For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. A sign structure that has ceased to be used, and the owner intends no longer to have used, for the display of sign copy, or as otherwise defined by state law.
A-FRAME SIGN. Any sign or structure which is composed of two sign faces mounted or attached back-to-back in such a manner as to form a basically triangular vertical cross-section through the faces.
ANIMATED SIGN. Any sign which is designed and constructed to give its message through movement which are located, constructed, manufactured or sold upon the same premises upon which the sign is erected.
ATTACHED SIGN. Any sign which advertises products, services or business establishments which are located, conducted, manufactured or sold upon the same premises upon which the sign is erected.
BILLBOARD. Any sign erected for the purpose of advertising or promoting a product, event, person or subject that may or may not be located on the premises on which the sign is located.
CLEAR-VIEW AREA. An area bounded by lines drawn from a point on the centerline of the driveway, set back 15 feet from the front property line to points at the property line in front of the property, 30 feet either side of the centerline of the driveway for local collectors and 50 feet on collectors and arterials. Within this area, no view-obstructing object may be located with a height over two feet from average grade at property line.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN. A sign identifying an existing or proposed development project, which may contain the name of the project, name and address of construction firms, architects, engineers, developers and the like.
ELECTRONIC DISPLAY SIGN. Any sign, or portion thereof, that displays electronic images, graphics or pictures, with or without textual information. Such a sign has the capability of being changed or altered by electronic means on a fixed display screen composed of a series of lights, including light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, plasma displays, light bulbs or other illumination devices, within the display area where the message is displayed. ELECTRONIC DISPLAY SIGNS include computer programmable, microprocessor-controlled electronic or digital displays.
FREESTANDING SIGN. Any sign that is standing on or erected into the ground. Such signs are usually, but not necessarily, supported from the ground by one or more poles or posts or similar uprights, with or without braces. Any sign which is mounted into the ground but has the support passing through any portion of the roof of a building or structure shall be a roof sign.
MONUMENT SIGN. A sign which is incorporated into the landscape or architectural design scheme and displays the name of uses or buildings.
NAMEPLATE SIGN. A sign indicating the name and/or occupation of a person legally occupying the premises or indicating a legal home occupation thereon.
MOVABLE, FREESTANDING SIGN. Any sign not affixed to or erected into the ground.
NON-ATTACHED SIGN. Any sign advertising products, services or business establishments which are not located, conducted, manufactured or sold upon the same premises upon which the sign is erected.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING STRUCTURE. A structure erected and maintained for outdoor advertising purposes upon which a poster, bill, printing or painting may be placed to advertise products, goods, services or business establishments other than those located, conducted, manufactured or sold upon the premises on which the structure is erected.
POLITICAL SIGN. A temporary sign intended to advance a political statement, cause or candidate for office. A legally permitted outdoor advertising sign shall not be considered a POLITICAL SIGN.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. A temporary sign advertising the sale, lease or rental of the property or premises on which it is located.
ROOF SIGN. Any sign which is erected upon or over the roof or over a parapet of any building or structure.
SIGN. Any device visible from a public place that displays either commercial or noncommercial messages by means of graphic presentation of alphabetic or pictorial symbols or representations. Noncommercial flags or any flags displayed from flagpoles or staff will not be considered to be SIGNS.
SIGN AREA. The area of a sign that is used for display purposes, excluding the minimum frame and supports. In computing SIGN AREA, only one side of a back-to-back or double-face sign covering the same subject shall be computed when the signs are parallel or diverge from a common edge by an angle of not more than 45 degrees.
SIGN SETBACK. The minimum distance that any portion of a sign or sign structure shall be from any street right-of-way line and yard line coterminous with a street.
TEMPORARY SIGN. Any sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising display constructed of paper, cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard or other light material displayed out-of-doors shall be considered to be a temporary sign and shall be permitted, subject to all provisions of this subchapter, for a period not to exceed 30 days. No sign, handbill, poster, advertisement or notice of any kind or sort shall be fastened, placed, posted, painted or attached in any or upon a utility pole, except signs owned and erected by a public agency or erected by permission of any authorized public agency as required by law. Any sign not located or not in a fixed position on property, within a building or car, such as an A-frame, trailer sign or pedestal-type sign, shall be approved for temporary use not to exceed 72 hours, and shall be approved by the zoning enforcement officer. Furthermore, if such a moveable, TEMPORARY SIGN is used on a recurring basis, an agreement shall be made with the County Commissioners with a fee based on the evaluation of such sign.
WALL SIGN. Any sign posted or painted upon, suspended from, or otherwise affixed to a wall, fascia, canopy or marquee in an essentially vertical position or with the exposed face of the sign in a place approximately parallel with the wall or fascia upon which it is attached.
WINDOW SIGN. A sign affixed to the surface of a window with its message intended to be visible to and readable from the public way or from adjacent property.
(Ord. 2020-9-1, passed 9-14-2020)