Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in this chapter shall be defined in accordance with “Definitions” of the Zoning Ordinance. Words or phrases not defined below or in the Zoning Ordinance shall be interpreted so as to give them the meaning they have in common usage:
(a) “Abandoned sign” means a sign, including sign face and supporting structure, which refers to a discontinued business, profession, commodity, service, or other activity or use formerly occupying the site; or which contains no sign copy on all sign faces for a continuous period of 90 days.
Any off premise advertising sign which does not correctly advertise or identify a bona fide business, product, service or interest for 90 days. Any sign that is not in a state of repair in conformance with Section 1272.03(g) of this chapter.
(b) “Attached sign” means a sign, which is structurally connected to a building or depends upon that building for support.
(c) “Auxiliary design elements” means terms, which describe secondary characteristics of a sign, including its method of illumination and other features within the bounds of its basic shape.
(d) “Awning and awning sign” means a shelter supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building and composed of non-rigid materials, except for a supporting framework. An awning sign is a message printed on such a shelter.
(e) “Banner” means material with a printed message or graphic secured or mounted from a structure in such a way as to allow wind movement.
(f) “Business center identification sign” means a sign, which identifies a building or group of commercial buildings in single ownership or control, sharing parking and access.
(g) “Canopy sign” means a sign, which is attached or made an integral part of a canopy.
(h) “Clearance” means the distance from the bottom of a sign face elevated above grade and the grade below.
(i) “Detached sign” means a sign, which is self-supporting and structurally independent from any building.
(j) “Electronic information sign” means any sign intended primarily to provide information of general community interest, including time, temperature, date, atmospheric conditions, news, traffic control, or commercial messages pertaining to the use on the premises, by means of an electronic display.
(k) “Flashing sign” means the use of an intermittent light source, including the illusion of intermittence through animation or other external light sources. Electronic information signs are excluded from this definition, except of the flashing mode of these signs.
(l) “Directional sign” means a sign which serves only to designate the location or direction of any area or place.
(m) “Double-faced sign” means a sign consisting of no more than two parallel faces supported by a single structure.
(n) “Frontage” means the length of a property line of any one premise abutting and parallel to a public street, private way, or court.
(o) “Ground sign” means a detached on premise sign built on a freestanding frame, mast, or pole(s) with a clearance no greater than three feet.
(p) “Illumination” means lighting sources installed for the primary purpose of lighting a specific sign or group of signs.
(q) “Maximum permitted sign area” means the maximum permitted combined area of all signs allowed on a specific property.
(r) “Monument sign” means an on premise freestanding sign with the appearance of a solid base.
(s) “Moving sign” means a sign which conveys its message through rotating, changing or animated elements.
(t) “Nonconforming sign” means a sign that was legally erected prior to the adoption of this chapter but which violated the regulations of this chapter.
(u) “Pole sign” means an on premise sign built on a freestanding frame, mast or pole(s) with a clearance greater than three feet.
(v) “Portable Sign” means any sign supported by frames or posts rigidly attached to bases not permanently attached to the ground or a building and capable of being moved from place to place.
(w) “Premise identification sign” means a sign which pertains to the use of a premises and which contains information about the owner or operator of that use; the type of business being conducted or the principal brand name of a commodity sold on the premises; and other information relative to the conduct of the use.
(x) “Premises” means a tract of one or more plots or sites, which are contiguous, and under common ownership or control.
(y) “Projections signs” means a sign other that a wall sign than is attached to and project from a building face.
(z) “Roof sign” means any sign or part of a sign erected upon, against, or directly above a roof or on top of or above the parapet or cornice of a building.
(1) “Integral roof sign” means a roof sign positioned between an eave line and the peak or highest point on a roof, substantially parallels to the face of a building.
(2) “Above-peak roof sign” means a roof sign positioned above the peak of a roof or above a parapet or cornice.
(aa) “Sign” means a symbolic, visual device fixed upon a building, vehicle, structure or parcel of land which is intended to convey information about a product, business, activity, place, person, institution, candidate, or political idea.
(bb) “Sign type” means a functional description of the use of an individual sign. Includes owner identification, advertising, directional, electronic message and temporary.
(cc) “Snipe sign” means anything that is attached to trees, wires or to other objects that has a message appearing on it that does not apply to the present use of the premises or structure upon which the sign is located and is not otherwise permitted by this chapter.
(dd) “Street facade” means any separate external face of a building, including parapet walls and omitted wall lines, oriented to and facing a public street, private way or court. Separate faces oriented in the same direction or within 45 degrees of one another are considered part of the same street facade.
(ee) “Temporary signs” means a sign, flag, banner, pennant or valance constructed of lightweight materials which is not permanently attached to a building or land, and which is intended for display for a maximum three month period of time.
(ff) “Wall sign” means a sign attached to and parallel with the side of a building.
(gg) “Window sign” means a sign painted on or installed inside a window for the purpose of viewing from outside the premises.
(Ord. 1790. Passed 6-27-17.)