(A) The language set forth in the text of this chapter shall be interpreted in accordance with the following rules of construction:
(1) The singular number includes the plural number, and the plural the singular.
(2) The word
SHALL is mandatory; the word MAY is permissive.
(3) The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter.
(B) Whenever in this chapter the following words and phrases have been used, they shall, for the purposes of this chapter, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, except when the context otherwise indicates:
ADVERTISING STRUCTURE. Any canopy, awning, or other advertising graphic, other than a sign covered by this code.
ANIMATED SIGNS. A sign capable of displaying the movement of light such as blinking, traveling, flaring, or changing light intensity, including animated video or graphics, which may be formed to depict the illusion of words, numbers, symbols, figures or images that can be electronically or mechanically changed by remote or automatic means. During the period of its operation, animated illumination is not kept stationary or constant in intensity and/or color at all times.
AWNING. A temporary shelter supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building, composed of non-rigid materials, which are either stationary or can be retracted, folded, or collapsed against the face of the supporting building.
BUILDING ADMINISTRATOR. The Chief Inspector of the Bureau of Fire Prevention of the Village and his or her duly authorized agents.
BUILDING FRONTAGE. The wall of a building facing a public street. For a corner lot, the owner may elect either street line as the building frontage. In buildings with multiple units, the building frontage for each unit shall be considered as the width of the unit from party wall to party wall.
BUS SHELTER. Any structure walled or unwalled, covered or uncovered, placed on public property by any public transportation agency or any public agency for the purpose of providing cover or protection from the weather or elements.
CANOPY. A high covering or other roof-type covering or overhanging shelter fastened on and supported by the wall of a building and poles, pillars, or other vertical supports, and extending over a walkway.
COMMERCIAL DISTRICT. The area designated by the Zoning Ordinance and Map for commer-cial use in sales and services.
CODE. The Municipal Code of the Village of Schiller Park of 1994, as same may be amended from time to time, including those national and model codes adopted in said Municipal Code by reference.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN. A sign that utilizes computer-generated messages or some other electronic means of changing copy shown on the same lamp bank or reader board. These signs include displays using incandescent lamps, LEDs, LCDs or a flipper matrix.
ERECT. To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend, or affix, and to paint all signs.
ESTABLISHED GRADE. See GRADE LEVEL.
FACE or FACING. The surface of the sign upon, against, or through which the message is displayed or illustrated.
FIXED AWNING. Any hood, awning, or canopy made of cloth, plastic, metal, or other approved material with metal frames attached to a building, projecting over a public thoroughfare, and carried by a frame and supported by the ground or sidewalk.
GRADE LEVEL or ESTABLISHED GRADE. That elevation established by the Village for the proper level of the sidewalk at the street lot line. Where the sidewalk does not adjoin the street lot line, grade at the street lot line shall be determined by taking the elevation established by the Village for the street or curb and adding thereto an amount equal to one-third of an inch for each one foot of horizontal distance between said edge of street curb and said street lot line.
GROSS SURFACE AREA. The entire area within a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of a face of a sign, as well as the message displayed or illustrated, but in no case passing through or between any adjacent elements of same. Such perimeter shall not include any structural elements lying outside the limits of such sign and not forming an integral part of the display. Both sides of double-faced signs shall be used in this computation.
INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT. The area designated by the Zoning Ordinance and Map for industrial uses, manufacturing, and/or warehousing.
LOT or PREMISES. A portion of platted territory measured, set apart, and subdivided as a distinct parcel having its principal frontage upon a street and shown upon a Plat of Subdivision or resubdivision approved in accordance with the statutes of the State of Illinois and so recorded by the Recorder of Deeds of Cook County, Illinois.
MARQUEE. Any fixed hood or canopy supported solely by the building to which it is attached and extending over a public thoroughfare; a permanent canopy or hood, usually of metal and glass, projecting over an entrance to the building to which it is attached.
PREMISES. See LOT.
PUBLIC THOROUGHFARE. Any designated area, passageway, roadway or sidewalk located on public or private property upon which the general public is permitted free access.
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT. The area desig- nated by the Zoning Ordinance and Map for single- and multiple-family residential dwelling units.
RETRACTABLE AWNING. Any hood, awning, or canopy made of cloth, plastic, metal, or other approved material with metal frames attached to a building and so erected as to permit its retraction when not in use.
RIGHT-OF-WAY. Any publicly-owned open area, including but not limited to parks, playgrounds, forest preserves, waterways, parkways, streets, and alleys.
SHOPPING CENTER. An integrated planned business development covering 80,000 square feet of gross land area or more and under unified control, and which provides off-street parking for patrons.
SIGN. Any structure or natural object, or part thereof, or device attached thereto, or painted or represented thereon, which may be designated or used to attract the attention to any object, subject, product, place, merchandise, activity, person, institution, organization, business, performance, or which shall consist of, display, or include any letter, word, pattern, emblem, figure, number, character, mark, point, plane, picture, representation, drawing, poster, placard, stroke, stripe, line, trademark, logo, reading matter, illumination, model, banner, streamer, flag, pennant, insignia, or device, used as or which is in the nature of an announcement, direction, or advertisement. For the purpose of this Chapter, the word SIGN shall not include any flag, emblem, or insignia of any nation, state, or city, but the word shall include but not be limited to the following specific types of sign:
ABANDONED. A sign, the facing of which has no message displayed or illustrated thereon and which has remained in such condition or status for a period of six (6) months or more.
ACTION SIGN. Any sign containing movement of the sign body or any segment thereof in a manner such as rotating, revolving, moving up or down, or any other type of action involving a change of the position or the intensity of the light of the sign body or segment thereof, whether caused by mechanical or any other means. An illuminated sign which indicates the time and/or temperature shall not, for that reason alone, be considered an action sign.
AD-BENCH. A structure, installed in a public place for the seating use and comfort of the public, upon which advertising is displayed.
ANIMATED SIGNS. A sign using the movement of any light used in connection with it such as blinking, traveling, flaring, or the changing of the degree of intensity of the light.
BANNER or FLAG. A temporary sign consisting of a piece of cloth or plastic often attached to a staff, or to a string or rope, singly or with other similar such temporary signs which may together form a streamer, which temporary sign may have definite colors, patterns, or symbols to attract attention as advertisement for outdoor display but shall not include any banner or flag used as a national or state symbol.
BILLBOARD. Any outdoor advertising static or digital sign erected upon a single pole or stanchion, and having a face equal to or exceeding 600 square feet, the bottom of which face is at least thirty-five (35) feet above the established grade and the top of which face is not more than seventy-five (75) feet above the established grade.
BULLETIN BOARD. A sign utilizing changeable copy for the purpose of notification to the
general public of an event or occurrence, temporary in nature, and of public interest, such as a religious service, civic meeting, or other similar event.
COMPOSITE SIGN. See JOINT IDENTIFICATION SIGN.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN. A sign announcing the subdivision, development, construction, or other improvement of real estate, located on said real estate. For the purpose of this Chapter, a CONSTRUCTION SIGN shall not be construed to be a REAL ESTATE SIGN as defined herein.
FLAG. See BANNER.
FLASHING SIGNS. An illuminated sign in which, during the period of its operation, such illumination is not kept stationary or constant in intensity and/or color at all times. An illuminated electronic message sign which changes copy in accordance with the district display regulations shall
not, for that reason alone be considered to be a flashing sign.
FREESTANDING SIGN. Any sign which is supported on one (1) or more poles, beams, or columns affixed to the ground and not attached to a building or any other sign.
GROUND BASE or MONUMENT SIGN. A freestanding sign which is mounted to or part of a permanent, independent base and which is designed as an integral part of that base. The height of such base shall not exceed three (3) feet and shall be permanently affixed to the ground.
GUIDE SIGN. Any sign used exclusively to show destination, corrections, distances, points of interest, and/or other geographical or cultural information.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign providing the general public with and advertising the name of the business or profession or service then being conducted on the premises located on the same lot.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs, or outlines illuminated from within or without by electric lights, luminous tubes, or any other means of illumination.
ILLEGAL NONCONFORMING SIGN. Any sign governed by the regulations of this Chapter which, at the passage of this Chapter, was in violation of any of the laws of the Village governing the erection 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, and which shall include signs which are pasted, nailed, and painted on or otherwise unlawfully displayed upon structures, utility poles, trees, fences, or other signs.
JOINT IDENTIFICATION SIGN or COMPOSITE SIGN. A sign which serves as a common or collective identification sign for two (2) or more business or industrial uses on the same lot.
LEGAL NONCONFORMING SIGN. Any sign which was lawfully erected and maintained prior to the enactment of this Chapter and any amendments thereto, which has not been abandoned, and which does not conform to all the applicable regulations and restrictions of this Chapter.
LINEAR LIGHTING SIGN. All types of illumination, static or flashing, internal or external, fully or partially outlining architectural features such as doors, windows, walls, wall edges, signs or other structural/building elements and which may attract attention or be used as a means of identification or marketing, not including holiday decorations. Linear lighting shall not be used as security lighting or ingress/egress lighting.
MARQUEE SIGN. Any sign attached to or constructed in or on a canopy or marquee.
MOBILE SIGN. A sign attached to a movable vehicle or carried by a person or vehicle.
MONUMENT SIGN. See GROUND BASE SIGN.
OFF-PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN. Any sign, including a billboard or general outdoor advertising device, which advertises or directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or activity conducted, sold, or offered elsewhere than on the same lot or within the same building upon which the sign is located.
ON-PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN. Any sign which advertises or directs attention to a
business, commodity, service, or activity conducted, sold, or offered on the same lot or within the same building upon which the sign is located.
OPEN HOUSE SIGN. Any temporary sign which directs traffic to real estate upon which there is located any dwelling for sale by any person, firm, corporation, or joint owners being advertised for sale, rental, lease, or management, provided that the conditions stated in this Chapter are met.
PERMANENT SIGN. A sign other than a temporary sign.
POLE SIGN. A freestanding sign supported by one (1) or more columns, uprights, poles, or braces, which columns, uprights, poles, or braces extend from the ground or from an object on or in the ground.
POLITICAL SIGN. A temporary sign directing attention to the candidacy of a person for public office or urging action on any other ballot issue in a primary, general, or special election or referendum.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any freestanding sign not permanently anchored or secured to either a building or the ground.
PROHIBITED SIGN. Any sign so identified in this Chapter.
PROJECTING SIGN. Any sign which is affixed to any building or other structure and projects outward therefrom more than fifteen (15) inches.
READER BOARD SIGN. Any advertising structure having changeable copy for the purpose of advertising special events, sales, or to be changed on a regular basis.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. Any temporary sign indicating the availability for sale, rent, or lease of the specific lot, building, or portion of a building upon which the sign is erected or displayed.
ROOF SIGN. A sign which is erected, constructed, and maintained on or above the roof of any building.
SUPERGRAPHIC SIGN. A sign, consisting of an image projected onto a wall or printed on vinyl, mesh or other material with or without written text, supported and attached to a building wall by an adhesive and/or by using stranded cable and eye-bolts.
TEMPORARY ADVERTISING SIGN. A temporary sign, whether an off-premises advertising sign or an on-premises advertising sign, which advertises a multiple-family new construction development located or to be located within the corporate limits of the Village.
TEMPORARY SIGN. Any display, informational sign, banner, or other advertising device with or without a structural frame, not permanently attached to a building, structure, or the ground and intended for use during a limited period.
WALL SIGN. Any sign which is affixed directly to or painted on, or otherwise inscribed on, an exterior wall, including windows and doors, of any building, retaining wall, or other structure.
WINDOW SIGN. Any sign which is painted on, applied, or attached to a window, which sign can be seen through the window from the exterior of the structure. Merchandise which is included in a window display shall not be included as a part of a window sign.
SITE. The lot upon which a sign is located or proposed to be located, as the case may be.
STRIP BUSINESS. Commercial or business establishments erected at the established building line on a single lot or multiple lots fronting on a dedicated public right-of-way.
STRUCTURAL TRIM. Any molding, battens, cappings, nailing strips, and latticing which are attached to sign structures.
TRANSITION. A method by which a sign that features electronic means of changing copy displays the switch from one message or image to the next. These include but are not limited to dissolve, fade, fly in, pan, scroll, spin, travel, wipe or similar frame effects that may or may not include the appearance of moving text or images, change in size, or being revealed sequentially rather than all at once.
VILLAGE. The Village of Schiller Park, an Illinois home rule unit and municipal corporation.
ZONING DISTRICT. A district set forth in the Zoning Ordinance of the Village.
ZONING ORDINANCE. The Zoning Ordinance, including the Zoning Map of the Village.
(Ord. 95-1934, passed 6-13-95; Am. Ord. 07-2642, passed 7-24-07; Am. Ord. 14-2979, passed 9-18- 14; Am. Ord. 15-3015, passed 8-20-15; Am. Ord. 19-4149, passed 4-18-19; Am. Ord. 20-4221, passed 4-16-20)