SIGN: Any surface, fabric, device, or display containing letters, words, pictures, designs or combinations thereof used to identify, inform, advertise, or promote the interest of any person, business, profession, product or service when the same is placed in view of the general public. Included within the definition of sign are the following types of signs:
Abandoned Sign: Any sign that no longer identifies or advertises a location, product, or activity conducted on the premises on which the sign is located.
Advertising Sign: Any sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment not exclusively related to the premises where such thing is located or to which it is affixed.
Awning Sign: Any sign with copy mounted, painted, or otherwise applied on or attached to an awning.
Balloon Or Inflatable Sign: Any airborne flotation device sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered.
Banner Sign: Any sign with or without copy, characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentations applied to cloth, plastic, or fabric of any kind but not including streetscape banners attached to municipal streetlights or poles.
Bench Sign: A seat or back of a seat with copy placed on or adjacent to a public right of way.
Billboard Sign: A sign, other than a permitted directional sign, which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or activity not conducted, sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
Blade Sign: A vertically oriented wall sign affixed to and projecting from the wall and secured so movement does not occur.
Building Marker Sign: Names of buildings, dates of construction, commemorative tablets and the like carved into stone, concrete, or similar material or made of bronze, aluminum, or other type of construction and made an integral part of the building or structure.
Bulletin Board Sign: Any sign of a bulletin board nature setting forth or denoting the name of or simple announcement for any public, charitable, educational or religious institutions when located on the premises of such institution.
Business Promotional Sign: A temporary sign announcing a special offer or discount as the main message of the sign.
Canopy Sign: Any sign attached to a freestanding canopy or onto an entrance canopy.
Car Sign: Any sign, not including license plates, painted on or attached to a vehicle parked in such a manner to function like a sign as to direct attention to a business, service, commodity, or entertainment that is located on the premises or in the near vicinity of the premises. Signs on vehicles used for transporting people or materials in the normal day to day operations of the business shall be exempt when such vehicles are parked on private property in a designated parking space servicing the business and being no farther than three hundred feet (300') from its main entrance.
Changeable Copy Sign: Any sign that is designed so that characters, letters, or illustrations can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign. Changeable copy signs can be divided into two (2) types:
A. Electronic: A series of individual light bulbs, when programmed and lit, form letters, words, phrases, numbers or pictures that compose an advertising, announcement, or other type of message. The message itself can be changed from a remote terminal without otherwise altering or changing the face of the sign.
B. Manual: A series of plastic, metal or other type material letters that are manually arranged to form letters, words, phrases, numbers or pictures that compose an advertising, announcement, or other type of message. The message itself can only be changed manually by rearranging the components on the sign itself, without otherwise altering or changing the face of the sign.
Civic Event Sign: A temporary sign posted to advertise a civic event sponsored by a public agency.
Construction Sign; Public Roadway Or Utility: Any sign erected on premises or off site during the period of active roadway or utility construction or repair. Such signs shall be used for the purpose of wayfinding to promote safety of pedestrians and motorists.
Construction Sign; Site: Any temporary sign erected on the premises during the period of active construction, alteration, or repair displaying only information about the development and the names of architects, engineers, contractors or similar information.
Contractor Signs: Temporary signs of contractors or artisans displayed during the period such contractors or artisans are performing work on the premises on which such signs are displayed.
Development Identification Sign: A sign which, by means of symbol or name, but no additional copy identifies a shopping center, commercial area, industrial park, residential neighborhood or other planned development.
Dilapidated Sign: A sign where elements of the display area or panel are visibly cracked, broken, or discolored, where the support structure or frame members are visibly corroded, bent, broken, torn, or dented, or where the message can no longer be read under normal viewing conditions.
Directional Sign: Any sign directing traffic movement. Examples of directional signs are: entrance/exit signs, handicapped parking, compact car parking, bicycle/motorcycle parking, drive-up window signs (excluding menu signs).
Directory Sign: Any group of two (2) or more sign panels, identifying individual businesses, contained within or attached to a single sign structure. A directory sign may be a component of or attached to an identification sign.
Double Faced Sign: A sign constructed to display its message on the outer surfaces of two (2) identical and opposite parallel planes.
Easel Signs: A temporary sign with a single side display area supported by a three (3) legged support brace.
Exterior Glass Signs: Any stick on or glue on individual letters of vinyl, paper, cloth, or other material placed upon any exterior glass or windows.
Fence Sign: Any sign attached or painted on a fence.
Flags, Business: Flags displaying company logos or other sign copy for purposes of advertising or business promotion.
Flags, Institutional: National flags, flags of political subdivisions, and symbolic flags of any institution, and sport teams.
Flashing Sign: Any illuminated or moving sign, where the artificial light is not kept stationary or constant in intensity and color or that flickers, flutters or strobes, but not including electronic changeable copy signs if they comply with provisions herein.
Freestanding Signs: A classification of sign types that includes any sign supported by posts, poles, pylons, uprights, braces or other supports placed upon and anchored to the ground and not attached to any building. Temporary signs, portable signs, and trailer signs shall not be considered freestanding signs.
Fuel Pump Sign: A sign affixed to or mounted on a fuel pump.
Fuel Station Price Sign: A changeable copy sign advertising gasoline prices.
Garage Sale Signs: Any sign announcing the sale of household items that has been used by the resident at a private residence.
Grand Opening Sign: A temporary sign announcing the opening of a new business or reopening under new management or after renovation or remodeling.
Ground Sign: A low profile freestanding sign, other than a pole sign, in which the entire bottom is in contact with or is close to the ground.
Hanging Sign: A freestanding sign supported by the extended arm of a single post.
Hazardous Sign: A sign or sign structure that by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, or obsolescence creates a hazard to public health, safety, or welfare.
Home Based Business Sign: A sign that identifies a permitted home occupation.
Identification Sign: A sign that identifies the establishment by displaying the name of the establishment.
Informational Sign: A sign stating the hours of operation of an establishment, emergency telephone numbers, credit card usage or other information of a similar nature.
Internal Sign: A sign that is not intended to be viewed from any public right of way or from any adjacent property, including any signs in interior areas of shopping centers, commercial buildings, stadiums, and similar structures or interior outdoor areas of a recreational nature.
Kiosk: A sign consisting of three (3) to five (5) sides that lists names of businesses located on a property or in a building or provides advertising for products.
Marquee Sign: A changeable copy sign that announces an ongoing or forthcoming entertainment event to occur on the premises upon a marquee structure (see definition of Marquee).
Menu Board Sign: A permanent sign listing food or other products available at drive-through facilities.
Monument Sign: A freestanding sign with height greater than width and supported primarily by an internal structural framework or other solid structural features other than support poles.
Moving Sign: Any sign or sign component with manual or automatic moving structural elements that rotates, revolves or otherwise is in motion in any manner including movement caused by a person holding the sign.
Nameplate: A sign indicating the name and address of a building; or the name of an occupant thereof, and the practice of a permitted occupation therein. The listed occupation must be in generic terms, not company specific or with logos or advertising of any kind.
Neon Sign: A sign containing glass tube lighting in which a gas and phosphors are used in combination to create colored light.
Nonconforming Sign, Illegal: Any sign or type of sign illegally erected in violation of the sign regulations in place at the time of construction.
Nonconforming Sign, Legal: Any sign or type of sign which was lawfully erected prior to the adoption of the ordinance and does not conform to the regulations of this chapter.
Off Premises Sign: Any sign that directs attention to a use, business, commodity, service or activity not located, sold or offered upon the premises or zoning lot where the sign is located. A directory sign or a shopping center identification sign located on the same zoning lot as the subject building shall not be considered an off premises sign even though the landowner may be different from the building owner.
On Premises Sign: Any sign that relates solely to a use, business, or profession conducted or to a principal commodity, service or entertainment sold, provided or offered upon the premises where the sign is located.
Open House Sign: A temporary sign, on premises or off premises used to advertise the sale of a real estate and direct traffic to the property for sale.
Painted Wall Sign: A sign applied directly to a building wall with paint.
Pennants And Streamers: Miniflags, with or without a logo, made of flexible materials and usually suspended from one or two (2) corners, used in combination with other such signs to create the impression of a line.
Permanent Sign: A sign constructed of durable material and intended to exist for the duration of time that the use or occupant is located on the premises.
Pole Sign: Any sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole or other support so that the bottom edge of the sign face is six feet (6') or more above grade.
Political Campaign Sign: A temporary sign announcing or supporting candidates or issues in connection with any national, State, or local election.
Political Message Sign: A sign, other than a political campaign sign that expresses a noncommercial message regarding an issue of political or public concern.
Portable Sign: Any sign not permanently attached and designed to be moved from place to place.
Projecting Signs: Any sign attached to a wall of a building or the underside of a projecting roofline or awning in which the face of the sign is not parallel to such wall.
Public Signs: Any sign of a noncommercial and public nature that identifies a point of interest, regulates public activity or warns the public of potential danger. Examples of public signs include traffic control signs, historical markers, street signs, danger signs, memorial plaques, no trespassing signs, and the like, and all signs erected by or on order of a public officer in the performance of a public duty.
Real Estate Sign: A temporary sign that lists the availability of sale, lease, or a specific parcel, building, or portion of a building and the name, address, and telephone number of owner or listing of real estate broker.
Real Estate Sign, Off Site: A sign announcing the availability of the property other than the property upon which the sign is located.
Real Estate Sign, On Site: A sign announcing the availability of the property upon which the sign is located.
Roof Sign: Any sign erected wholly upon and over the roof of any building and supported solely on the roof structure. A roof sign extends above the roofline of a building, but does not include a sign attached to the fascia overhanging the main part of the building. Signs mounted on mansard roofs, awnings, canopies or marquees shall not be considered roof signs.
Rotating Sign: A sign or sign part that rotates, revolves or spins.
Sandwich Board Sign: A temporary advertising or business ground sign designed to be portable and constructed in such a manner as to form an "A" or a tentlike shape, hinged or not hinged at the top; each angular face held at an appropriate distance by a supporting member.
Searchlight Signs: Searchlights used to announce, direct attention to, or advertise business.
Snipe Sign: An off premises sign that is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences, or to other objects or illegally placed in the parkway.
Special Event Sign: A temporary sign announcing a limited time event open to the public sponsored by a private organization or business.
Surface Mounted Sign: Any sign fastened to the wall of a building.
Temporary Sign: Any sign designed to be portable or disposable and is on display for only a short period of time.
Thematic Window Compositions, Temporary: A temporary sign that celebrates thematic or artistic expression and is on display for only a limited period of time.
Tracker Sign: An off site subdivision identification sign used to advertise availability of homes for sale.
Trailer Sign: Any sign affixed to a trailer that can be wheeled into place.
Two Pole Sign: A freestanding sign with a double faced sign panel mounted on two (2) identical poles with space between the ground and the bottom of the sign panel.
Wall Sign: Any single faced sign attached to and erected parallel to the face of, and confined within the limits of, an outside wall of any building and supported by such wall or building, but not including window signs. Any wall sign that projects away from the wall more than twelve inches (12") shall be considered a projecting sign.
Wind Sign: Any display or series of displays, banners, flags, balloons, or other objects designed and fashioned in such a manner as to move when subjected to wind pressure including, but not limited to, whirligigs, and/or feather flags.
Window Sign: Any advertising, informational or identification sign attached to or affixed to, or painted on, or placed inside an exterior door or window and which can be seen from the exterior or located in such manner within a building that it is visible from the exterior of the building through a window, but excludes merchandise in a window display.
A. Permanent Window Sign: Any sign attached to or affixed to or painted on or placed behind the window or door glass that is intended to exist for the duration of time that the use or occupant is located on the premises.
B. Temporary Window Sign: Any sign other than a permanent window sign, such as plug in electric, posters, or banners placed inside an exterior door or window which can be seen from the exterior and is designed to be portable or disposable and used for a short period of time.
Window Trimming Lighting: Rope lighting, flexible lighting, neon lighting, series lighting, lighting arranged in patterns, lighting unrelated to communicating the name of the business and other similar applications of window trimming or lighting on any part of a window. (Ord. 14-02, 1-20-2014; amd. Ord. 16-05, 3-7-2016; Ord. 17-35, 2-20-2017; Ord. 2022-02, 1-17-2022)