For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. A sign which no longer correctly directs or exhorts any person, advertises a bonafide business, lessor, owner, product, activity conducted or product available on the premises where the sign is displayed.
ADVERTISING MESSAGE. The symbol and/or wording on a sign describing products or services being offered to the public.
ANIMATED SIGN. Any sign which includes action or motion. For purposes of this code, this term does not refer to flashing or indexing, both of which are separately defined.
ARCHITECTURAL BLADE. A roof sign or projecting sign with no 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.
ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTION. Any projection which is not intended for occupancy and which extends beyond the face of an exterior wall of a building, but shall not include signs.
AREA IDENTIFICATION SIGN. A freestanding sign which identifies the name of a neighborhood, a residential subdivision, a multiple residential complex consisting of three or more structures, a shopping center consisting of five or more separate businesses, an industrial area, an office complex consisting of three or more structures, or any combination of the above located on contiguous property.
AWNING. A temporary hood or cover which projects from and is entirely supported by the exterior wall of a building, is composed of non-rigid materials, such as canvas or other treated cloth, except for the supporting framework, and, is of a type which can be retracted, folded or collapsed against the face of the supporting building.
AWNING SIGN. A non-illuminated identification sign affixed flat to the surface of an awning and which does not extend vertically or horizontally beyond the limits of the awning.
BACKGROUND ANIMATION.
The appearance of movement on a sign that creates a special effect or scene set in the background of a sign, but where the informational message portion displays static content in the foreground of the sign.
BANNER or PENNANT. A temporary sign composed of lightweight material, such as paper, cloth or plastic, either enclosed or not enclosed in a rigid flame, secured or mounted so as to allow movement of the sign by movement of the atmosphere; erected for the purpose of announcing open houses, grand openings or special events.
BILLBOARD. A sign erected and used for the purpose of advertising a product, event, person or subject not related to the premises on which the sign is located.
BUILDING FACADE, FACE OR WALL. The portion of any exterior elevation of a building extending from grade to the top of the parapet wall or eaves and the entire width of the building elevation.
BUILDING FRONTAGE. The linear length of a building facing the right-of-way.
BUILDING HEIGHT. A distance to be measured from the average finished grade at the building frontage line to the top of the cornice of a flat roof, to the deck line of a mansard roof, or to the mean distance of the highest gable on a pitched or hipped roof.
BULLETIN or BULLETIN BOARD. A sign which accommodates changeable symbols and/or wording and which displays information on activities and events on the premises or in the community.
CANOPY or MARQUEE. A permanent roof-like structure attached to and supported by a building, projecting from part or all of a building face over the entrance to a building and constructed of a durable material such as metal, glass or plastic, but is not the same as a projecting roof.
CANOPY or MARQUEE SIGN. Any sign attached to or constructed in or on a canopy or marquee and which does not extend horizontally beyond the limits of the canopy or marquee.
CHANGING SIGN. A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN. A non-illuminated sign placed at a construction site identifying the project and/or names of architects, engineers, developers, contractors or other individuals or firms involved with the project.
DISSOLVE MODE.
A mode of message transition on an EMC accomplished by varying the light intensity or pattern, where the first message gradually appears to dissipate and lose legibility simultaneously with the gradual appearance and legibility of the second message.
ELECTRICAL SIGN. Any sign containing electrical wiring which is attached or intended to be attached to an electrical energy source.
ELECTRONIC SIGN/MESSAGE BOARD. Any sign that displays a message electronically.
FADE MODE.
A mode of message transition on an EMC accomplished by varying the light intensity, where the first message gradually reduces intensity to the point of not being legible and the subsequent message gradually increases intensity to the point of legibility.
FLASHING SIGN. Any illuminated sign that has artificial light or color which is not maintained at a constant light level intensity or color when such sign is in use.
FREESTANDING SIGN. Any self-supporting sign not attached to any other structure.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN. 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.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign illuminated by artificial light, either directly from a source of light incorporated in or connected with such a sign, or indirectly from a light source separate from the sign but intentionally directed upon it.
INDEXING SIGN. A sign made of a series of triangular vertical sections that turn and stop, or index, to show three pictures or messages in the same area.
INFORMATIONAL SIGN. Any sign intended to display information of interest to the public, such as directions, time, temperature, date, atmospheric conditions, news, traffic control, instructions, and the like.
INTEGRAL BUILDING SIGN. A sign bearing the name of a building, dates of structure on, commemorative tablets and the like, which are an integral part of the building or structure.
KIOSK. A self-supporting vertical structure multi-lateral in shape whose exterior surfaces are designed to display many informational messages at once, such as information about public or private goods or services, cultural events, news, and the like.
LOT (OF RECORD). A parcel of land, whether subdivided or otherwise legally described, as of the effective date of the ordinance, and which is occupied or intended to be occupied by one principal building, or principal use together with any accessory buildings and open spaces as required by this subchapter.
MARQUEE. See “Canopy or Marquee.”
MARQUEE SIGN. See “Canopy or Marquee.”
MONUMENT SIGN. A freestanding sign not exceeding ten feet in height resting on the ground in or on a structure such as a frame, posts or poles.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN. A sign which advertises goods, products or services not necessarily sold on the premises on which the sign is located.
OUTDOOR WALL GRAPHIC. Any mosaic, mural, painting or graphic art or combination of these professionally applied to a building and which does not contain any brand-name product symbol or name, lettering, logo or any advertising message.
PARAPET. The portion of a building wall that rises above roof level.
PERMANENT WINDOW SIGN. A window sign permanently affixed to the interior side of a window for the purpose of advertising the place of business.
PERSON. Any individual, corporation, association, firm, partnership or any other legal entity, singular or plural.
PORTABLE SIGN. A sign designated to be moveable from one location to another and which is not permanently attached to the ground or to any structure.
PREMISES. A contiguous area of land with its appurtenances and building which is under common ownership.
PROJECTING SIGN. A sign, other than a flat wall sign, which is attached to and projects from a building wall.
PUBLIC ENTRANCE. A place of entry at a premises which is accessible to the general public.
PUBLIC UTILITY. A person, firm or corporation, municipal department, board or commission duly authorized to furnish and who is furnishing, under federal, state or municipal regulations, gas, steam, electricity, sewage disposal, communication, telegraph, transportation or water to the public.
PYLON SIGN. A freestanding sign erected upon a pylon or post structure which is greater than nine feet in height.
READER BOARD SIGN. A sign intended to display a message through the use of manually changed letters, that is permanently attached to a ground/pylon sign or affixed to a wall of the principal building. All other signs shall be deemed as temporary signs.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. A sign pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of the property upon which it is located.
ROOF LINE. The uppermost line of the roof of a building, or in the case of an extended facade, the uppermost height of the facade.
ROTATING SIGN. Any sign which revolves, rotates or has any moving parts.
SANDWICH BOARD. A freestanding temporary sign, with no moving parts or flashing lights, no larger than eight square feet total sign size per side, no taller than four feet from grade; displayed outside an establishment during business hours. It is not intended as permanent business signage.
SHOPPING CENTER. An integrated grouping of commercial stores under single ownership or control.
SIGN HEIGHT. The vertical distance measures from grade to the highest point of the sign.
SIGN SUPPORT STRUCTURE. Any structure which supports or is capable of supporting a sign, including decorative cover.
SPECIAL INFORMATIONAL SIGN. A sign, not permanently affixed to the building, composed of cloth and containing a one-word generic message, such as “Open,” “Antiques,” “Gifts” or “Sale,” without displaying the name of the business.
SPECIAL PURPOSE, SEASONAL OR HOLIDAY SIGN. A temporary sign designed to commemorate or advertise a holiday or a special event.
STREET FRONTAGE. The linear frontage of a parcel of property abutting a public street.
SUSPENDED SIGN. A sign attached to and located below any permanent save, roof or canopy.
TEMPORARY SIGN. A sign erected for a specified period of time which is not permanently affixed to any building or structure, including portable reader boards.
TEMPORARY WINDOW SIGN. A window sign temporarily placed against the interior side of a window for the purpose of advertising a special sale or a product sold inside the place of business.
TRANSITION. The means by which an electronic sign/message board changes from one message to another; or from one message segment to the next in cases where the message is conveyed by using more than one consecutive display frame.
TRAVEL MODE. A mode of messaging transition on electronic sign/message board where the message moves or appears to move horizontally.
UNDER CANOPY or MARQUEE SIGN. A sign suspended below the ceiling or roof of a canopy or marquee.
WINDOW SIGN. A sign installed inside a window for purposes of viewing from outside the premises. This does not include merchandise located in a window.
(`86 Code, § 9.85) (Ord. 779, passed 11-20-01; Am. Ord. 926, passed 6-5-07; Am. Ord. 973, passed 11-1-11; Am. Ord. 976, passed 12-6-11; Am. Ord. 988, passed 11-5-13)