For the purpose of this chapter, the following words are defined and shall have the meaning ascribed to them as hereafter set forth:
(a) "Abandoned Sign" means a sign structure that has ceased to be used, and the owner intends no longer to have used, for the display of sign copy, or as otherwise defined by state law.
(b) "Animated Sign" means a sign employing actual motion or the illusion of motion. Animated signs, which are differentiated from changeable signs as defined and regulated by this code, include the following types:
(1) Electrically activated. Animated signs producing the illusion of movement by means of electronic, electrical or electro-mechanical input and/or illumination capable of simulating movement through employment of the characteristics of one or both of the classifications noted below:
A. Flashing. Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by a repetitive cycle in which the period of illumination is either the same as or less than the period of non-illumination. For the purposes of this ordinance, flashing will not be defined as occurring if the cyclical period between on-off phases of illumination exceeds 4 seconds.
B. Patterned illusionary movement. Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by simulated movement through alternate or sequential activation of various illuminated elements for the purpose of producing repetitive light patterns designed to appear in some form of constant motion.
(2) Environmentally activated. Animated signs or devices motivated by wind, thermal changes or other natural environmental input. Includes spinners, pinwheels, pennant strings, and/or other devices or displays that respond to naturally occurring external motivation.
(3) Mechanically activated. Animated signs characterized by repetitive motion and/or rotation activated by a mechanical system powered by electric motors or other mechanically induced means.
(c) "Architectural Projection" means any projection that is not intended for occupancy and that extends beyond the face of an exterior wall of a building, but that does not include signs as defined herein. See also "Awning"; "Backlit awning"; and "Canopy, attached and freestanding."
(d) "Awning" means an architectural projection or shelter projecting from and supported by the exterior wall of a building and composed of a covering of rigid or nonrigid materials and/or fabric on a supporting framework that may be either permanent or retractable, including such structures that are internally illuminated by fluorescent or other light sources.
(e) "Awning Sign" means a sign displayed on or attached flat against the surface or surfaces of an awning. See also "Wall or Fascia Sign."
(f) "Backlit Awning" means an awning with a translucent covering material and a source of illumination contained within its framework.
(g) "Banner" means a flexible substrate on which copy or graphics may be displayed.
(h) "Banner Sign" means a sign utilizing a banner as its display surface.
(i) "Billboard." See "Off-premise sign" and "Outdoor Advertising Sign."
(j) "Building Elevation" means the entire side of a building, from ground level to the roofline, as viewed perpendicular to the walls on that side of the building.
(k) "Building Mounted Sign" means a sign that is applied or attached to a building. Building mounted signs include Wall/Fascia, Roof, Canopy, Awning, Projecting, and Wall Painted signage. For visual reference, see Section 1325.03.
(l) "Canopy (Attached)" means a multisided overhead structure or architectural projection supported by attachments to a building on one or more sides and either cantilevered from such building or also supported by columns at additional points. The surface(s) and/or soffit of an attached canopy may be illuminated by means of internal or external sources of light. See also "Marquee."
(m) “Canopy (Free-Standing)" means a multisided overhead structure supported by columns, but not enclosed by walls. The surface(s) and or soffit of a free-standing canopy may be illuminated by means of internal or external sources of light.
(n) "Canopy Sign" means a sign affixed to the visible surface(s) of an attached or free-standing canopy. For reference, see Section 1325.03.
(o) "Changeable Sign" means a sign with the capability of content change by means of manual or remote input, including signs which are:
(1) Electrically activated. Changeable sign whose message copy or content can be changed by means of remote electrically energized on-off switching combinations of alphabetic or pictographic components arranged on a display surface. Illumination may be integral to the components, such as characterized by lamps or other light-emitting devices; or it may be from an external light source designed to reflect off the changeable component display. See also "Electronic Message Sign or Center."
(2) Manually activated. Changeable sign whose message copy or content can be changed manually.
(p) "Combination Sign" means a sign that is supported partly by a pole and partly by a building structure.
(q) "Commercial Message Sign" means a sign that displays a message on behalf of a company or individual for the intent of making a profit. It is economic in nature and usually has the intent of convincing the audience to purchase a specific product or service.
(r) "Copy" means those letters, numerals, figures, symbols, logos and graphic elements comprising the content or message of a sign, excluding numerals identifying a street address only.
(s) "Development Complex Sign" means a free-standing sign identifying a multiple-occupancy development, such as a shopping center or planned industrial park, which is controlled by a single owner or landlord, approved in accordance with Section 1325.11 of this chapter.
(t) "Directional Sign" means any sign that is designed and erected for the purpose of providing direction and/or orientation for pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Directional signage include signs such as "Parking", "Entrance", "Exit", "Service", "Parts", "Shipping", and the like.
(u) "Double-Faced Sign" means a sign with two faces, back to back.
(v) "Electric Sign" means any sign activated or illuminated by means of electrical energy.
(w) "Electronic Message Sign or Center" means an electrically activated changeable sign whose variable message capability can be electronically programmed.
(x) "Exterior Sign" means any sign placed outside a building.
(y) "Fascia Sign." See "Wall or Fascia Sign."
(z) "Flashing Sign." See "Animated sign, electrically activated."
(aa) "Free-Standing Sign" means a sign principally supported by a structure affixed to the ground and not supported by a building, including signs supported by one or more columns, poles or braces placed in or upon the ground. Free standing signs include Blade, Pylon, Pole Mounted, and Low Profile signage. For visual reference, see Section 1325.03 (c).
(bb) "Ground Sign." See "Free-Standing Sign."
(cc) "Illuminated Sign" means a sign characterized by the use of artificial light, either projecting through its surface(s) (internally illuminated); or reflecting off its surface(s) (externally illuminated).
(dd) "Indoor Advertising Sign" means any sign erected, placed, maintained or used in the indoor environment for the purpose of the display of commercial or noncommercial messages not appurtenant to the use of, products sold on, or the sale or lease of, the property on which it is displayed.
(ee) "Mansard" means an inclined decorative roof-like projection that is attached to an exterior building facade.
(ff) "Marquee." See "Canopy (attached)."
(gg) "Menu Board" means a free-standing sign orientated to the drive-through lane for a restaurant that advertises the menu items available from the drive-through window, and which has no more than 20 percent of the total area for such a sign utilized for business identification.
(hh) "Noncommercial Message Sign" means a sign used to describe something that is not used in order to make money and any sign other than a commercial message sign.
(ii) "Nonconforming Sign or Structure" means any sign or sign structure that exists but does not meet current zoning requirements. A nonconforming sign or sign structure may be legally existing if it was created before zoning or it was granted a permit by the City. If not legally existing, the nonconformity is illegal because it was never legally permitted.
(jj) "Off-Premise Sign." See "Outdoor Advertising Sign."
(kk) "On-Premise Sign" means a sign erected, maintained or used in the outdoor environment for the purpose of the display of messages appurtenant to the use of, products sold on, or the sale or lease of, the property on which it is displayed.
(ll) "Off-Premise Sign/Outdoor Advertising Sign" means a permanent sign erected, maintained or used in the outdoor environment for the purpose of the display of commercial or noncommercial messages not appurtenant to the use of, products sold on, or the sale or lease of, the property on which it is displayed.
(mm) "Parapet" means the extension of a building facade above the line of the structural roof.
(nn) "Pole Sign." See "Free-Standing Sign."
(oo) "Portable Sign" means any sign not permanently embedded in the ground, or not permanently affixed to a building or sign structure that is permanently embedded in the ground, are considered temporary signs.
(pp) "Projecting Sign" means a sign other than a wall sign that is attached to or projects more than 18 inches (457 mm) from a building face or wall or from a structure whose primary purpose is other than the support of a sign. For visual reference, see Section 1325.03.
(qq) "Public Ways" means a place where the general public has a right of access by motor vehicle or a place to which members of the public have access as invitees or licensees, both are persons who are lawfully in a place at invitation of the owner, or at least the owner's tolerance. Some examples include but are not limited to: shopping centers, roadside fuel stops, paved parking lots, paved alleys, courts, public walkways, buildings and structures.
(rr) "Revolving Sign" means a sign that revolves 360 degrees (6.28 rad) about an axis. See also "Animated sign, mechanically activated."
(ss) "Roof Line" means the top edge of a peaked roof or, in the case of an extended facade or parapet, the uppermost point of said facade or parapet.
(tt) "Roof Sign" means a sign mounted on, and supported by, the main roof portion of a building, or above the uppermost edge of a parapet wall of a building and which is wholly or partially supported by such a building. Signs mounted on mansard facades, pent eaves and architectural projections such as canopies or marquees shall not be considered to be roof signs. For a visual reference, and a comparison of differences between roof and fascia signs, see Section 1325.03.
(uu) "Sign" means any device visible from a public place that displays either commercial or noncommercial messages by means of graphic presentation of alphabetic or pictorial symbols or representations, or any fabricated panel, display structure, illuminated device consisting of any letter, figure, character, mark, picture, stroke, stripe, line, trademark, reading matter or other types of graphics, which is constructed, painted, embedded, placed, attached, erected, fastened, manufactured in a manner that is used for the attraction of the public to any place, subject, person, firm, corporation, public performance, article, machine, merchandise which is displayed outdoors for recognized advertising purposes.
(vv) "Sign Area" means the area of the smallest geometric figure, or the sum of the combination of regular geometric figures, which comprise the sign face. The area of any double-sided or "V" shaped sign shall be the area of the largest single face only. The area of a sphere shall be computed as the area of a circle. The area of all other multiple-sided signs shall be computed as 50 percent of the sum of the area of all faces of the sign.
(ww) "Sign Face" means the surface upon, against or through which the sign copy is displayed or illustrated, not including structural supports, architectural features of a building or sign structure, nonstructural or decorative trim, or any areas that are separated from the background surface upon which the sign copy is displayed by a distinct delineation, such as a reveal or border. See Section 1325.03.
(1) In the case of panel or cabinet type signs, the sign face shall include the entire area of the sign panel, cabinet or face substrate upon which the sign copy is displayed or illustrated, but not open space between separate panels or cabinets.
(2) In the case of sign structures with routed areas of sign copy, the sign face shall include the entire area of the surface that is routed, except where interrupted by a reveal, border, or a contrasting surface or color.
(3) In the case of signs painted on a building, or individual letters or graphic elements affixed to a building or structure, the sign face shall comprise the sum of the geometric figures or combination of regular geometric figures drawn closest to the edge of the letters or separate graphic elements comprising the sign copy, but not the open space between separate groupings of sign copy on the same building or structure.
(4) In the case of sign copy enclosed within a painted or illuminated border, or displayed on a background contrasting in color with the color of the building or structure, the sign face shall comprise the area within the contrasting background, or within the painted or illuminated border.
(xx) "Sign Structure" means any structure supporting a sign.
(yy) "Temporary Sign" means a sign intended to display either commercial or noncommercial messages of a transitory or temporary nature. Portable signs or any sign not permanently embedded in the ground, or not permanently affixed to a building or sign structure that is permanently embedded in the ground, are considered temporary signs.
(zz) "V Sign" means signs containing two faces of approximately equal size, erected upon common or separate structures, positioned in a "V" shape with an interior angle between faces of not more than 90 (1.57 rad) degrees with the distance between the sign faces not exceeding 5 feet (1524 mm) at their closest point.
(aaa) "Wall or Fascia Sign" means a sign that is in any manner affixed to any exterior wall of a building or structure and that projects not more than 18 inches (457 mm) from the building or structure wall, including signs affixed to architectural projections from a building provided the copy area of such signs remains on a parallel plane to the face of the building facade or to the face or faces of the architectural projection to which it is affixed. For a visual reference and a comparison of differences between wall or fascia signs and roof signs, see Section 1325.03.
(bbb) "Window Sign" means a sign affixed to the surface of a window with its message intended to be visible to and readable from the public way or from adjacent property.
(Ord. 12470/13. Passed 5-22-13.)