Unless specifically defined in this chapter, the zoning ordinance of the city of Reedley and the California building code definitions shall apply to the construction, meaning and application of words or phrases in this chapter. As used in this chapter, the following definitions apply:
ANIMATED SIGN: A sign with action or motion, whether by flashing lights, color changes, wind, rotation, movement of any parts of the sign or letters or parts of the sign structure, or other motion.
BANNER: Any cloth, bunting, plastic, paper, or similar material attached to, or appended on or from any structure, staff, pole, line, or framing upon which there is a temporary advertising message.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN: A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a "public information sign" and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this chapter.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN: Signs giving only information and direction to the viewer and containing no advertising message.
EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN: A sign which has light cast on its surface from an artificial exterior source installed for the purpose of illuminating the sign.
FREESTANDING SIGN: A sign that is not attached to a building, which is supported by one or more columns, uprights, or braces in or upon the ground.
HEIGHT OF SIGN: The vertical distance from the uppermost point used in measuring the area of a sign to ground level of the foundation of the sign.
INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN: Any sign whose illumination originates from within the structure of the sign and the source of which is not visible from the exterior of the sign.
MONUMENT SIGN: A freestanding sign with a solid base a minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the width of the sign. Not a pole sign.
OCCUPANCY FRONTAGE: A single linear dimension measured horizontally along the front of a building which defines the limits of a particular occupancy at that location and which has direct pedestrian access through an exterior wall which is visible from the public right of way.
OFF PREMISES SIGNS AND BILLBOARDS: Any sign not located on the same lot or project site as the use, product, or service it advertises.
PEDESTRIAN ACCESS: A doorway which has been designed for the primary use of the patrons or customers of that commercial use.
PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED SIGN: A sign which is specifically located and designed to be viewed from a pedestrian right of way.
PENNANT: Lightweight plastic, fabric, or other materials, suspended from a rope, wire, or string designed to move in the wind. Pennants shall not include banners as defined in this chapter or individual flags mounted on a single pole.
POLE SIGN: A freestanding sign supported by one or more poles whose width is less than fifty percent (50%) of the width of the sign.
POLITICAL SIGN: A sign advertising a candidate for political office, a political party or a measure scheduled for an election.
PORTABLE SIGN: A sign which is capable of being carried or moved by manual or mechanical means from one location to another and which is not affixed to the ground, a structure, or a vehicle. Portable signs also include blimps and balloons which may or may not contain an advertising message.
PROJECTING SIGN: A sign that projects from and is supported by a wall or a facade of a building and are also referred to as marquee signs.
PUBLIC INFORMATION SIGN: Any sign intended to numerically depict time, temperature, and/or atmospheric conditions. Atmospheric conditions displays shall be limited to one color and one word at any given time. Display time shall be limited to three (3) seconds with a one second interval between displays on a stationary sign.
READER BOARD: A sign indicating the name, address and type of businesses within a building.
ROOF SIGN: A sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet of a building.
ROOFLINE: The highest point of a parapet wall of the main roof structure or a highest point of a parapet wall other than such architectural features as cupolas, pylons, projections or minor raised portions of the roof.
SANDWICH BOARD SIGN: A portable sign with advertising messages mounted on two (2) surfaces with two (2) edges connected and the other two (2) edges spread so that the two (2) faces read from different directions.
SIGN: Any words or symbols used for visual communication including its structure and component parts intended to be used to attract attention to an activity.
SIGN AREA: The geometric area of a sign including all elements such as board or frames, perforated or a solid background, ornamental embellishments, arrows or other sign media.
SIGN COPY: Any words, letters, numbers, figures, designs, or other symbolic representations incorporated into a sign face and/or its structure with the purpose of attracting attention to the subject matter.
SIGN FACE: The panel surface of a sign which carries the advertising or identification message.
SIGN STRUCTURE: Any structure which supports or is capable of supporting any sign. A sign structure may or may not be an integral part of a building. For the purpose of a freestanding sign, the sign structure shall include the aggregate area of the sign including the sign copy and all structural elements of the sign.
SITE: The length of a site along the street or other principal public thoroughfare, but not including such a length along an alley, watercourse, railroad or freeway.
SPECIAL EVENTS SIGN: Any sign advertising specific temporary events, such as carnivals, festivals, exhibits, and parades, including promotional sales or grand openings.
STRUCTURAL ALTERATION: Any change to the sign structure.
SUBDIVISION OR MULTIPLE HOUSING ENTRANCE SIGN: A sign identifying the name of a subdivision or multiple housing project and consisting of letters or symbols attached to a wall or a fence or freestanding sign located within the boundaries of a recorded and developed subdivision or multiple housing project.
TEMPORARY SUBDIVISION SIGN: A sign erected and maintained within the boundaries of a recorded subdivision and indicating the name of the subdivision, the name of the contractor and/or subdivider, the name of the owner and/or agent, and giving information regarding directions, price or terms concerning the sale or lease of parcels within the subdivision.
UNIFIED CENTER: A unified group of two (2) or more commercial or industrial uses planned and designed to function as an integral unit on a single parcel or contiguous parcels and which utilize common off street parking and access, landscaping, loading facilities and points of ingress and egress.
WALL SIGN: A sign attached to or erected against the wall or facade of a building or structure with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the plane of the wall or facade.
WIND SIGN: Any display of streamers, pennants, whirligigs or similar devices made of flexible lightweight material, strung together or attached in such a manner as to move by wind pressure. (Ord. 2013-006, 1-14-2014)