As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, these words shall be defined as follows:
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIAL. The person or persons charged with enforcing the sign ordinance.
ADVERTISING. A message seeking to attract the public or to direct the attention of the public to any goods, services or merchandise.
ANIMATED SIGN. A sign that uses mechanical movement or change of lighting to depict action or create a special effect or scene.
BANDIT SIGN. A sign made of any material or size when such sign is erected, tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued or otherwise attached to trees, poles, fences, or other objects in the right-of-way.
BANNER. A temporary sign of no more than 100 square feet containing a worded message or graphic image composed of lightweight material secured or mounted so as to allow movement caused by wind. Flags of governmental jurisdictions and flags carrying the emblem of a business or institution are not to be considered a BANNER for the purposes of this subchapter.
BILLBOARD. An outdoor advertising display which is required to have a license or permit through the Texas Department of Transportation.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN (READER BOARD). An on-premise sign advertising commodities or services offered on the premises consisting of individual message elements such as letters, numbers or symbols, which are designed and intended for frequent manual replacement or alteration after the sign is erected.
CITY. The City of Willis, Texas.
CIVIC ORGANIZATION. An organization which offers community programs to citizen, city or civil affairs groups.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. The Code Enforcement Officer/Code Official, or his or her designee, of the city, who is charged with the enforcement of the provisions of this subchapter. The term also includes any city police officer.
COMMERCIAL OCCUPATIONAL SIGN. A sign identifying the name and profession of the occupant(s) and not exceeding 16 square feet in area.
COMMUNITY EVENT. An event of civic interest, such as parades, organized holiday festivities, or special events on behalf of charitable organizations.
COMMUNITY SERVICE SIGN. A sign that solicits support for or advertises a nonprofit community use, city events, public use or social institution. Such signs may include, but shall not be limited to, seasonal holidays such as Christmas or Easter, school activities, charitable programs, religious activities or events of community interest.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN. A temporary accessory sign identifying the property owner, architect, contractor, engineer, landscape architect, decorator or mortgagee engaged in the design, construction or improvement of the premises on which the sign is located.
COPY. Letters, characters, illustrations, logos, graphics, symbols, writing or combination thereof, designed to communicate information of any kind, or to advertise or announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity, or to identify or advertise a business or business product, or to advertise the sale or lease of a premises.
CURB LINE. An imaginary line drawn along the outermost part or back of the curb and gutter on either side of a public street, or, if there is no curb and gutter, along the outermost portion of the paved roadway, or if there is no paved roadway, along the edge of the traveled portion of the roadway.
DEVELOPMENT SIGN. A temporary accessory sign related to the promotion of new developments and located on the premises involved in the development.
DIGITAL BILLBOARD. A type of off-premises sign utilizing digital message technology, capable of changing the message or copy on the sign electronically. A digital billboard may be internally or externally illuminated. Digital billboards shall contain static messages only, and shall not have animation, movement, or the appearance or optical illusion of movement, of any part of the sign structure. Each static message shall not include flashing or the varying of light intensity.
DILAPIDATED OR DETERIORATED CONDITION. A sign which has any of the following characteristics:
(1) Where elements of the surface or background can be seen, as viewed from the normal viewing distance, to have portions of the finished material or paint flaked, broken off, or missing, or otherwise not in harmony with the rest of the surface; or
(2) Where the structural support or frame members are visibly bent, broken, dented, or torn; or
(3) Where the panel is visibly cracked, or in the case of wood and similar products, splintered in such a way as to constitute an unsightly or harmful condition; or
(4) Where the sign or its elements are twisted or leaning or at angles other than those at which it was originally erected (such as may result from being blown or the failure of a structural support); or
(5) Where the message or wording can no longer be clearly read by a person with normal eyesight under normal viewing conditions.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN. A sign that gives direction to streets, schools, hospitals, historical sites, public facilities, or community events.
FLASHING SIGN. A sign, the illumination of which is not constant in intensity when in use. Illuminated signs that indicate the date, time or temperature, or other public service information shall not be considered a FLASHING SIGN. The term FLASHING excludes digital billboards which are operated in conformity with this subchapter.
FREE-STANDING SIGN. Any sign supported by uprights or braces placed into or upon the ground and not attached to any building.
GARAGE SALE SIGN. Signs used to advertise the date, time and location of a garage sale or yard sale. Garage sale signs shall not exceed six square feet in area. Such signs shall be located solely on the premises of the location of the sale and shall be posted no more than three days prior to and removed one day after the sale.
HAND-HELD SIGN. A sign that is worn or held in the hands and is not set on or affixed to the ground.
HISTORICAL SIGNS. An integral part of the historic character of a landmark building or historic district.
ILLUMINATED SIGN. Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outlines illuminated externally by electric lights or internally by luminous tubes.
MARQUEE SIGN. Any sign affixed to a permanent canopy projecting over an entrance or on the face of a building and supported from the building.
MOVING SIGN. Any sign which moves or has moving parts other than parts which indicate time, temperature; or other than moving devices which may be approved by the Administrative Official to provide needed public service information.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN. A sign which is erected outdoors and maintained for a purpose other than to specifically serve or relate to the premises on which it is located, and which does not refer exclusively to the name, location, products, persons, accommodations, services, sale, lease, construction, or activities of or on the premises where it is erected.
ON-PREMISES SIGN. A sign that transmits a message pertaining to a product, use, occupancy, or function that is located on the same property as the sign.
OTHER ADVERTISING STRUCTURE. Any marquee, canopy or awning, as further defined in this subchapter.
POLITICAL CAMPAIGN SIGN. A temporary sign or advertising device (constructed of lightweight material), announcing or supporting political candidates or issues in connection with any national, state or local election.
PORTABLE SIGN. Any sign which is easily moved from one location to another including signs which are mounted on skids, trailers, wheels, legs or stakes, and which is not fixed permanently to the
ground, and which is not an attached sign, political sign, or a sign which refers solely to the sale or lease of the premises.
PROJECTING SIGN. Any sign which is attached to a building or other structure and extends beyond the line of the building or structure or beyond the surface of that portion of the building or structure to which it is attached. A marquee is a projecting sign for this portion of the subchapter.
(1) HORIZONTAL PROJECTING SIGN shall mean any sign which is greater in width than in height.
(2) VERTICAL PROJECTING SIGN shall mean any sign which is greater in height than in width.
PUBLIC SIGNS. A sign that regulates vehicular or pedestrian traffic or designates or gives direction to streets, schools, hospitals, historical sites or public facilities.
READER BOARD. An on-premises sign with changeable copy advertising commodities or services offered on the premises consisting of individual message elements such as letters, numbers or symbols, which are designed and intended for frequent manual replacement or alteration after the sign is erected.
REAL ESTATE SIGN. Any sign which is used to offer for sale, lease or rent the property upon which the sign is placed.
RIGHT-OF-WAY. The area lying within the dedicated or prescriptive public easement of any public street, road, or alley located within the city, whether improved or not, including the sidewalk, ditches, drains, median, and esplanade thereof.
ROOF SIGN. Any sign erected, constructed and maintained wholly upon or above the roof of any building with the principal support attached to the roof structure.
SIGN. Any writing, pictorial representation, illustration, emblem, symbol, design or other figure of similar character which is a structure or a part thereof, or is attached to or in any manner represented on a building or other structure, and is placed out of doors in view of the general public and is used for purposes of advertisement, identification or expression.
SIGN AREA. The largest area of the sign visible at any one time from any one point enclosed by a single continuous perimeter including any framing or trim enclosing a message, but not including any structural parts lying outside the limits of such sign which does not form an integral part of the message display. The sign area shall be measured on only one side of a double-faced sign provided that the two faces are parallel to each other and provided that the faces are the same size and share a common structural support.
SIGN HEIGHT. The vertical distance between the base of the sign at the nearest natural grade to the highest part of the sign or any attached component.
SIGN SETBACK. The horizontal distance between the projection of the leading edge of the sign and the nearest property line.
STATIC MESSAGE. A type of digital message copy that does not have movement or the appearance or optical illusion of movement during the static display period. Each static message shall not include flashing or the varying of light intensity.
STRUCTURAL TRIM. The molding, battens, capping, nailing strips, lattice, and platforms which are attached to the sign structure.
SUBDIVISION SIGN. A permanent freestanding sign identifying a subdivision entrance wherein only the name of the subdivision is specified.
TEMPORARY SIGN. A sign which is 32 square feet or less, not permanently affixed to realty, and intended to be displayed for 30 days or less. Temporary signs may be of cloth canvas, light fabric, cardboard or wallboard, or other light material.
WALL SIGN. An on-premises sign affixed to, or painted on, a fence or a building such that the fence or building wall is the supporting structure for, or forms the background surface of the sign and which does not project more than 18 inches perpendicular to the wall.
WINDOW SIGN. A sign attached to, placed upon, or painted on the exterior or interior of a window or door, or a building, which is intended for viewing from the exterior of such building. A window sign shall not:
(1) Exceed 80% of the length of the window in which, on which, or through which the sign is installed; and
(2) Exceed 33% of the height of the window in which, on which, or through which the sign is installed;
(3) Obstruct visibility of the cashier clerk from the street level.
(Ord. 12-0515A, passed 5-15-2012; Ord. 21-0720B, passed 7-20-2021)