(a) The definitions shall be used in interpretation and construction of this Zoning Ordinance. Unless a contrary intention clearly appears, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning given in this section. All words and terms not defined here shall be used with a meaning of standard usage.
(b) All other terms used in this article and not herein defined shall be given the meanings as set forth in Article 1327 of the Zoning Ordinance.
(d) Sign Types by Content.
Sign. A name, identification, description, display or illustration or any other visual display that is affixed to, or painted, or represented directly or indirectly upon a building, structure, or parcel of land which advertises, identifies, displays, directs or attracts attention to an object, product, service, place, activity, event, person, institution, organization, or business. Such visual display may include words, letters, figures, design, symbols, fixtures, colors, illumination, or projected images. However, a sign shall not include any display of official court or public office notices nor any official traffic control device, nor shall it include the flag, emblem or insignia of a nation, state, county, municipality, school, or religious group, nor an athletic scoreboard, nor graffiti. A sign shall not include a sign located completely within an enclosed building except for signs within show windows. Each display surface of a sign shall be considered to be a sign, as per regulations in this ordinance.
Identification sign. A sign permitted to have the name and address of the building, and/or business, the name of the occupant(s), the hours of operations, the services, products, and events offered for sale in the premises, and prices of such services, products, and events.
Incidental sign. A sign that (1) designates an accessory use or (2) advertises exclusively the sale of farm products grown or produced on the premises.
Informational sign. A sign commonly associated with and limited to information and directions relating to the permitted use on the premises on which the sign is located. Content shall be limited to such information or directives as “no parking,” “entrance,” “loading only,” “telephone,” and other similar messages. No commercial message shall be allowed. Informational signs shall not be illuminated except from a concealed light source that does not flash, blink, or fluctuate. Such signs shall not be animated except that gauges or dials may be animated to the extent necessary to display correct measurement.
Message center sign. A changeable copy sign (see below) that may be illuminated and that may in all other respects be an identification sign.
Nameplate. A sign indicating the name and/or address of an occupant or business.
(e) Sign Types by Location:
Awning sign. An on-premise sign that is mounted, painted, or printed on, or attached to an awning, hood, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area. Such structure shall be a permanent construction which projects from a building. The canopy or awning shall be of noncombustible material.
Banner. An on-premise sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is permanently mounted to a pole or building by a permanent frame at one or more edges. National flags, state or city flags, or the official flag of any institution or business shall not be considered banners.
Building marker. An on-premise sign indicating the name of a building and date and incidental information about its construction, which sign is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.
Canopy or marquee sign. An on-premise projecting sign attached to or hung from a canopy or marquee. (Ord. 12225. Passed 4-17-01.)
Changeable copy sign. An on-premises 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, including Electronic Message Center/Displays.
Electronic Message Center/Electronic Message Displays (EMC/EMD): A non- residential on-premise sign that utilizes computer-generated messages or some other electronic meamns of changing copy. These signs include displays using incandescent lamps, LEDs, LCDs or a flipper matrix. Such displays may include messages that are static or contain messages that change. Each message displayed shall remain fixed for at least 8 (eight) seconds. When a message is changed, it must be accomplished in one (1) second or less using a static/instant method. Methods such as dissolve, fade, travel or scroll modes, or similar transitions and frame effects that have text, animated graphics or images that appear to move or change in size, or be revealed sequentially rather than all at once are not permitted. Full motion or animated displays are not permitted. All electronic message centers shall be equipped with automatic dimming capabilities so that EMCs not exceed 0.3 footcandles over ambient lighting conditions when measured at the recommended distance, based on the EMC size. (Ord. 14945. Passed 5-16-17.)
Ground sign. An on-premise sign supported by poles, uprights or braces that are placed on, or anchored in, the ground or an object on the ground but not attached to any part of any building. This shall also be known as a freestanding sign.
Hanging sign. An on-premise sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.
Off-premise sign. A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than on the lot or premises where the sign is located. This shall also be known as a billboard or outdoor advertising sign. See Section 1359.11 for specific regulations on off-premise signs.
On-premise sign. A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered on the same premise or lot where the sign is located.
Portable sign. An on-premise 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- or T-frames; menu and sandwich boards; balloons used as signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operation of the business. Portable signs shall be in use for no more than one year.
Projecting sign. An on-premise sign that is wholly or partly dependent upon a building for support and projects in whole or in part eighteen inches or more horizontally beyond the surface of the building to which the sign is attached. A projecting sign does not include a marquee sign.
Roof sign. An on-premise sign erected or constructed as an integral or essentially integral part of a normal roof structure of any design, such that no part of the sign extends vertically above the highest portion of the roof and such that no part of the sign is separated from the rest of the roof by a space of more than six inches. The sign shall not contain a pylon or other structure that protrudes above the roof.
Wall sign. An on-premise sign fastened to or painted on the wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall becomes the supporting structure for, or forms the background surface of the sign. The exposed face of the sign shall be parallel to the wall. The sign shall be mounted at a distance measured perpendicular to such wall, no greater than six inches. Only one surface of the sign surface shall be displayed.
Window sign. An on-premise sign that is applied or attached to the exterior or interior of a window or located in such a manner within a building that it can be seen from the exterior of the structure through a window.
(Ord. 12225. Passed 4-17-01.)
(f) Other Definitions:
Abandonment. A sign or sign structure shall be deemed abandoned if the use or structure on the lot is unused, unoccupied, vacant or abandoned for six calendar months within any twelve month period.
Area of sign. Area enclosed by one rectangle, square, circle, triangle, or combination thereof, the sides of which makes contact with the extreme point or edges of the entire face of the sign, including the advertising surface and any framing, trim, or molding, but excluding the supporting structure which does not form part of the sign proper or of the display.
Animated or flashing or moving sign. An on-premise sign or part of a sign that uses movement or change of natural light, artificial light, color effects, or physical position by any means whatsoever to depict action or create a special effect or scene or give the impression of movement or rotation.
Building line. A line beyond which no building may extend, as established by ordinance.
Canopy or marquee. A permanent roof-like structure projecting from and supported by a building, and extending beyond the building, building line, or property line. Such canopy or marquee shall be used only for on-premise advertising.
Changeable Message Signs (CMS). An off-premise advertising sign, display, or device which changes the message or copy on the sign by means of electronic rotation of panels or slats. CMS’s are considered outdoor advertising signs and must comply with all requirements applicable to outdoor advertising signs. CMS’s may not include lighting devices forming part of the message or border, video or scrolling messages. Each message displayed shall remain fixed for at least eight (8) seconds. When a message is changed, it must be accomplished within an interval of two (2) seconds or less. CMS must contain a default design that will freeze the sign in one position if a malfunction occurs.
Combustible material. Any material that will ignite when heated to a temperature at or below 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Construction sign. Signs which identify the architects, engineers, contractors and other individuals or firms involved with the construction, not including an advertisement of any product; and signs announcing the character of the building or the purpose for which the building is intended during the construction period.
Device. Any card, cloth, paper, metal, or wooden advertising emblem or sign of any kind or character, which is posted, stuck, glued, tacked, nailed, painted, or otherwise fastened or affixed to or upon any fence, post, tree, or thing other than an advertising sign or structure.
Display. A poster, bill printing, writing, drawing, painting, or advertising material of any kind or character whatsoever, designed and intended to draw the attention of the public to any goods, merchandise, property, real or personal, business service, entertainment or amusement, produced, bought, sold, conducted, furnished, or dealt in by any person, which is placed, posted, painted, tacked, nailed, glued or otherwise affixed or fastened to any advertising sign or structure, or otherwise displayed outdoors.
Display surface or face. Area of sign.
Illuminated sign. An on-premise sign designated to give forth any artificial light or reflect such light from an artificial source.
Noncombustible material. Any material which will not ignite when heated to a temperature of 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pennant. A lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind.
Political sign. Posters and campaign materials on behalf of candidates or public offices or on behalf of a particular political belief. Prior to the first day of filing, the Zoning Officer will post a letter in the office of the City Clerk and the office of the Circuit Clerk, notifying candidates of the temporary sign ordinance.
Real estate sign. Signs advertising the sale, rental or lease of the premises or parts of the premises on which the signs are displayed.
Smartboards. An off-premise advertising sign, display, or device that changes the message or copy on the sign by means of a liquid crystal display. Smartboards may not incorporate animation in the copy or change of copy. Smartboard signs must contain a default design that will freeze the sign in one position if a malfunction occurs.
Temporary sign. Any sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently mounted.
(Ord. 12931. Passed 9-21-04.)