The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall be construed as defined in this section:
"Animated sign" means a sign that is designed and constructed (a) to display a message through a sequence of progressive changes of parts, lights, or degrees of lighting; or (b) to incorporate physical motion.
"Architectural projection" means a marquee, porch, canopy or other similar architectural projection.
"Attached sign" means any sign which is fastened, attached, connected or supported in whole or in part by a building, or structure other than a sign structure which is supported wholly by the ground.
"Billboard" means a permanent sign structure that is in a fixed location and is used, in whole or part, for general advertising for hire.
"Business day" means any day the city's offices located at 300 Richards Boulevard, Sacramento, California, are open to the public.
"Channel letters" means multi-dimensional, individually cut letters, numbers, figures, or logos that are affixed to a building or structure.
"Detached sign" means any sign not supported in whole or in part by a building, or structure other than by a sign structure which is supported wholly by the ground.
"Digital billboard" means a billboard or other off-site sign that uses digital-display technology.
"Digital kiosk" means a fixed, free-standing structure that uses digital display technology to convey information to the public.
"Directly illuminated sign" means any sign designed to provide artificial light directly or through transparent or translucent material from a source of light within or on such sign, including, but not limited to, neon and incandescent lamp signs.
"Display area" means the entire area within a single continuous perimeter composed of squares or rectangles that enclose the extreme limits of the advertising message, announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration, insignia, surface, or space of a similar nature, together with any frame or other material, color, or condition that forms an integral part of the display and is used to differentiate the sign from the wall or background against which it is placed, excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign is placed. Where a sign has two or more display faces, the area of all faces will be included in determining the area of the sign, except that only one face of a double-faced sign will be considered in determining the display area, provided that both faces are parallel and the distance between faces does not exceed two feet. Further, where a sign consists only of individual letters, numerals, symbols, or other similar components and is painted on or attached flat against the wall of a building, and where the individual components are without integrated background definition and are not within a circumscribed frame area, the total area of the sign will be the sum of the areas of the squares or rectangles surrounding each individual sign component.
"Establishment" means any legal use of land, other than long-term residential uses, that involves the use of structures subject to the Sacramento City Building Code. Examples of an "establishment" are businesses, factories, farms, churches, schools, hospitals, hotels, motels, offices, and libraries, but "establishment" does not include single-family homes, mobile homes, residential apartments, residential-care facilities, or residential condominiums. A multi-unit housing development is an "establishment" while under construction, but an individual unit within such a development is not an "establishment" after a certificate of occupancy has been issued or a full-time residency begins.
"Flashing sign" means an illuminated sign which exhibits changing light or color effect by blinking or any other such means so as to provide a nonconstant illumination.
"Freeway" means a highway, in respect to which the owners of abutting lands have no right or easement of access to or from their abutting lands, or in respect to which such owners have only a limited or restricted right or easement of access, the precise route for which has been determined and designated as a freeway by an authorized agency of the state or a political subdivision thereof. The term includes the main traveled portion of the traffic way, all land situated within the right-of-way, and all ramps and appurtenant land and structures.
"Front footage of building occupancy" means a single lineal dimension measured horizontally along the front of a building which defines the limits of a particular occupancy at that location.
"General advertising" and "general advertising for hire" mean the displaying of messages that advertise or promote the establishments, activities, or causes of others, typically for a fee or other consideration.
"Height of sign" means the vertical distance measured from the adjacent street grade or upper surface of the nearest curb of a street other than an elevated roadway, whichever permits the greatest height, to the highest point of such sign.
"Indirectly illuminated sign" means a sign whose illumination is derived entirely from an external artificial source which is arranged so that no direct rays of light are projected from such artificial source into residences or streets.
"Landscaped freeway" means a section or sections of a freeway which is now, or hereafter may be, improved by the planting of at least one side of the freeway right-of-way with lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers or other ornamental vegetation which shall require reasonable maintenance.
"Mixed-use building" means two or more different uses as identified in Title 17, with at least two uses each occupying a minimum of 30% of the gross floor area of the building.
"Monument sign" means a sign which is erected with its base on the ground or on a support substantially equivalent in width and depth to the base of the sign; which incorporates into its design the design and building materials of the building and structures on the same premises that the sign serves, and which does not exceed twelve feet in height.
"Moving sign" means any sign or device which has any visible moving part, visible revolving part, or visible mechanical movement of any description, or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic, or kinetic means, including intermittent electrical pulsations, or by actions of wind currents.
"Multiple family structure" means any residential structure containing three or more living units.
"Nonconforming sign" means an existing sign legally existing at the time of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter which does not conform to the provisions of this chapter.
"Occupancy" means a separate use of property carried on at all or a portion of a building parcel.
"Off-site sign" means any sign that: (a) is used to display messages other than general advertising for hire; and (b) is not located on the premises of the message sponsor.
"Old City" means that area of the city of Sacramento bounded by the Southern Pacific main line railroad levee on the north, the Sacramento River on the west, Broadway on the south, and Alhambra Boulevard on the east. The Old City shall also include all parcels of property abutting on the east boundary of Alhambra Boulevard and the south boundary of Broadway.
"On-site sign" means a sign that: (a) directs attention to an establishment or activity conducted on, or to a product, service, or entertainment sold or offered on, the same premises as those upon which the sign is maintained; and (b) does not display general advertising for hire.
"Parcel" means a parcel of land shown on a subdivision map, record of survey map, parcel map, or a parcel described by metes and bounds which constitutes one development site whether composed of a single unit of land or contiguous units under common ownership.
"Portable sign" means any sign not permanently affixed to the ground or a structure on the premises it is intended to occupy.
"Projecting sign" means any sign which is located, in whole or in part, in or over the right-of-way of any street, sidewalk, or alley, or other public thoroughfare. A projecting sign shall also include any sign affixed to or part of a marquee, canopy, or vestibule where such sign is located in or over the street right-of-way.
"Roof sign" means any sign or portion thereof located on, or extending over the roof of a building and either supported by the roof or by an independent structural frame. A sign which is attached flat against the wall of a penthouse or other similar roof structure which is part of the enclosed floor area of the building shall not be considered a roof sign.
"Rotating sign" means any sign or portion thereof which physically revolves about an axis.
"R zone" means an R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-2A, R-2B, R-3, R-3A, R-4, R-5, RMX, and RO zone as defined in the Planning and Development Code.
"Setback area" means the open space area defined in the Planning and Development Code under the term yard, and, where applicable, includes the definitions of yard, rear; yard, front; and yard, side; as defined.
"Sign" means any visually communicative image placed on public display and visible from the exterior of any portion of the public right-of-way or other place that is open to passage by the public. It includes every advertising message, announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, projected image, illustration, insignia, surface, statue, object, or space erected or maintained in view of the observer for identification, advertisement, or promotion of the interests of any person, entity, product, or service.
"Street frontage" means the length of a lot or parcel of land along or fronting on a street or other principal thoroughfare but not including such length along an alley, watercourse, railroad right-of-way or limited access roadway or freeway.
"Swinging sign" means a sign that is supported by cables against movement due to wind in such a way that, in the event of an emergency such cables may be cut, and the sign swung back against the building and in such a position will continue to be supported by the building with no danger of falling.
"Tower" means the portion of a building that is above the building base (as defined in section 3, Central Core Design Guidelines, in the Central City Urban Design Guidelines adopted by Sacramento City Council Resolution No. 2009-315) and below the upper signage area.
"Unilluminated sign" means a sign not illuminated either directly or indirectly.
"Upper signage area" means the portion of a building bounded by the top of the windows of the tallest floor, the building parapet line, and the two vertical edges of the building face on which the signage is attached.
"Wind sign" means any sign or portion thereof or series of signs, banners, flags or other objects designed and fastened in such a manner as to move upon being subjected to pressure by wind or breeze. (Ord. 2023-0026 § 3; Ord. 2019-0035 § 4; Ord. 2017-0044 § 6; Ord. 2016-0010 § 56; Ord. 2013-0025 § 8; Ord. 2013-0021 § 83; Ord. 2010-011 § 4; prior code § 3.18.250)