(a) “Abandoned sign” means a sign associated with an abandoned use or a sign that remains after the termination of the business.
(b) “Animated sign” means any sign that uses or has the appearance of movement or change of artificial and natural lighting or noise to depict action or create a special effect or scene.
(c) “Awning sign” means a sign painted on or affixed to an awning.
(d) “Banner” means a non-rigid cloth, plastic, paper, or canvas sign, used on a temporary basis.
(e) “Billboard” means an off-premises sign directing attention to a specific business, product, service, entertainment or other activity sold, offered, or conducted off-site on a lot or parcel.
(f) “Blade sign” means a sign, other than a wall sign, suspended from or supported by a building and projecting out from a building.
(g) “Bulletin board” means a sign for public and semi-public uses with non-digital changeable copy that is used for the purpose of publicizing public events.
(h) “Changeable Copy Sign” means a sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged by mechanical, electronic, or manual means.
(i) “Construction fence sign” means signs affixed to construction fencing.
(j) “Construction period sign” means a temporary sign erected only between the time a permit for construction is issued and until construction is completed.
(k) “Directional sign” means a sign used to direct on-site traffic.
(l) “Directory sign” means small signs or placards affixed to a wall adjacent to the main entrance to a multiple-tenant building typically used to list tenants located within the building.
(m) “EV (Electric Vehicle) charging station signs” are signs that are affixed to or painted on an EV charging station.
(n) “For sale/for lease sign” means a sign indicating the sale, rental, or lease of a structure or property.
(o) “Gas-inflated sign or device” means any device which is capable of being expanded by any gas and used on a permanent or temporary basis to attract attention to a product or event, whether or not the sign or device includes any movement or moving parts. This definition includes both hot- and cold-air balloons tethered or otherwise anchored to the ground.
(p) Gasoline fuel pump signs are signs that are affixed to or painted on gasoline fuel pumps.
(q) “Governmental sign” means a sign erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any government functions or required by law, ordinance, or other governmental regulations. Governmental signs shall include but not be limited to traffic control or similar regulatory devices, official signs and notices, official “Welcome to Worthington” signs, “Block Watch” signs, “Tree City USA” signs, legal notices, warnings at railroad crossings, or any other such sign required by law.
(r) “Ground sign” means any sign which is physically attached to a sign structure. These are commonly known as ground, pole, or monument signs.
(s) “Historical Marker” means a marker that meets the qualifications of the Ohio History Connection.
(t) “Illuminated sign” means any sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting either by light on or in the sign or directed toward the sign.
(u) “Internal sign” means an indoor sign viewed through glass from the exterior of the building or structure.
(v) “Joint identification sign” means a ground sign displaying more than one tenant.
(w) “Logo” means a graphic representation on a sign of a corporate trademark, or symbol of a company name, trademark, emblem, figure, element, abbreviation, etc., uniquely designed for recognition.
(x) “Nonconforming sign” means a pre-existing legal sign, which does not conform to the standards set forth in this code.
(y) “Off-premises sign” means a sign located on a property other than the property where the goods or services are sold or offered for sale.
(z) “Pennant” means a banner often wider at one end than the other, usually tapering to a point(s).
(aa) “Permanent sign” means any permitted or legal nonconforming sign intended to remain in place. A permanent sign must be securely attached or installed upon a building, structure, or the ground.
(bb) “Portable sign” means any sign that is designed to be or capable of being moved or transported, and not attached to any building, structure, or ground.
(cc) “Professional nameplate” means a sign displaying the name of the business or occupant of a specific space in a building.
(dd) “Projected image” means an image projected onto a building, structure, or sign.
(ee) “Promotional signs” means a temporary sign that provides information regarding a special event, community activity, or similar activity.
(ff) “Refacing” means any alteration to the face of a sign involving the replacement of materials or parts. Refacing does not refer to replacing the entire sign structure or the removal of the sign.
(gg) “Residential development sign” means a sign identifying a subdivision or other single or multi-family development.
(hh) “Roof sign” means any sign installed, erected upon, against or directly above the parapet of a building, including a sign affixed to any structure erected upon a roof.
(ii) “Sale, leasing or open house period sign” means a temporary sign erected only during any period when a premises or part thereof is actively offered for sale or lease, including open houses.
(jj) “Scoreboard” means an electronically- or non-electronically (mechanical) controlled changeable copy sign used to display scoring information for sporting events. Such signs are associated with a sports field.
(kk) “Sidewalk sign” means a temporary sign intended to be placed on the ground.
(ll) “Sign permit” means the document issued by the Director of Planning and Building ordesignee authorizing construction and installation of signs.
(mm) “Sign” is defined as any name, number, symbol, identification, description, display, illustration, object, graphic, sign structure, or part thereof, whether permanent or temporary, which is affixed to, painted on, represented directly or indirectly upon, or projected onto a building, structure, lot, or other device, whether mobile or affixed to the ground, and which directs attention to any object, product, place, activity, person, institution, organization, or business. This definition includes all signs visible from any public right-of-way or adjacent property, including interior signs oriented toward the exterior façade of any building or structure as well as back-lighted panels or strip lighting affixed to any window or interior of a building but visible from the exterior that serves to identify and attract attention rather than illuminate space for human activity.
(nn) “Sign face” means the surface intended for the display of information on the sign.
(oo) “Sign structure” means the supporting unit of a sign face, including, but not limited to, frames, braces, and poles.
(pp) “Street address sign” means a sign bearing only the street address of the properties on which they are located for the purpose of aiding first responders.
(qq) “Temporary sign” means any sign that does not meet the definition of a “Permanent sign”.
(rr) “Wall sign” means a sign which is physically attached to a building façade or associated appurtenance and intended to provide visibility for either pedestrians or motorists. Wall signs are typically used to identify commercial tenants within the building or to identify the general name of a residential building or associated development.
(Ord. 36-2023. Passed 6-17-24.)