§ 153.431 DEFINITIONS.
   For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
   ABANDONED SIGN. Any sign and/or its supporting sign structure that remains without a message or whose display surface remains blank for more than one year or that pertains to a time, event or purpose that no longer applies shall be deemed to have been abandoned.
   AWNING. A roof-like cover, often of fabric, plastic, metal or glass, designed and intended for protection from the weather or as a decorative embellishment, that projects from a wall or roof of a structure primarily over a window, walk or the like. Any part of an AWNING that also projects over a door shall be considered an AWNING.
   AWNING SIGN. A sign or graphic printed on or in some fashion attached directly to the awning material.
   BALLOON SIGN. A sign consisting of a bag made of lightweight material supported by helium or hot or pressured air that is greater than 24 inches in diameter.
   BANNER. Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material mounted to a pole, building at one or more edges. Flags, as defined herein, shall not be considered BANNERS.
   BUILDING MARKER. Memorial signs or tablets, names of buildings and date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or inlaid so as to be part of the building or when constructed of bronze or other non-combustible material.
   CANOPY. A roof-like cover, often of fabric, plastic, metal or glass on a support, that provides shelter over a doorway.
   CANOPY SIGN. Any sign that is part of or attached to a canopy made of fabric, plastic or any other structural protective cover over a door or entrance.
   COMMERCIAL SPEECH. Speech advertising a business, profession, commodity, service or entertainment and that promotes at least some type of commerce.
   DYNAMIC DISPLAY SIGN. Any characteristics of a sign that appear to have movement or that appear to change, caused by any method other than physically removing and replacing the sign or its components, whether the apparent movement or change is in the display, the sign structure itself, or any other component of the sign. This includes a display that incorporates a technology or method allowing the sign face to change the image without having to physically or mechanically replace the sign face or its components. This also includes any rotating, revolving, moving, flashing, blinking or animated display and any display that incorporates rotating panels, LED lights manipulated through digital input, “digital ink” or any other method or technology that allows the sign face to present a series of images or displays.
   ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN. A sign or portion thereof that displays electronic, non-pictorial, text information in which each alphanumeric character, graphic or symbol is defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, light bulbs or other illumination devices within the display area. ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNS include computer programmable, microprocessor controlled electronic displays.
   ELECTRONIC GRAPHIC DISPLAY SIGN. A sign or portion thereof that displays electronic, static images, static graphics or static pictures, with or without text information, defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes (LEDs), fiber optics, light bulbs or other illumination devices within the display area where the message change sequence is accomplished immediately or by means of fade, re-pixelization or dissolve modes. ELECTRONIC GRAPHIC DISPLAY SIGNS include computer programmable, microprocessor controlled electronic or digital displays. ELECTRONIC GRAPHIC DISPLAY SIGNS include images or messages with these characteristics projected onto buildings or other objects.
   ERECT. The activity of constructing, building, raising, assembling, placing, affixing, attaching, creating, painting, drawing or any other way of bringing into being or establishing.
   FLAG. Any fabric or similar lightweight material attached at one end of the material or no more than two corners, usually to a staff or pole, so as to allow movement of the material by atmospheric changes and that contains distinctive colors, patterns, symbols, emblems, insignia or other symbolic devices.
   FREESTANDING SIGN. Any sign that has supporting sign structure as required in § 153.435(F) that is placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that is independent from any building or other structure.
   GRADE. The final ground elevation after construction. Earth mounding criteria for landscaping and screening is not part of the final GRADE for sign height computation.
   GROSS AREA. The method of calculating the allowable square footage of signs shall be as follows.
      (1)   Individual letters or figures: when attached onto a surface such as a building, canopy, awning or wall, the area shall be the smallest rectangle that encompasses all of the letters or symbols.
      (2)   Monument signs: the area within the frame, including all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with all the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, including a message board. The area shall not include the main supporting sign structure but shall include other ornamental attachments that are not a part of the main support of the sign.
      (3)   Wall signs: the area within the frame, including all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with all the background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, including a message board. The area shall include all other ornamental attachments that are not a part of the main support of the sign.
      (4)   Pylon signs: the area within the frame, including all lettering, wording and accompanying designs and symbols, together with all background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, including a message board. The area shall not include the main supporting sign structure, but shall include all other ornamental attachments that are not a part of the main support of the sign.
   HEIGHT. The height of a sign shall be computed as the vertical distance measured from the base of the sign at grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.
   ILLEGAL SIGN. A sign is illegal if it is erected without first complying with all city ordinances and regulations in effect at the time of its construction and erection or use, including, but not limited to, §§ 150.105 through 150.110 and this subchapter. Abandoned signs, unsafe signs, inoperable signs and signs attached to vacant buildings are also ILLEGAL SIGNS.
   ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign that contains an element designed to emanate artificial light internally or externally.
   INTEGRAL ROOF SIGN. Any sign erected or constructed as an integral or essentially integral part of a normal roof structure of any design, so that no part of the sign extends vertically above the highest portion of the roof and so that no part of the sign is separated from the rest of the roof by a space of more than six inches.
   LEGALLY ESTABLISHED NONCONFORMING SIGN. Any sign and its support structure lawfully erected prior to the effective date of this chapter that fails to conform to the requirements of this chapter. A sign that was erected in accordance with a variance granted prior to the adoption of this chapter and does not comply with this chapter shall be deemed to be a LEGALLY ESTABLISHED NONCONFORMING SIGN.
   MAINTENANCE FREE. Exterior materials suitable for the climate and exposure in which the sign or mural is located and which, based on industry standards, is identified as weatherproof or maintenance free.
   MONUMENT SIGN. Any freestanding sign independent from any building or other structure that is mounted on a base at least as wide as the sign, and the base must be comprised of brick; stone; stucco; synthetic stucco; concrete masonry units (CMU) that are textured, burnished or decorative.
   MURAL. A work of art intended as an artistic expression and not as a commercial message, is painted, using an oil-based alkyd enamel or polyurethane enamel, or newer 100% acrylic exterior paint, directly on a building wall. MURALS shall not:
      (1)   Be mechanically produced or computer-generated print of images;
      (2)   Contain electric or mechanical components that cause changing images;
      (3)   Be representations which imitate or appear to imitate any official traffic sign or device which appears to regulate or direct the movement of traffic, or which interferes with the proper operation of any traffic sign or signal; or
      (4)   Depict obscene images or representations that Council, after consultation with City Manager and City Attorney, deems unprotected obscene speech.
   NON-ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN. A sign or portion thereof that has a readerboard for the display of text information in which each alphanumeric character, graphic or symbol is defined by objects, not consisting of an illumination device, that may be changed or re-arranged manually or mechanically with characters, letters or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign.
   OFF-PREMISES SIGN. A sign bearing a commercial message that is located on property that is not the premises, property or site of the use identified or advertised on the sign.
   PENNANT. A relatively long, tapering flag.
   PROJECTING SIGN. A sign that projects from a wall or other surface. PROJECTING SIGNS may not project more than 12 inches from the surface to which they are affixed.
   PYLON SIGN. Any freestanding sign that has its supportive structure(s) anchored in the ground and a sign face elevated above ground by pole(s) or beam(s) with an open area below the face of the sign.
   ROOF SIGN. Any sign erected wholly upon the roof or parapet of a building that is wholly or partially supported by the building upon which it is erected and extends vertically above the highest portion of the roof. This does not include an integral roof sign.
   ROTATING SIGN. A sign that revolves or rotates on an axis.
   SIGN. Any writing, pictorial presentation, number, illustration or decoration, or other device that is used to announce, direct attention to, identify, advertise, or otherwise make anything known. A SIGN shall not be deemed to include any transparent window cling(s); architectural embellishment(s) of a building not intended to communicate information; murals; any sign, structure or device that is not visible from an adjacent street, property line or building on and adjacent property.
   TEMPORARY SIGN. Any sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wall board or other similar materials, with or without frames, intended to be displayed for a short period of time.
   UNSAFE SIGN. Any sign that is out of order, in disrepair, rotten, hazardous or in any other manner unsafe.
   VIDEO DISPLAY SIGN. A sign that changes its message or background in a manner or method of display characterized by motion or pictorial imagery, which may or may not include text, and depicts action or a special effect to imitate movement, the presentation of pictorials or graphics displayed in a progression of frames which give the illusion of motion, including, but not limited to, the illusion of moving objects, moving patterns or bands of light, or expanding or contracting shapes. VIDEO DISPLAY SIGNS do not include electronic changeable copy signs or dynamic display signs. VIDEO DISPLAY SIGNS include images or messages with these characteristics projected onto buildings or other objects.
   WALL. Any structure that defines the exterior boundaries or courts of a building/structure and that has a slope of 60 degrees or greater with the horizontal plane.
   WALL SIGN. A sign fastened or affixed to the exterior front, rear or side wall of a building or structure that does not extend vertically above the highest portion of the roof or project more than 12 inches from the building or structure.
(Ord. passed 10-11-1963; Ord. 23-009, passed 6-26-2023)