(1) "Abandoned sign - on premise" means a sign which no longer correctly directs or exhorts any persons or advertises a bona fide business, lessor, owner, product or activity conducted or product available on the premises where such sign is displayed.
(2) "Abandoned sign - off premise" means a sign which advertises goods, products, services or facilities incorrectly or which are no longer available to the public or which directs persons to a different location where such goods, products, services or facilities are not available.
(3) "Accessory sign." See "On-premise sign."
(1952 Code § 43-2)
(4) "Administrator" means the Commissioner of Building Inspection or his designated representative.
(Ord. 683-91. Passed 9-3-91.)
(5) "Advertising message" means that copy on a sign describing products or services being offered to the public.
(1952 Code § 43-2)
(6) (a) "Animated sign" means any sign which includes action or motion, or the illusion of action or motion produced by changes in illumination. For purposes of this Code, "animated sign" does not refer to flashing or indexing, which are separately defined, nor does "animated sign" refer to changing signs on which individual characters and graphics do not show action or motion. (See "Animated changing sign").
(b) "Animated changing sign (automatic)" means any sign which includes alpha-numeric characters and graphics which show action by means of sequential illumination, that is, cartoon-like images appearing in motion or action.
(Ord. 774-90. Passed 7-31-90.)
(7) "Architectural projection" means any projection not intended for occupancy which extends beyond the property line, not including signs, canopies or marquees.
(8) "Architectural blade" means a roof sign or projecting sign with no visible legs or braces designed to look as though it could have been part of the building structure, rather than something suspended from or standing on the building.
(9) "Area identification sign" means a sign, free standing or affixed to a wall or fence which identifies a neighborhood, a residential subdivision, a multiple residential complex or a commercial or industrial complex.
(10) "Area of off-premise sign" means where poster panels or bulletins are installed back to back, one face only is considered as area. If there is a difference, the larger face shall be counted.
(11) "Area of sign" means the area of the largest single face of the sign within a perimeter which forms the outside shape including any frame, forms an integral part of the display, but excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign may be placed. If the sign consists of more than one section or module, all areas shall be totalled.
(12) "Awning" means a movable or fixed shelter supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building and composed of rigid or non-rigid materials except for the supporting framework.
(13) "Background area" means the entire area of a sign on which copy could be placed, as opposed to the copy area, when referred to in connection with facia or painted wall signs.
(14) "Banner" means a long, narrow flag hung over a street, entrance, etc.
(15) "Banner sign" means a temporary sign composed of lightweight material either enclosed or not enclosed in a rigid frame, secured or mounted so as to allow movement of the sign caused by movement of the atmosphere.
(16) "Billboard." See "Off-premise sign," or "Outdoor advertising."
(17) "Building face or wall" means all window and wall area of a building in one plane or elevation.
(18) "Building frontage" means the linear width of a building facing the right of way or the linear length of the right of way facing the building, whichever is smaller.
(19) "Building sign" means a sign lettered to give the name of a building itself, as opposed to the name of occupants or services.
(20) "Bulletin." See "Off-premise sign" or "outdoor advertising."
(21) "Canopy" or "marquee" means a permanent roof-like shelter extending from part or all of a building face over a public right of way and constructed of some durable material such as metal, glass or plastic.
(22) "Canopy sign" or "marquee sign" means any sign attached to or constructed in or on a canopy or marquee.
(23) "Changeable copy sign (manual)" means a sign on which copy or sign panels are changed manually in the field, i.e., reader boards with changeable letters or changeable pictorial panels.
(1952 Code § 43-2)
(24) "Changing sign (automatic)" means any sign such as an electronically or electrically controlled public service time, temperature and date sign, message center or readerboard where different copy and graphic changes are shown on the same lamp or disc bank. "Changing sign (automatic)" may not include signs with the appearance of motion by means of scrolling, fading in and out, blinking or other change in copy or graphics that appear or disappear or change location on the sign. Electronic Message Centers are subject to the standards of TMC 1389.06.
(Ord. 466-17. Passed 10-31-17.)
(25) "City" means the City of Toledo, Ohio.
(26) "Comprehensive design plan" means building design and signs integrated into one architectural plan, the comprehensive plan being complete in all other building, structural and electrical requirements.
(27) "Construction sign" means a temporary sign identifying a building or construction site and the architects, engineers, financial institutions, contractors and/or supplies involved at the site.
(28) "Copy (permanent and temporary)" means the wording on a sign surface either in permanent or removable letter form.
(29) "Copy area" means the area in square feet of the smallest geometric figure which describes the area enclosed by the actual copy of a sign. For facia signs, the copy area limits refer to the message, not to the illuminated background.
(30) "Council" means the City Council of Toledo, Ohio.
(31) "Detached sign." See "Free-standing sign."
(32) "Directional sign" means any sign which serves solely to designate the location or direction of any place or area.
(33) "Directly illuminated sign" means any sign designed to provide artificial light either through exposed lighting on the sign face or through transparent or translucent material from a light source within the sign.
(34) "Electrical sign" means any sign containing electrical wiring which is attached or intended to be attached to an electrical energy source.
(34A) "Electronic Message Centers" See "Changing sign (automatic)."
(Ord. 466-17. Passed 10-31-17.)
(35) "Embellishment" means:
(a) Letters, figures, characters or representations in cutouts or irregular forms or similar ornaments attached to or superimposed upon the sign.
(b) A purely decorative embellishment on a free standing sign.
(36) "Erected" means attached, altered, built, constructed, reconstructed, enlarged or moved, and includes the painting of wall signs, but does not include copy changes on any sign.
(37) "Exempt signs" means exempted from normal permit requirements.
(38) "Facelift" means the remodeling of a building's frontage which is visible from a public right of way, so that the building material, door frames, window frames and signs are designed in harmony with each other.
(39) "Face of sign" means the entire area of sign on which copy could be placed.
(40) "Facia sign" or "wall sign" means a sign attached to or erected against a wall of a building, with the face parallel to the building wall and extending not more than one foot therefrom.
(41) "Field fabricated sign" means a sign of such magnitude that it cannot be completely constructed in the factory.
(42) "Flag" means a piece of cloth or other flexible material varying in size, shape, color and design, usually attached at one edge to a staff or cord and which may be imprinted with an advertising message or design, or be of bright colors to attract attention. Not included are those flags, emblems or insignia of any nation, political subdivision or corporation.
(a) "Feather flag" means a vertically elongated piece of cloth or other flexible material typically attached to a curved plastic or metal shaft and secured to the ground without a permanent foundation.
(Ord. 182-83. Passed 3-8-83; Ord. 16-18. Passed 1-16-18.)
(43) "Flashing sign" means any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light source, or an externally-mounted intermittent light source. Automatic changing signs such as public service time, temperature and date signs or electronically controlled message centers as classed as "changing signs (automatic)," not "flashing signs."
(Ord. 744-90. Passed 7-31-90.)
(44) "Free-standing signs" means a sign erected on a free-standing frame, mast or pole and not attached to any building.
(45) "Freeway" or "controlled access highway" means a highway in respect to which the owners of abutting lands have no right or easement of access to or from their abutting lands, or in respect of which such owners have only limited or restricted right or easement of access and which is declared to be a freeway as provided by the highway authority.
(46) "Freeway-oriented sign" ("controlled access highway sign") means any sign identifying premises where food, lodging or places of business are located that engage in supplying goods and services essential to normal operation of motor vehicles, and where such businesses are directly dependent upon the adjacent freeway for business.
(47) "Frontage" means the length of the property line of any one premises parallel to and along each public right of way it borders.
(48) "Future development sign" means a temporary sign indicating the future construction or development of a building or area but not fitting under the definition of "construction sign."
(49) "Ground level" means street grade.
(50) "Ground sign." See "Free-standing sign."
(51) "Height of sign" means the vertical distance measured from the adjacent street grade or upper surface of the nearest street curb other than an elevated roadway, which permits the greatest height to the highest point of such sign.
(52) "Identification facia sign" means a sign which is limited to the name of the building or institution on which the sign is erected.
(53) "Identification sign" means a sign which is limited to the name, address and number of a building, institution or person and to the activity carried on in the building or institution, or the occupancy of the person.
(54) "Illuminated sign" means any sign which emanates light either by means of exposed tubing or lamps on its surface, or by means of illumination transmitted through the sign faces.
(55) "Incidental sign" means a secondary sign not referring directly to goods, products, services or facilities which are available on the premises where the sign is located; i.e., credit cards accepted, official notices required by law, trade affiliations.
(56) "Indexing" means the turning and stopping action of the polygonal sections of a multi-prism sign designed to show several messages in the same area.
(57) "Indirectly illuminated sign" means any sign which reflects light from a source intentionally directed upon it; for example, by means of flood lights, gooseneck reflectors or externally mounted fluorescent light fixtures.
(58) "Individual letter sign" means any sign made of self-contained letters that are mounted on the face of a building, top of a parapet, roof edge of a building or on top of or below a marquee.
(59) "Institutional bulletin board" means a sign which primarily displays the name of the organization and/or upcoming events of that organization.
(60) "Interior property line" means property lines other than those fronting on a street, road or highway.
(61) "Lintel" means in this context, the line above the display windows and below transom windows (if any) on a store, usually approximately nine feet zero inches from grade.
(62) "Lot" means a parcel of land of sufficient size to meet minimum zoning requirements for use, coverage and area and to provide such yards and other open spaces required. Such lots shall have frontage on an improved public street, or on an approved private street and may consist of:
(a) A single lot of record;
(b) A portion of a lot of record; or
(c) A combination of single lots and/or portions of lots of record.
(63) "Low profile sign" means a free-standing sign erected near ground level and limited to identifying the name of the building or institution on the premises.
(64) "Maintain" means to permit a sign, structure or any part of each to continue or to repair or refurbish a sign, structure or any part of either.
(65) "Mansard roof" means a sloping roof where the angle of the roof is no more than thirty degrees from perpendicular. Signs on these roofs shall be considered facia signs. (See also "sloping roof")
(66) "Marquee" (or "canopy") means a permanent roof-like shelter extending from part or all of the building face over a public right of way and constructed of some durable material such as metal, glass or plastic.
(67) "Marquee sign" or "canopy sign" means any sign attached to or constructed in or on a canopy or marquee.
(68) "Message" means the wording or copy on a sign.
(69) "Multi-prism sign" means a sign made with a series of polygonal sections that turn and stop, or index, to show several pictures or messages in the same area.
(70) "Nameplate" means a non-electric sign identifying only the name and occupation or profession of the occupant of the premises on which the sign is located. If any premises include more than one occupant, "nameplate" refers to all names and occupations or professions as well as the name of the building and directional information.
(71) "Non-accessory sign." See "Off-premise sign."
(72) "Non-electrical sign" means any sign that does not contain electrical wiring or is not attached to or intended to be attached to an electrical energy source.
(73) "Non-conforming sign (legal)" means any advertising structure or sign which was erected and maintained prior to such time as it came within the preview of this Code and any amendments thereto, and which fails to conform to all applicable regulations and restrictions of this Code, or a non-conforming sign for which a special permit has been issued.
(Ord. 130-79)
(74) "Off-premise sign" ("off-site sign") means a third party sign which does not constitute advertisement for the primary functions of the premises on which the sign is located. It is a sign that advertises goods, products, services or facilities not necessarily sold on the premises on which the sign is installed or which directs persons to a different location from where the sign is installed. Listed below are three main types:
(a) Poster panels or bulletins normally mounted on a building wall, roof or free-standing structure with advertising copy in the form of pasted paper.
(b) Multi-prism signs - same as above, and alternating advertising messages on the one displayed area.
(c) Painted bulletins, where the advertiser's message is painted directly on the background of a wall-mounted, roof or free-standing display area.
(Ord. 42-80)
(75) "On-premise sign" ("on-site sign") means any sign identifying or advertising a business, person, activity, goods, products or services located on the premises where the sign is installed and maintained.
(76) "Outdoor advertising sign" ("off-site sign") (EDITOR'S NOTE: This subsection was repealed by Ordinance 42-80)
(77) "Owner" means a person recorded as such on official records and including a duly authorized agent or notary, a purchaser, devisee, judiciary; any person having a vested or contingent interest in the property in question.
(78) "Painted wall sign" means a sign painted directly on the exterior wall of a building.
(79) "Parapet" or "parapet wall" means that portion of a building wall that rises above the roof level.
(80) "Pennant" means a long, tapering flag.
(81) "Penthouse" means a structure on top of a building roof such as houses an elevator shaft or similar form.
(82) "Person" means any individual, corporation, association, firm, partnership and the like, singular or plural.
(83) "Pole sign." See "Free-standing sign."
(84) "Portable sign" means any sign not permanently attached to the ground or a building.
(85) "Premises" means an area of land with its appurtenances and buildings which, because of its unity of use or ownership, may for the purposes of sign regulation be regarded by the City as the smallest regulable unit of real estate.
(86) "Projecting signs" means a sign, other than a wall sign, which is attached to and projects from a structure or building face. The area of a double-faced projecting sign is calculated on one face of the sign only.
(87) "Public right-of-way width" means the particular distance across a public street, measured from property line to property line. When property lines on opposite sides of the public street are not parallel, the public right-of-way width shall be determined by the Commissioner of Transportation.
(88) "Public service information sign" means any sign intended primarily to promote items of general interest to the community such as time, temperature and date, atmospheric conditions, news or traffic control, etc.
(89) "Real estate sign" or "property for sale, rent or lease sign" means any sign pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of land or buildings.
(90) "Roof line" means the top edge of the roof or the top of the parapet, whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette.
(91) "Roof sign" means any sign erected upon, against or directly above a roof or on top of or above the parapet of a building.
(92) "Rotating sign" means any sign or portion of a sign which moves in a revolving or similar manner, but not including multi-prism indexing signs.
(93) "Seasonal sign" or "holiday sign" means signs such as Christmas decorations or those used for an historic holiday, and installed for a limited period of time.
(94) "Sign" means any identification, description, illustration, symbol, statute or device illuminated or nonilluminated which is visible from any public place or is located on private property and exposed to the public view from outside the property where located and which directs attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business or solicitation, including any permanently installed or situated merchandise; or any emblem, painting, banner, flag, pennant, placard, or temporary sign designed to advertise, identify or convey information, to include any landscaping wherein letters or numbers are used for the purpose of directing the public's attention to a product or location with the exception of window displays and national flags. For the purpose of removal, "signs" shall also include all sign structures.
(Ord. 182-83. Passed 3-8-83; Ord. 104-94. Passed 3-14-94.)
(95) "Sign face" means the entire area of sign on which copy could be placed.
(96) "Sign legend." See "Copy."
(97) "Sign sticker" means a sticker affixed either to the face or the channel of a sign visible from the street denoting the name of the manufacturer or designated servicing company for purpose of identification by City officials or others.
(98) "Sign structure" means any structure which supports, has supported or is capable of supporting a sign, including decorative cover.
(99) "Sloping roof" means a roof that slopes up to sixty degrees from the horizontal. For greater slopes, see "Mansard roof."
(1952 Code § 43-2)
(100) "Space-frame sign" means a rigid, fireproof, space-frame structure with an internal metal frame and a translucent, flexible vinyl covering which sign is attached to a building facia between the opening or lintel bar and the parapet in a one-story building or between the opening or lintel bar and the window sills on the floor above in a multistory building, and which is designed in awning form, projecting form or wall sign form, whose principal purpose and use is signage. Such signs are internally illuminated by fluorescent or other light sources in fixtures approved under national and local electrical codes. Such signs do not extend above the parapet.
A. "Space-frame awning form sign" means a space-frame sign, which overhangs a window by not less than eighteen inches, an entrance door by not less than three feet or a pedestrian walkway by not less than four feet, with the sign face and principal copy approximately parallel to the building wall. Such sign does not extend more than forty-two inches above the opening or bottom of the facia, for a window or door installation, or more than forty-eight inches above the opening or bottom of the facia over a continuous walkway to a principal customer entrance.
B. "Space-frame projecting form sign" means a space-frame sign other than a space-frame awning sign, which is not more than two feet wide, and which extends more than one foot from the facia wall but not more than two feet, except over a principal customer entrance in the building wall, facing the street, where it may be up to ten feet wide and extend not more than six and one-half feet from the wall.
C. "Space-frame facia - wall form sign" means a space-frame sign with the principal sign face approximately parallel to and not more than one foot from the wall.
(Ord. 893-87. Passed 11-3-87.)
(101) "Special purpose sign" means any sign other than a business, non-accessory, identification sign, including but not limited to traffic signs.
(102) "Street" means a public highway, road or thoroughfare which affords the principal means of access to adjacent lots, measured from property line to property line.
(103) "Swinging sign" means a hinged sign installed on an arm or spar, which sign is not, in addition, permanently fastened to an adjacent wall or upright pole.
(104) "Temporary sign" means a sign which is not permanently affixed and includes all devices such as banners, pennants, flag (not intended to include flags of any nation), searchlights, twirling or sandwich type signs, sidewalk or curb signs and balloons or other air or gas-filled figures.
(105) "Temporary window or building sign" means a sign painted on the interior of a window or constructed of paper, cloth or other like material and attached to the interior side of a window or displayed on the exterior of a building wall in order to direct attention to persons outside the building to a sale of merchandise or a change in the status of the business.
(106) "Under canopy or marquee sign" means a sign suspended below the ceiling or roof of a canopy or marquee.
(107) "Unlawful sign" means a sign which contravenes this Code or which the Administrator may declare as unlawful if it becomes dangerous to public safety by reason of dilapidation or abandonment or a nonconforming sign for which a permit required under a previous Code was not obtained.
(108) "Use" means the purpose for which a building, lot, sign or other structure is arranged, intended, designed, occupied or maintained.
(109) "Wall sign." See "facia sign."
(110) "Window sign" means a sign installed inside a window for purposes of viewing from outside the premises. This term shall not include merchandise located in window. Signage that qualifies as an Electronic Message Center is prohibited.
(Ord. 466-17. Passed 10-31-17.)
(111) "Underwriters' Laboratories (48)" means a non-profit organization which establishes standards for electrical and mechanical equipment and materials and is commonly referred to as "UL." The electrical section is known as "Underwriters' Laboratories (48)."
(1952 Code § 43-2)