For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALTERATION. Any change excluding content, and including, but not limited to, the size, shape, method of illuminations, position, locations, materials, construction, or supporting structure of a sign.
AWNING. A shelter projecting from and supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building and constructed of rigid or non-rigid materials on a supporting framework.
BUILDING FACE OR WALL. All window and wall area of a building in one plane or elevation. In the case of a round or curved building, the "front" face or wall shall be determined as the portion that lies between the two 45-degree tangents from the street frontage, as illustrated below:
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BUILDING FRONTAGE. The exterior wall surfaces of a building that directly or most directly face a specific direction, usually a street, but in some cases a parking lot. The width of the property line that fronts a particular street is considered that property's frontage. In some cases, such as a corner lot, a property may have more than one FRONTAGE.
BUILDING OFFICIAL. The officer or other person charged with the enforcement of this code or his or her duly authorized deputy or assistant. The administration of this code is the responsibility of the City Administrator.
BULLETIN BOARD. A permanent sign intended to accommodate changeable copy, such as private or public notices, special event information, and other short-term messages, and is generally at a scale suitable for pedestrians and not intended to be read by passing motorists. (Also, see KIOSK.)
CANOPY. A non-movable awning or roof-like structure attached to a building.
CHANGEABLE COPY OR READER-BOARD SIGN. A sign structure that is often internally or externally illuminated and intended to accommodate changeable lettering, numbering, graphic displays or other short-term messages. Often used for commercial messages and for information pertaining to current or coming events of general interest.
CITY ADMINISTRATOR. The City Administrator for the City of Shady Cove or the City Administrator's designee.
CUT-OUT SIGN. Any visual or graphic display in the form of figures, letters, numbers or other characters or representatives in cut-out or irregular forms. The signs may be free-standing or attached to a building or other structure.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN. A permanent sign which is designed solely for the purpose of directing motor vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle or other traffic, or individuals, toward a specific destination or route.
ELECTRIC SIGN. Any sign containing electrical wiring or requiring electricity for its function or illumination.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN. Any sign whose message or display is presented with patterns of lights which may be changed intermittently by an electronic process.
FASCIA SIGN. See WALL SIGN.
FLASHING SIGN. Any sign which incorporates intermittent electrical impulses to a source of illumination or revolving in a manner which creates the illusion of flashing, or which changes color or intensity or illumination. Examples include electric or electronic time, date and temperature signs and other electronic message signs.
FREE-STANDING SIGN. A sign that is supported by columns, uprights or braces in or upon the ground and not attached to any building.
GRADE. The level of the surface of the ground, whether or not paved, that lies immediately below a sign or proposed sign location. When a slope is involved, the grade shall be the average of the levels at each supporting member of the sign's structure.
GROUND SIGN. See FREE-STANDING SIGN.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A sign intended solely to inform the public of the particular use of a property, building, office and the like and which may include the address, suite number or other identifying information, but that typically does not include other advertising or messages not related to the identification of the premises.
ILLEGAL SIGN. Any sign which was erected or altered in violation of the city's sign regulations that were in effect at the time of the action. (Also, see NONCONFORMING SIGN.)
ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign which utilizes a source of light, either internally or externally
(1) DIRECT ILLUMINATION. A source of illumination on the surface of the sign or from within a translucent sign.
(2) INDIRECT ILLUMINATION. A source of light that is either attached to the sign structure or located nearby, and that is directed toward the sign to illuminate its exterior surface.
INCIDENTAL SIGN. A sign intended primarily for the convenience and direction of the public, which is informational only, and which does not include the advertising of products or services. These signs may include business hours signs, credit card signs, entrance and exit signs, and other signs that may be required by law.
KIOSK. A free-standing structure having areas designed for the placement or attachment of personal or public notices, advertisements or other messages. It may function much like a "bulletin board" for messages of a short-term nature and often include identification of the business on whose property it is located.
MAINTAIN. To permit a sign, sign structure, or any part thereof to continue. Or, to repair, refurbish, or keep in good order and repair a sign, structure, or any part of each.
MARQUEE. A permanent roofed structure attached to and supported by a building and projecting
away from the building, usually over a public walkway and common to theaters.
MOVING OR ANIMATED SIGN. Any sign that includes action or motion, including flashing lights, color changes, revolving or waving actions, but not including, wind actuated elements, such as flags, pennants, or banners. These signs do not include public service signs such as time, date, temperature signs.
MULTIPLE-COPY SIGNS. Any sign structure that contains identification of or information about more than one business or other land use or which contains more than one type of message.
NONCONFORMING SIGN. Unlike an "illegal sign", a nonconforming sign was legally established but no longer conforms to the current standards or requirements of this subchapter.
PAINTED SIGN. A sign which is painted directly onto the surface of a building or other structure that was not specifically designed as a sign structure.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any free-standing sign which is not permanently fixed on the site by either attachment to a fixed structure or embedded into the ground, and which can be readily moved. Sandwich board or "A"-frame signs are typical of this type.
PROJECTING SIGN. Any sign which is attached to a structure or building face and:
(1) Extends outward from that structure or building for a distance greater than 16 inches or;
(2) Has a face which is not parallel to the face of the building or structure and extends beyond the face of the building for any distance.
READER BOARD. See CHANGEABLE COPY.
ROOF SIGN. A sign erected upon or above the roof or parapet wall structure of a building and which is wholly or partially supported by the building.
SANDWICH BOARD SIGN. See PORTABLE SIGN.
SHOPPING CENTER/BUSINESS COMPLEX SIGN. A single sign structure intended for the placement of two or more identification signs related to businesses services, or primary goods offered in the center or business complex.
SIGN. Any words, number, logos, flags, banners or other material that are placed or constructed primarily to convey a message, and which is visible from public or private streets or other property.
SIGN STRUCTURE. Any structure specifically intended to support a sign or which may also be a part of the sign. May include supports, uprights, braces, framework and other members that may be needed to support the sign and keep it in place.
TEMPORARY SIGN. A sign that is not permanently affixed and which is intended for a short-term use, such as to advertise an activity, such as a special promotion, sale, fund-raising activity, special event or for use until a permanent sign can be erected. TEMPORARY SIGNS typically include devices such as banners, flags, pennants, searchlights, balloons and the like.
UNDER MARQUEE SIGN. A sign attached to the underside of a marquee or canopy and protruding over a public or private pedestrian walkway. Often used in shopping centers and areas having covered sidewalks.
WALL GRAPHICS. Any mosaic, mural or painting, or graphic art technique or combination of same, implanted, applied or otherwise placed directly onto a wall or fence and containing no copy, advertising symbols, logos, trademarks or other references to any product, service, goods, persons, places or issues. These are generally considered to be "art" and not signs and as such, are not subject to the regulations included in this subchapter.
WALL SIGN. A sign attached directly to or erected against the wall of a building with the face in
a parallel plane to the building wall and extending no more than 12 inches from the wall.
WIND SIGN OR DEVICE. Any sign or device that is intended to serve the function of a sign, in attracting attention to a particular site, business or premise, and which because of its design or materials is caused to flutter, wave, revolve, sparkle or otherwise move as a result of the pressures of a wind or breeze including inflatable air dancers, tube dancers, fan dancers.
WINDOW SIGN(S). Are those which are painted, displayed or placed on the interior of the window or glass door.
(Ord. 225, passed 10-20-1994, § 29.2; Ord. 269, passed 9-18-2014; Ord. 291, passed 6-6-2019)