(A)
Except as specifically defined herein, the words and phrases used in this chapter shall have their customary meanings as defined in a standard dictionary.
(B) (1) TENSE. The present tense. Includes the future tense.
(2) NUMBER. The singular number, which includes the plural number. The plural number includes the single number.
(3) PERSON. Includes a firm, association, partnership, trust, company, corporation or any other entity usually defined in legal usage as a person.
(4) SHALL and MAY. The word SHALL is mandatory, and the word MAY is permissive.
(5) LOT. Includes the words "plat" and "parcel".
(6) ON THE PREMISES. Shall be interpreted to mean "on the same lot" as applied to signs.
(C) For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. Any sign and its structure that has ceased to be used when the business activity or firm that such sign advertises is no longer in operation or when the sign no longer displays copy.
ADVERTISING SIGN. Any sign, pictorial or otherwise, regardless of size or shape, which directs attention to a business, commodity, attraction, profession, service or entertainment conducted, sold, offered, manufactured, existing or provided at a location other than on the premises where the sign is located or to which it is affixed. Such signs are sometimes called off-premise signs or non-point-of-sale signs and include, but are not limited to, those signs commonly referred to as outdoor advertising signs, billboards or poster boards.
ANIMATED SIGN. Any sign of which all or any part thereof visibly moves in any fashion whatsoever; and any sign which contains or uses for illumination any light, lights, or lighting device or devices which change color, flash, alternate, blink,
fluctuate, scintillate, show movement or motion, whirl, or change the appearance of said or any part thereof automatically. This includes moving message boards.
BANNER/PENNANT. Any sign applied to or constructed of paper, plastic or fabric of any kind (with or without a frame and with or without design or lettering) used to decorate or attract attention to a location, object, institution, product service or business. Flags of nations, states or political subdivisions, shall not be considered BANNERS.
BILLBOARD. A sign identifying, advertising and/or directing the public to a business, merchandise, service, institution, residential area or entertainment which is located, sold, rented, leased, produced, manufactured and/or furnished at a place other than the real property on which said sign is located. Such signs are also known as off-premises signs or outdoor advertising display signs, non-point-of-sale signs, or freestanding signs. Enforcement of provisions related to billboards (including, but not limited to, amortization and treatment of nonconformity) is pursuant to appropriate provisions of this chapter.
BUSINESS SIGNS. Any sign, pictorial or otherwise, regardless of size or shape, which directs attention to a business, commodity, attraction, profession, service or entertainment conducted, sold, offered, manufactured, existing or provided on the premises where the sign is located or to which it is affixed. Such signs are sometimes called on-premises signs or point-of-sale signs.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN. A sign on which a message copy is changed manually through the utilization of attachable letters, numbers, symbols, and other similar characters or changeable pictorial panels. Poster panels and printed boards are not considered CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNS.
COMMERCIAL CENTER. A commercial complex consisting of more than one retail, business or office establishment grouped together, usually developed under one or multiple owners or management, and generally sharing parking areas and
vehicular entrances and exits. Commercial centers include strip malls and indoor shopping malls; these generally may be described as areas where multiple businesses are attached to one another in a row or rows and generally share entranceways, parking and landscaping, as well as possible other amenities.
COPY EXTENSION. Part of the copy of an advertising sign which extends beyond the edge or border of the sign, sometimes called a cut-out or drop-out.
DILAPIDATED. Reduced to or fallen into partial ruin or decay from age, wear, or neglect.
DIRECTORY SIGN. Any sign listing only the names, uses or locations of more than one business, activity, firm, professional office or tenant within a building, group of buildings or commercial center.
DISPLAY AREA. That area of a sign including the entire area within a regular geometric shape (square, rectangle, triangle, circle or semicircle) or combination of regular geometric shapes enclosing all of the elements of informational or representational matter displayed, including blank masking or any surface shape intended to convey ideas, information or meaning. Frames or structural members not bearing informational or representational matter shall not be included in calculating the display area. For double-faced signs that are parallel and supported by the same structure, the display areas of the sign equal one-half (1/2) of the total display area of both faces. The display area of other multiple-faced signs equals the total display area of all faces.
EARTH TONE. Color scheme that reflects a palette of natural colors found in rocks, soil, and vegetation. These colors are usually represented by muted shades of brown, tan, gray, green, and red.
FLASHING LIGHTS. Any sign used for identification, direction, advertising, or promotional purposes that includes lighting fixtures which flash, blink, cut on and off intermittently, and which is used as an exterior sign; or any sign that contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source or
flashing illumination or which includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing light by means of animation or an externally mounted intermittent light source.
FREESTANDING SIGN. A sign which is permanently secured on the ground and which is not attached to, supported by, or erected on a building or other structure having a principal function other than support of such signs. Temporary signs may not be transformed into permanent signs. No open space shall be allowed between the display area and the base of the sign unless it is landscaped. The landscaping must be approved by the Architectural Review Board.
INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS. A single retail, commercial or office business or activity on a separate zone lot not sharing parking areas and vehicular entrances and exits with another activity.
INFLATABLE. A sign that requires air or other compressed gas, whether contained or blown, to keep and maintain its shape or which causes it to inflate.
INFORMATION SIGN. Any sign containing no message, copy, announcement or decoration other than instructions or directions to the public. Such signs include, but are not limited to, identifying restrooms, public telephones, walkways, entrance and exit drives, freight entrances and traffic directions.
MARQUEE SIGN. Any sign erected, stenciled, engraved on, attached to, or suspended from a marquee. A MARQUEE is defined as any hood, awning or roof-like structure of permanent construction without pillars or posts which is supported from a wall of a building, projected beyond the building wall, and generally designed and constructed to provide protection against the weather.
MOVING MESSAGE BOARD. An automated electrical sign which uses a pattern of lights to form various words that move or change throughout the civil day and which may also be animated.
PERMANENT SIGN. Any sign intended to be erected or displayed for a period, generally more than 30 days.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign which is not permanently fixed to the ground, a structure, a frame, a building or another surface. Such signs include, but are not limited to, trailer signs, sandwich board signs, sidewalk or curb signs, and inflatable signs. A portable sign cannot be changed into a permanent sign.
PRODUCT SIGN. Any sign which directs attention to products sold, offered or dispensed on the premises where the sign is located.
PROJECTING SIGN. Any sign which is erected on a building wall or structure and extends beyond the building wall by more than 12 inches.
ROOF LINE. The intersection of the roof, a building or structure, and the perimeter wall of that building or structure.
SIGN. Any device which informs or attracts the attention of persons not on the premises on which the sign is located.
TEMPORARY SIGN. Any sign intended to be erected or displayed for a limited period of time, usually less than 30 days.
WALL SIGN. Any sign attached to the exterior wall of a building or structure, which does not extend beyond the building wall more than 12 inches.
WINDBLOWN SIGN. Any banner, pennant, flag, spinner, streamer or other sign designed to be moved by the wind.
(1985 Code, § 9-124) (Am. Ord. 2019-11, passed 12-10-2019; Am. Ord. 20-22, passed 10-20-2020)