As used in this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "Sign" means a publicly displayed notice, message, or design, or means of attracting attention, including all faces and any mounting or frame or box; whether illuminated or non-illuminated; whether combination of or solely letters and/or logos and/or highlighting and/or accenting or trim or framing using lines and/or colors; whether temporary or permanent; visible or apparently readable from the outdoors or upon viewing the exterior premises of any building, structure or land, or within a mall in a Shopping Center District.
(b) "Publicly displayed" means any sign whether free standing or located at ground level or as a part of, outside of, or in front of any roof, pole, wall or any fascia on premises of any building, structure or land, including any portion of the exterior surface of a building or structure, including, but not limited to, any sign visibly or apparently readable from the outdoors through any transparent portion of a building.
(c) "Temporary Sign" means a sign, the display of which is intended or permitted only for a limited period of time, otherwise subject to the regulations contained in this Chapter 1270.
(d) "Commercial or business or advertising sign".
(1) "Commercial or business or advertising" sign means, but is not limited to, any sign, in the exercise of commercial or business free speech, that has the purpose or effect of advertising, including, but not limited to: promoting, marketing, publicizing and/or identifying or giving a notice or message for any business, or offering any product, service or activity on behalf of any business, commercial enterprise, trade, profession or firm, and/or identifying the name of the person or persons or business, commercial enterprise or firm conducting or benefitting from or interested in such business, commercial enterprise, trade, profession or farm whether or not such business, product, service or activity is conducted in, upon or around such premises.
(2) "Business, product, service or activity" means, is not limited to, any product, service, or activity from any business, commercial enterprise, trade, profession or firm available to or for the benefit of members of the public consider, evaluate, participate in, or take advantage of by reason of viewing or reading any advertising sign.
(3) "Political sign" means any sign that endorses, supports or advocates or opposes or discusses any election or political, issue, or advocates or supports any candidate for public office in any general, primary or special election.
(e) "Window signs" are signs painted on or posted against the inside of windows or translucent doors facing a street. Each window or glass or translucent area separated by a door, mullion or structural or other architectural appurtenance shall be deemed a separate window. The size of such signs shall be determined by a measurement of the entire sign area.
(f) "Identification sign" means a sign that designates a building name and/or company name and/or address and/or phone number or other means of communication and/or the name of a development.
(g) "Accent banner" may include a street spanning banner or streamer (from Section 1270.05(i)) and is a sign intended for civic, institutional and/or area celebration of holiday, historic awareness, seasonal citywide greetings or special events, institutional pathfinders or announcements of general interest for the community, or the enhancement of the streetscape.
(h) "Ground sign" is any sign embedded in or mounted on the ground or located at ground level and no more than five feet in height above ground level and shall include, but not be limited to, free standing wall signs.
(i) "Pole sign" is any sign mounted so that the bottom of the sign is five feet or more in height above ground or grade level, however it is supported, whether on a pole or post or foundation.
(j) Flags or symbols used for the same purpose as signs shall be deemed signs.
(k) "Box sign" is a sign constructed in a contained unit which may be square, rectangular, circular, spherical or other geometric shape or in a free form.
(l) An awning, canopy, marquee, or mansard if translucent shall be deemed a sign to the extent it is back lit.
(Ord. 97-05. Passed 12-15-1997.)
(n) "Personal expression sign" is a temporary sign under 1270.11(a)(4) which may be displayed for up to 30 days in any one year period and means any sign that expresses an individual view or greeting without directly inciting hatred or violence.
(1982 Code, § 1120.01) (Ord. 99-04. Passed 3-1-1999; Ord. 2011-02. Passed 2-7-2011.)