A. Abandoned Sign: A sign which has not identified or advertised a current business, service, owner, product, or activity for a period of at least 180 days, in the case of off-lot signs, or at least 360 days in the case of on-lot signs.
B. Awning Sign: Any sign painted on, or applied to, an awning.
C. Balloon Sign: A lighter-than-air, gas-filled balloon, tethered in a fixed location, which contains an advertisement message on its surface or attached to the balloon in any manner.
D. Banner: Any cloth, bunting, plastic, paper, or similar non-rigid material attached to any structure, staff, pole, rope, wire, or framing which is anchored on two or more edges or at all four corners. Banners are temporary in nature and do not include flags.
E. Beacon Lighting: Any source of electric light, whether portable or fixed, the primary purpose of which is to cast a concentrated beam of light generally skyward as a means of attracting attention to its location rather than to illuminate any particular sign, structure, or other object.
F. Changeable Message Sign: A sign (such as a tri-vision sign or an electronic alphanumeric display) that automatically changes the message periodically.
G. Clear Sight Triangle: The triangle defined by the safe sight distance at any intersection of streets, alleys, or driveways as defined by Pennsylvania Code Title 67, Chapter 441, and PennDOT Design Manual, Part 2, Publication 13.
H. Directional Sign: On-lot signs designed to provide direction to pedestrian and vehicular traffic into and out of, or within a site.
I. Electronic Alphanumeric Display: A type of illuminated, changeable copy sign that consists of electronically changing alphanumeric text; often used for gas price display signs and athletic scoreboards.
J. Electronic Message Center Sign: A sign, or portion thereof, that displays animated images, moving video images, graphics, or scrolling messages, electronic images, static images, static graphics or static pictures, with or without textual information, and is capable of change or alteration by electronic means on a fixed display screen composed of a series of lights including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), OLEDs, LCDs, DLPs, plasma, fiber optics, light bulbs or other illumination devices within the area where the message is displayed. EMCs include computer programmable, microprocessor controlled electronic or digital displays. EMCs include signs that use technology not listed in this definition and shall include similar technology which may be developed in the future, or the use of which may become widespread in the future.
K. Festoon Lighting: A type of illumination comprised of either: (a) a group of light bulbs hung or strung overhead or on a building or other structure, or (b) light bulbs not shaded or hooded or otherwise screened to prevent direct rays of light from shining on adjacent properties or rights-of-way.
L. Freestanding Sign: A sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or anchored in, the ground; and that is independent and detached from any building or other structure.
M. Illumination: A source of any artificial or reflected light, either directly from a source of light incorporated in, or indirectly from an artificial source.
N. Illumination, External: Artificial light, located away from the sign, which lights the sign, the source of which may or may not be visible to persons viewing the sign from any street, sidewalk, or adjacent property.
O. Illumination, Internal: A light source that is concealed or contained within the sign and becomes visible in darkness through a translucent surface. Electronic message center signs, electronic alphanumeric displays, and signs incorporating neon lighting shall not be considered internal illumination for the purposes of this ordinance.
P. Illuminated Sign: A sign with electrical equipment installed for illumination, either internally illuminated through its sign face by a light source contained inside the sign or externally illuminated by a light source aimed at its surface.
Q. Incidental Sign: A sign that displays general site information, instructions, directives, or restrictions that are primarily oriented to pedestrians and motor vehicle operators who have entered a property from a public street. These signs shall not contain any commercial advertising.
R. Marquee: A permanent structure, other than a roof or canopy, attached to, supported by, and projecting from a building and providing protection from the elements.
S. Marquee Sign: Any sign attached to a marquee for the purpose of identifying a use or product. If attached to a theater, performing arts center, cinema, or other similar use, it may also advertise films or productions.
T. Message Sequencing: The spreading of one message across more than one sign structure.
U. Mural (or mural sign): A large picture/image (including but not limited to painted art) which is painted, constructed, or affixed directly onto a vertical building wall, which may or may not contain text, logos, and/or symbols.
V. Non-Commercial Districts: The Watershed (WS), Agricultural (AD), Resource Protection (RP), Rural Residential (RR), Village Residential (VR), or Development (DD) zoning districts constitute non-commercial districts.
W. Off-Lot Advertising Sign: An off-lot advertising sign is a sign that directs attention regarding a person or commercial or non-commercial activity, conducted on a different lot or location.
X. On-Lot Sign: An on-lot sign is a sign that directs attention to a person or commercial or non- commercial activity, conducted on the same lot with the sign.
Y. Pennant: A triangular or irregular piece of fabric or other material, commonly attached in strings or strands, or supported on small poles intended to flap in the wind.
Z. Portable Sign: A sign designed to be transported or moved that is not permanently attached to the ground, a building or other structure. Includes Sandwich Board and Vehicular Signs.
AA. Projecting Sign: A building-mounted, double-sided sign with the two faces generally perpendicular to the building wall, not to include signs located on a canopy, awning, or marquee.
BB. Roof Sign: A building-mounted sign erected upon, against, or over the roof of a building.
CC. Sandwich Board Sign: A type of freestanding, portable, temporary sign consisting of two faces connected and hinged at the top and whose message is targeted to pedestrians (also known as an A-frame sign).
DD. Sign: Any device, structure, fixture, painting, emblem, or visual that uses words, graphics, colors, illumination, symbols, numbers, or letters for the purpose of communicating a message. Sign includes the sign faces as well as any sign supporting structure.
EE. Sign Area: The total dimensions of a sign surface used to display information, messages, advertising, logos, or symbols. See § 905.C. for standards for measuring sign area.
FF. Temporary Sign: A type of non-permanent, sign that is located on private property that can be displayed for no more than 90 days in a 6-month period.
GG. Tri-Vision Sign: An outdoor unit with a slatted face that allows three different copy messages to revolve at intermittent intervals.
HH. Vehicular Sign: A sign affixed to a vehicle in such a manner that the sign is used primarily as a stationary advertisement for the business on which the vehicle sits or is otherwise not incidental to the vehicle’s primary purpose.
II. Wall Sign: A building-mounted sign which is either attached to, displayed on, or painted on an exterior wall in a manner parallel with the wall surface.
JJ. Window Sign: A sign applied to a window pane (e.g., giving store hours or the name or names of credit or charge institutions), when the total area of any such sign or all signs together does not exceed two (2) square feet.
(Ord. 191, passed 1-8-2019)