies the party or parties engaged in the development, such as, development companies, architects, builders, financial institutions and the like.
DESIGN FACTOR. The surface color, size, materials, illumination or mechanical movement of a street sign.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN. A sign that provides directional assistance for the convenience of the public such as location of exits, entrances and parking lots.
FACADE. Exterior wall of a building from the roof and/or parapet to ground level. Mansard roofs are part of the facade.
FLASHING ILLUMINATION. A light source which in whole or in part, physically changes in light intensity or color or gives the appearance of such change.
FREESTANDING. The general term used for any on- premise sign which is supported from the ground and not attached to a building. (Pole, monument and billboards).
HEIGHT. The vertical distance measured from the average grade within a ten-foot radius of the adjacent right- of-way or parking lot to the highest point of the sign. (See Appendix A, § 1.)
IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A permanent ground sign which identifies an office park, industrial park, multi-family complex, retail center, shopping center or subdivision (such as a single-family residential district).
ILLUMINATION.
(1) BACKLIGHTING. A light source which is mounted behind opaque letters or symbols to illuminate the surface behind the letter of symbols creating a silhouette erect.
(2) EXTERNAL. Any light source which is not internal.
(3) INDIRECT. A light source which is not a part of the sign but which illuminates the sign from a distance but is not seen directly.
(4) INTERNAL. A light source contained or concealed within the sign itself.
MARQUEE. A structure other than a roof attached to, supported by and protecting from a building as in a theater entrance.
MONUMENT SIGN. A freestanding sign with a base affixed to the ground which measures at least two-thirds the horizontal width of the sign face. (See Appendix A, § 2).
MOVEMENT. Physical movement or revolution up or down, around or sideways.
NONCONFORMING SIGN. A sign that met all legal requirements when constructed but that is not in compliance with this chapter.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign, whether lighted or not, designed to be transported and not intended by design to be permanently affixed to a place or structure.
PROJECTING SIGN. A sign attached to or projecting from the wall of a building and not in the same plane as the wall.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. Any sign which conveys the message that real property is available for sale, lease or rent.
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT SIGN. A real estate sign denoting availability of all real property in a particular area.
ROOF SIGN. A sign which is displayed above the eaves.
SIDEWALK SIGN. A sign designed to be self- supporting in the general shape of an A or V when viewed from the side and when the message area consists of a chalkboard or other erasable board on which the message is directly written.
SIGN. Any structure or object and its support system which uses graphic symbols or alphanumeric characters to convey or display information.
SIGN AREA. The square foot area of a sign which is determined by multiplying the height and width of the sign. The width is the horizontal length of the sign from its greatest protrusion on its left to its greatest protrusion on the right, including supports. For the purpose of measuring the sign area, the height is the vertical length of the sign from its greatest protrusion on the top to its greatest protrusion on the bottom, but not including the base of a monument sign or other ground supports. (See Appendix A, §§ 3 and 4.)
SIGN AREA FOR ROOF AND WALL SIGNS. The percentage of signable area or a building or structure which may be used for roof and wall graphics.
TEMPORARY DIRECTIONAL REAL ESTATE SIGN. A real estate sign which is directional in nature, denoting a specific property is available for inspection.
TEMPORARY WINDOW SIGN. A window sign displayed for a limited period of time.
WALL SIGN. A sign applied, painted on or attached to a wall of a building in the same plane as the wall.
WIDTH. The horizontal length of a sign from its greatest protrusion on its left to the greatest protrusion on the right, including supports. (See Appendix A, § 3.)
WINDOW SIGN. A graphic applied, painted or affixed to or in the window of a building. A window sign may be temporary or permanent.
(Ord. 222-1991, passed 12-16-91; Am. Ord. 232-1992, passed 9-21-92; Am. Ord. 511-2011, passed 4-18-11; Am. Ord. 540-2014, passed 12-15-14)