a) SIGN: Any permanent or temporary structure or part thereof, or any device that is attached, painted, or represented directly or indirectly on a structure or other surface, or which is placed inside within twelve (12) inches of a door, window, or other glazed surface which is intended to be seen from the exterior, which displays or includes any letter, word, insignia, flag, or representation used as, or which is in the nature, of an advertisement, announcement, visual communication or direction or is designed to attract the eye or bring the subject to the attention of the public.
b) TYPES OF SIGNS
1) ADDRESS SIGN -A sign or individual lettering/numbering that designates the street number and/or street name for identification purposes, as designated by the United States Postal Service.
2) ATTACHED SIGN -A sign attached, painted, or otherwise mounted parallel to a wall or other vertical building surface. Attached signs shall not extend beyond the edge of any wall or other surface to which they are mounted nor project more than 18 inches from its surface.
3) AWNING SIGN -Any sign painted on or applied to a structure made of cloth, canvas, metal, plastic, fiberglass, or similar material which is affixed to a building and projects from it.*
4) BANNER -Any sign of durable, lightweight fabric or similar material that is mounted to a pole or building at two (2) or more sides (if mounted only at one side, than it shall fall under the definition of a "flag").
5) BLADE SIGN -Any sign mounted to a wall or other vertical building surface which projects perpendicular from the building surface. Blade signs shall not project more than three (3) feet from the wall or surface to which they are mounted, must be at least seven (7) feet above the walking surface below, and may not in any way interfere with normal pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
6) CANOPY SIGN - An attached sign that is part of or attached to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or outside service area. A marquee sign is included in this definition.
7) FLAG -Any fabric containing distinctive colors, patterns, or design that displays the symbol of a nation, state, local government, company, organization, belief system, idea, or other meaning.
8) FREESTANDING SIGN -A sign and supporting structure that is secured in the ground and independent of any building, fence, or other support.
9) GOVERNMENTAL SIGN -Any sign to control traffic or for identification, including street signs, warning signs, railroad-crossing signs and signs of public service companies indicating danger or construction, which are erected by or at the order of a public officer, employee, or agent thereof in the discharge of this official duties.
10) INFLATABLE SIGNS -Any sign that is either expanded to its full dimension or supported by gases contained within the sign, or sign parts, at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. For purposes of this definition and ordinance, a simple helium balloon is not be considered an inflatable sign.
11) NON-COMMERCIAL SIGN -A sign which communicates an ideological message, with no direct or indirect economic gain.
12) PENNANT - Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, string, or other such material, usually in series, designed to move in the wind and attracts the attention to the property on which it is located.
13) PERSONAL EXPRESSION SIGN -Any sign that expresses an opinion, interest, or position which does not serve a commercial purpose. The sign may not contain any language or other visual representation which would be considered vulgar or pornographic, sends a message of hate or discrimination, or violates any other law.
14) REAL ESTATE SIGN - Any sign that advertises the sale or lease of real property or portion thereof.
15) ROOF SIGN -Any sign that is constructed above the top of the vertical wall.
16) SANDWICH BOARD: A freestanding temporary sign with two sides, often with the sides creating an "A" shape when erected.
c) DURATION OF SIGN
1) PERMANENT SIGN -A sign which is intended to be erected or installed, or actually erected or installed, for a long period of time, exceeding ninety (90) days.
2) TEMPORARY SIGN -A sign which is intended to be erected or installed, or actually erected or installed, for a short period of time, not exceeding ninety (90) days or a sign that is intended to be used for a short period of time.Portable signs or any sign that is not permanently embedded in the ground or otherwise permanently affixed to real estate are considered temporary signs.
3) MOBILE SIGN -Any sign that is capable of moving from one premises to another, including those painted on vehicles that are parked and/or stored at a location other than where the activity associated with said vehicle is conducted unless said vehicle is being used in the normal day-to-day operations of the use of the premises on which the vehicle is parked or stored.
d) PURPOSE OF SIGN
1) OFF-PREMISES SIGN -A sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located, including but not limited to billboards.
2) ON-PREMISES SIGN -A sign which advertises or otherwise directs attention to an activity on the same lot where the sign is located.
e) LIGHTING OF SIGNS
1) DIRECTLY ILLUMINATED -A non-flashing or non-twinkling sign which has letters, figures, designs, or outlines illuminated by an internal or external lighting source as part of the sign.
2) FESTOON LIGHTING - A directly illuminated sign comprised of a group of incandescent bulbs hung or strung overhead or used to outline a structure or any part thereof.
3) FLASHING - A sign where any or all of the lighted portions of the sign do not remain constant in intensity or color at all times when in use.
4) HALO -Signs illuminated from behind which create an outline or silhouette.
5) INDIRECTLY ILLUMINATED - Any artificial sign lighting from lights on or directed toward the sign.
6) NEON SIGN - Any sign composed of glass tubing containing a large proportion of neon or other similar gas. A neon sign may be a wall sign, a projecting sign, or a window sign.
f) MULTIMEDIA
1) ANIMATED SIGN -Any sign where its appearance changes more often than every thirty (30) seconds.
2) CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN -A 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. A sign on which the message changes more often than every thirty (30) seconds shall be considered an "animated sign" and not a "changeable copy sign" for the purposes of this Ordinance. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a time-and-temperature portion of a sign and not a changeable copy sign for the purpose of this Ordinance.
g) SIGN SIZE CALCULATION
1) BUILDING FRONT -The side of a building determined by the Zoning Officer to be the front of the building or tenant space for purposes of determining sign size. Each building and tenant space shall have only one building frontage. The Zoning Officer shall determine the front of the building based on factors, including, but not limited to: the location of the main entrance doors, location of parking areas, location of access drives, location of public streets, and the street address.
2) BUILDING FRONT AREA -The area of a building front area shall be computed by means of the smallest square, triangle, rectangle, circle, or combination thereof that will encompass the extreme limits of the structure.