The following definitions shall be used for terms contained in this chapter that are not otherwise defined in this Code of Ordinances.
1. “Abandoned sign” means a sign, including sign face and supporting structure, which refers to a discontinued business, profession, commodity, service, or other activity or use formerly occupying the site; or which contains no sign copy on all sign faces for a continuous period of six months.
2. “Attached sign” means a sign which is structurally connected to a building or depends upon that building for support.
3. “Auxiliary design elements” means terms which describe secondary characteristics of a sign, including its method of illumination and other features within the bounds of its basic shape.
4. “Awning” and “awning sign” mean a temporary or movable shelter supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building and composed of non-rigid materials, except for a supporting framework. An awning sign is a message printed on such a shelter.
5. “Banner” means material with a printed message or graphic secured or mounted from a structure in such a way as to allow wind movement under which pedestrian or vehicle traffic passes, but does not include signs or materials under which peoples or traffic do not pass, such as that tied or secured within or to a window or porch opening, or tied or secured flush against a building.
6. “Building marker” means an historic or commemorative plaque, or a building name or cornerstone carved into a masonry surface.
7. “Business center identification sign” means a sign which identifies a building or group of commercial buildings in single ownership or control, sharing parking and access.
8. “Canopy” means a projecting non-movable structure cantilevered or suspended from a building, supported by the main structural members to which it is attached, and used only as a roof or fixed shelter. A canopy may include a printed message or graphic, or not, and is treated no differently as a result under this ordinance.
9. “Clearance” means the distance from the bottom of a sign face elevated above grade and the grade below.
10. “Detached sign” means a sign which is self-supporting and structurally independent from any building.
11. “Directional sign” means a sign which serves only to designate the location or direction of any area or place.
12. “Double-faced sign” means a sign consisting of no more than two parallel faces supported by a single structure.
13. “Frontage” means the length of a property line of any one premises abutting and parallel to a public street, private way, or court.
14. “Ground sign” means a detached on-premises sign built on a freestanding frame, mast, or poles with a clearance no greater than 3 feet.
15. “Illumination” means lighting sources installed for the primary purpose of lighting a specific sign or group of signs.
16. “Marquee” means a permanent roofed structure attached to and supported by a building and extending over public right-of-way.
17. “Maximum permitted sign area” means the maximum permitted combined area of all signs allowed on a specific property.
18. “Monument sign” means an on-premises freestanding sign with the appearance of a solid base. The width of such base shall be at least 75 percent of the width of the sign.
19. “Moving sign” means a sign which conveys its message through rotating, changing, or animated elements.
20. “Nonconforming sign” means a sign that was legally erected prior to the adoption of this chapter but which violates the regulations of this chapter.
21. “Pole sign” means an on-premises sign, including any flag, built on a freestanding frame, mast, or poles with a clearance greater than 3 feet, and where the support encompasses less than 75% of the width of the sign.
22. “Portable sign” means any sign supported by frames or posts rigidly attached to bases not permanently attached to the ground or a building and capable of being moved from place to place.
23. “Premises” means a tract of one or more lots or sites which are contiguous and under common ownership or control.
24. “Projecting sign” means a sign other than a wall sign that is attached to and projects from a building face.
25. “Promotional sign” means a sign that is located within a business parking lot and affixed to a light pole or cart caddy to advertise a special price or event.
26. “Residential sign” means a small detached or attached sign located on a residential premises. Residential signs include window signs.
27. “Roof sign” means any sign or part of sign erected upon, against, or directly above a roof or on top of or above the parapet or cornice of a building.
A. “Integral roof sign” means a roof sign positioned between an eave line and the peak or highest point on a roof, substantially parallel to the face of a building.
B. “Above-peak roof sign” means a roof sign positioned above the peak of a roof or above a parapet or cornice.
28. “Sign” any device, display, or structure that is visible from a public place and that has words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, logos, illumination, or projected images. This definition does not include architectural elements incorporated into the structure or façade of a building. For the purposes of this sign code, “signs” do not include those only visible from the inside of a building or athletic field/stadium; nor do “signs” include those held by or attached to a person.
29. “Sign type” means a functional description of the use of an individual sign, and includes owner identification, advertising, directional, electronic message, and temporary.
30. “Street façade” means any separate external face of a building, including parapet walls and omitted wall lines, oriented to and facing a public street, private way, or court. Separate faces oriented in the same direction or within 45 degrees of one another are considered part of the same street façade.
31. “Temporary sign” a sign constructed of cloth, canvas, vinyl, paper, plywood, fabric, plastic, or other lightweight material that is neither permanently installed in the ground nor permanently affixed to a building or structure that is permanently installed in the ground, and which is intended to be displayed less than 60 days. The term “temporary sign” includes, but is not limited to, A-frame signs, lawn signs, banners, inflatable signs, and window signs. The term “temporary sign” does not include flags, and signs that are intended to regularly move, such as motorized signs.
32. “Wall sign” means a sign attached to and parallel with the side of a building.
33. “Window sign” means a sign painted on or installed inside a window for the purpose of viewing from outside the premises. Window signs do not include messages, signs, or speech hung from or exercised in the interior of the home which are visible from the exterior of the homes. Residents may elect for window signs to count towards residential signs or temporary signs.
34. “Zone lot” means a parcel of land in single ownership that is large enough to meet the minimum zoning requirements of its zoning district and can provide such yards and other open spaces that are required by the site development regulations.