For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms, phrases, words, and their derivatives shall be construed as specified in this chapter or as specified in the Building Code. Where terms are not defined, they shall have their ordinarily accepted meanings within the context in which they are used.
Word or Term | Definition |
Word or Term | Definition |
Awning sign | A temporary or movable shelter supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building and composed of nonrigid materials, except for a supporting framework. An awning sign is a message printed on such a shelter. |
Attached sign | A sign which is structurally connected to a building or depends upon that building for support. |
Balloon sign | A transient sign consisting of graphics or any three-dimensional figure erected for the purposes of advertising, that is inflated with or supported by air or other gas. |
Banner sign | A sign made of fabric or other nonrigid materials with no enclosing framework. This definition includes “feather” signs or similar banner signs which are supported on fewer than three sides with a rigid post or similar support. |
Billboard | A sign having more than 100 square feet of display surface, which is ether erected and attached to the ground or attached to or supported by a building or structure for the purpose of supporting changeable billboard signs. One sign on a billboard shall be permitted on any zoning lot for a period of not more than 60 days in any calendar year. |
Building Code | The International Building Code promulgated by the International Conference of Building Officials, as adopted by this jurisdiction. |
Building Official | The officer or other designated authority charged with the administration and enforcement of this chapter, or the Building Official’s duly authorized representative. |
Canopy sign | A permanent roof-like structure erected which is supported by the structure wall alone to provide shelter from the weather. The canopy fascia may be used to display a company logo and/or colors and shall be considered a sign. |
Continuously parked vehicle | Means a vehicle which is parked or abandoned in any public parking lot or adjacent to the right-of-way for a period of time exceeding twenty-four (24) hours. |
Detached sign | A sign which is self-supporting and structurally independent from any building. |
Display surface | The area made available by the sign structure for the purpose of displaying the advertising message. |
Electric sign | Any sign containing electrical wiring, but not including signs illuminated by an exterior light source. |
Encroachment | To intrude or infringe upon the property of another or public right-of-way. An individual or business setting a sign in the public right-of-way, whether it be permanent, temporary, attached or detached. |
Fin sign | A sign that is supported wholly by a one-story building of an open-air business or by poles placed in the ground or partly by such a pole or poles and partly by a building or structure. |
Flag | A sign, pennant, placard, valance or advertising display or sign constructed of light fabric, plastic, cardboard, wallboard, plywood, paper or other light materials, with or without frames. Pennants may be allowed year-round in all business and industrial districts. |
Ground sign | A billboard or similar type of sign that is supported by one or more uprights, poles or braces in or upon the ground other than a fin sign or pole sign, as defined in this chapter. |
Home occupation sign | This means a sign other than a nameplate to advertise any occupation, profession or activity that is a customary, incidental and secondary use of a residential unit carried on by a member of the immediate family residing on the premises. The sign shall not be not more than two (2) square feet in area and shall not alter the exterior of the property or affect the residential character of the neighborhood. |
Incidental sign | A small sign, emblem or decal informing the public of information (such as hours of operation, credit cards accepted, professional signs etc.) or that directs attention to a business, profession, product, service, or activity conducted, sold or offered on the same premises where the sign is located. |
Legal setback line | The legal distance a structure shall be set back from the property lot line as determined by a survey. |
Multi-tenancy sign | A sign advertising a shopping mall, shopping center, strip mall or campus complex depicting multiple tenants and/or the name of the shopping center. |
Nonconforming sign | A sign that was legally erected prior to the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter but which violates the regulations of this chapter. |
Obsolete sign | A sign which advertises an activity, business, product or service that is no longer conducted on the premises on which it is located. This is typically due to the closure or relocation of a business or other activity. |
Pennant | A piece of fabric that comes to a point or swallowtail designed to move freely in the wind. |
Pole sign | A sign wholly supported by a stand-alone structure in the ground. |
Political campaign sign | A temporary sign relating to candidates or issues associated with a local, state or national election or referendum and not commercial in nature. |
Portable sign | A display surface temporarily fixed to a standardized advertising structure that is regularly moved to different locations at periodic intervals. Signs mounted on sandwich boards, trailers, vehicles or connected to vehicles in any zoning district with hitch mechanisms are also considered to be portable signs. |
Projecting sign | A sign other than a wall sign, which projects from and is supported by a wall of building or structure. |
Word or Term | Definition |
Word or Term | Definition |
Public sign | A temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained by the City, county, state or federal government for traffic control or direction. A public sign can be erected for the designation of or direction to any school, hospital, historical site, or public service, property or facility. |
Real estate sign | A sign advertising the sale, rental, or lease of the premises or part of the premises on which the signs are displayed and shall not exceed two (2) in number and shall be set back from the surveyed property line or right-of-way. Signs shall not be placed upon any part of the City easement or right-of-way. Real estate signs may be placed in all districts. |
Roof sign | A sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet of a building or structure. |
Seasonal decorations | Signs pertaining to recognized national holidays and national observances. |
Setback | The setback of a sign is measured from the property line to the line projected to the ground plane of the nearest portion of the sign. |
Sign area | 1. Sign area includes the entire area within the perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the sign, excluding any structure essential for support or service of the sign, or architectural elements of the building. 2. The area of double-faced signs is calculated on the largest face only signs is calculated on the largest face only. 3. The sign area for ground signs is calculated as the area enclosing the extreme limits of the copy only. 4. In case of individual letters mounted to a wall, the total area within the outline enclosing the lettering, modeling or insignia of signs integral with the wall and not designed as a panel. |
Sign structure | Any structure that supports or is capable of supporting a sign as defined in this ordinance. A sign structure may be a single pole and may or may not be an integral part of the building. |
Sign variances | Are exceptions from regulations that are in the sign regulations and are made for a specific case. |
Snipe sign | A sign or poster which is tacked, nailed, posted, glued or otherwise attached to poles, stakes, fences, trees or to other like objects. |
Structure | Is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner. |
Temporary sign | Any sign, pennant, valance or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, inflatable or other light materials, with or without frames, intended to be displayed for a period not exceeding sixty (60) days in any calendar year. Signs so constructed shall be placed in such a manner to prevent any movement caused by mechanical methods or wind conditions. The national flag, State flag and City flag, when property displayed are exempt from this chapter. These may include garage sales, rummage sales, auction, political candidates or ballot measures, concert signs and similar types of signs. |
Wall sign | Any sign attached to or erected against the wall of a building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the plane of said wall. |
Zoning Districts | Definitions |
Zoning Districts | Definitions |
A-1 | Agricultural |
R-1 | Rural Estate Residence |
R-2 | Single-Family Residence |
R-3 | Single and Two-Family Residence |
R-4 | Multi-Family Residence |
R-5 | Mobile Home Residence |
B-1 | Limited Retail Business |
B-2 | General Business |
I-1 | Limited Industrial |
I-2 | General Industrial |
I-3 | Heavy Industrial |
SU-CC | Specific Use: Community College |
SU-MC | Specific Use: Medical Center |