For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates, or requires, a different meaning.
ABANDONED SIGN. Any display remaining in place or not maintained for a period of 90 days or more which identifies a use no longer in operation on the property.
ANIMATED SIGN. See FLASHING SIGN and ROTATING OR REVOLVING SIGN.
AREA OF SIGN. The total square footage of each and every face of a sign, but does not include any frame or other material. For signs not otherwise supported by a distinctive background, the sign area shall be calculated by enclosing all the lettering by the smallest possible six-sided polygon and calculating the area of the polygon.
AWNING SIGN. A device attached to the façade of a building, usually extending over sidewalks, windows, and business entries, sometimes to provide weather protection to pedestrians walking beneath such shelters. Awning structures slope downward and away from a building, and typically support canvas, wood, or metal slats or glass. Canvas awnings may have a valance (vertical flap) at the bottom of the sloping plane, which may be used to mount a sign identifying the building or store.
BALLOON, FIXED. Any air-filled or gas-filled balloon attached to a string, rope, or similar device, and tethered to a fixed or moving place or object, including a motor vehicle. See also INFLATABLE DEVICE.
BANNER. A sign made of fabric, cloth, plastic, or paper used only temporarily that is not permanently mounted or affixed to the ground or any structure, with or without enclosing framework, used to advertise a fundraiser, promotional or sales event, special or seasonal event, or other temporary on-site informational or directional sign. PENNANTS, as defined herein, shall be considered BANNERS for purposes of this subchapter.
BILLBOARD. A sign of any kind or nature whatsoever used to advertise:
(1) Any business, industry, entertainment, or activity not conducted;
(2) Any goods or other tangible items not produced, sold, or available; or
(3) Any services or other intangibles not available or rendered on the premises upon which such sign is located; provided, however, such term shall not include any regional guide sign, nameplate, temporary real estate sign, identification sign, or on-site advertising sign as such terms are defined in this subchapter. Such term shall also not include any notice posted by any public officer in the performance of an official duty, or any directional, warning, or informational sign required or authorized by any federal, state, county, or local authority.
BUILDING ELEVATION. An exterior face of the unit for which a sign is proposed.
CABINET SIGN. A sign with text or symbols printed on a plastic or acrylic sheet that is mounted on a cabinet or box that houses the lighting source and equipment.
CANOPY SIGN (GAS STATION). An illuminated sign designed to be an integral part of the architecture of a gasoline service station, and intended to be placed above the fuel pumps of a service station for purposes of providing light for the working area and commercial identification.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN. A sign, or portion thereof, with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face of the display surface of the sign.
COMMUNITY SIGN. A temporary sign placed by civic or educational groups, or by the city, which is used to advertise various events held in the city.
COMPANY SYMBOL. A mark or logo that can either stand alone or be used with a company name to identify a company.
CORPORATE FLAG. A flag displaying the name, symbol, or logotype of a business or corporation.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN. Any sign that serves solely to guide or designate the location or direction to any place or area.
DISPLAY SURFACE. The surface made available by the structure for the mounting of material to carry the advertising message, trademark, or emblem.
ELECTRONIC READERBOARD OR ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD. A changeable copy sign upon which the copy is displayed or changed by electronic means.
FLAG. Any piece of durable fabric of distinctive design attached to a permanent pole that is used as a symbol of a recognized federal, state, or local governmental entity. Signs which are non-governmental in nature but similar in size and purpose to a governmental FLAG shall be regulated as a WIND SIGN.
FLASHING SIGN. Any sign which is designed to intermittently blink on and off, or which creates the illusion of blinking on and off, or which contains running, traveling, or animating lights upon the sign structure or within the sign area; such term shall not include time and temperature displays, or other electronic readerboard or electronic message board signs.
FREEWAY-ORIENTED SIGN. A freestanding, on-site advertising or directional sign, not including billboards, located on property abutting a freeway right-of-way or freeway frontage road, and whose height, location, and sign copy are designed in a manner which permits identification from an adjacent freeway.
HEIGHT OF SIGN. The vertical distance from the uppermost point of a sign to the ground immediately below such point; provided that, if the finished grade has been raised immediately below such point, the HEIGHT shall be measured from the average finished grade of the surrounding area.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN. Any sign designed solely to identify the use or occupant of a structure or site, and which contains no other advertising copy.
ILLEGAL SIGN. Any sign or advertising display constructed or erected without first complying with all applicable ordinances and regulations in effect at the time of its construction, erection, or use.
INFLATABLE DEVICE. Balloons exceeding two cubic feet and other inflatable devices, including figure objects and caricatures that are intended to attract attention.
INSTITUTIONAL SIGN. A sign on any private property, public place, or building with connection to a medical or dental surgery, clinic, hospital, rest home, home for the aged, or other place of a similar nature.
LOCATION. A lot, parcel, site or premises, building, wall, or any place whatsoever upon which a sign is erected, constructed, or maintained.
MARQUEE (CHANGEABLE COPY) SIGN. A sign or readerboard that is characterized by nonelectronic changeable copy, whether said sign is freestanding or mounted on a structure.
MONUMENT SIGN. A ground-mounted sign, single-sided, double-sided, or three-sided, supported from grade with a solid base, or the appearance of a solid base, that is at least 75% of the width of the sign that is not connected to another structure. Such sign is oriented for vehicular view along roadways, and is often used at entries to a building or project.
MULTIPLE-FACED SIGN. A sign with more than one sign face.
MURAL. A painting, tile, or other materials deemed appropriate that comprise artwork on an exterior wall in public view, whose primary purpose is commemorative or artistic rather than advertising.
NAMEPLATE. Any lighted or unlighted sign mounted on, or near, an entry that identifies the name and occupation or profession of the occupant of the premises.
NONCONFORMING SIGN. Any sign that complied with all applicable ordinances and regulations in effect at the time it was erected, but which does not conform to one or more of the requirements of this subchapter.
NOTICE SIGN. A sign posted by either a public agency or private individuals intended to convey legal information for specific properties. Signs can include building permits, no trespassing notices, public hearing notices, and the like.
ON-PREMISE SIGN. A sign or signs which are located on the same premise as the business, event, or activity is conducted.
PARCEL or LOT. Real property under separate ownership from any other PARCEL or LOT, or under separate lease of at least ten years' duration, with the option to renew, which has street or highway frontage.
PENNANT. Any plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, string, or other similar device, usually in series, designed to move in the wind.
PERMANENT SALE SIGN. A sign that indicates a sale in progress and is posted more than 30 days during any 60-day period.
PLANNED COMMERCIAL CENTERS. Small regional centers consisting of individual large and small-scale commercial uses selling a broad range of goods or services to a market beyond the local community. It must contain at least ten acres of commercial land and 100,000 square feet of commercial floor space.
POLE SIGN. A ground-mounted sign that is typically supported by no more than two uprights or braces (for example, pylon-supported) that are not connected to another structure. Any sign with a base that is less than 75% of the width of the sign shall be considered a pole sign.
POLITICAL SIGN. A sign advertising a candidate or candidates for public elective office, or a political party, or a sign urging a particular vote on a public issue decided by ballot.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted to A-frames or T-frames; sandwich board signs; balloons used as signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached to, or painted upon, vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day transportation operations of the business, and is not parked away from the business primarily to gain visibility from a public right-of-way.
PROJECTING SIGN. A pedestrian-oriented, double-sided sign which projects from a building and is mounted perpendicular to the building wall.
PUBLIC NECESSITY. Any sign used to control traffic, warn people of potential dangerous or hazardous situations and other regulatory purposes. Signs can include: street signs, danger signs, railroad crossing signs, geologic hazard signs, and signs of public service companies indicating danger.
PUMP ISLAND SIGN. Any sign attached to a fuel-dispensing pump, either affixed to, or placed upon, the pump.
READERBOARD. See MARQUEE SIGN.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. Any sign and sign structure of a temporary nature relating to the sale, lease, or other disposition of real property.
ROOF SIGN. A sign upon a roof, upon a structure that appears to be a roof (such as a mansard roof), or above the roofline of the building elevation to which it is attached.
SIGN. Any display, exhibit, declaration, demonstration, graphic announcement, inflatable device, illustration, or insignia used to advertise or promote the interest of any person, business, institution, or organization when the same is placed outdoors, or on the inside of a window to be seen from the outside, in view of the general public; provided that this definition does not apply to the display of the flag of a nation, state, county, or city, or any official flag or banner of any bona fide religious or fraternal organization.
SIGN AREA. See AREA OF SIGN.
SIGN COPY. Any characters, letters, or type that constitutes the message of the sign.
SIGN HEIGHT. See HEIGHT OF SIGN.
SIGN STRUCTURE. The uprights, bracing, guy rods, cables, framework, and other support of a sign or billboard.
SNIPE SIGN. Any sign or poster placed on trees, fences, light posts, or utility poles, except those posted by a government or public utility.
STREET FRONTAGE. The lineal foot width of a building site or parcel of land, along or fronting on a street or other rights-of-way, excluding alleys.
SUSPENDED SIGN. A pedestrian-oriented, double-sided sign hung over a walkway, or beneath an awning or arcade, perpendicular to the face of the building to which it is attached.
TEMPORARY SIGN. Any sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently mounted or affixed to the ground or any structure.
WALL SIGN. A sign that is affixed to, or painted on, an exterior wall of a building in a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for, or forms the background surface of, the sign.
WIND SIGN. A sign, group of signs, display or group of displays, banners, non-governmental flags, balloons, or other objects designed and fashioned in such a manner as to move when subjected to wind pressure.
WINDOW SIGN. Any words, picture, symbol, brand name, business name logo, including any negative or clear spaces between graphics, or combination thereof, designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale, or service, that is applied or attached to a window or located within five feet of the inside of a window in a manner that it can be seen from the exterior of the structure.
(Prior Code, § 56.06) (Ord. 2-92, passed - -1992; Ord. 7-2003, passed 9-17-2003; Ord. 36-2021, passed 12-21-2021; Ord. 12-2023, passed 6-21-2023)