§ 83-2. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings, ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Abandoned sign means a sign which no longer identifies or advertises a bona fide business, lessor, service, owner, product or activity.
Administrator means the person, designated by the director to enforce this chapter.
Alteration means to replace, exchange, reconstruct, renovate, move, relocate, animate, enlarge or decrease in size.
Animated sign means any sign which incorporates in any manner mechanical movement, or apparent movement achieved by electrical pulsations or other means such as sequential light phasing. Animated signs are prohibited.
Awning means a shelter projecting from and supported by the exterior wall of a building constructed on non-rigid materials on a supporting framework.
Awning sign means a sign painted on, printed on, or attached flat against the surface of an awning.
Balloon sign means any display capable of being expanded by air or other gas used on a permanent or temporary basis to advertise a product or event. Balloon signs are prohibited.
Banner sign means a sign made of fabric or any non-rigid material. The maximum size of a banner is five feet vertical and 20 feet horizontal.
Bench sign means any sign attached to or a part of a sitting bench. Bench signs are prohibited.
Billboard means any sign.
Billboard site means one sign structure regardless of the number of faces. A location containing multiple billboards not exceeding 15 feet in distance between the closest point of the billboards is one billboard site.
Changeable copy sign (electronic) means a sign on which the copy changes automatically on a lamp bank or through mechanical means. These electronic activated changes are allowed in 15 second intervals, with no illusion of motion. Time and temperature characters may change at real time.
Changeable copy sign (manual) means a sign on which copy is changed manually in the field, e.g., reader boards with changeable letters.
Clearance (of a sign) means the smallest vertical distance between the grade and the lowest point of any sign, including framework and embellishments, extending over that grade.
Construction sign means a temporary sign identifying an architect, contractor, subcontractor, and/or material supplier participating in construction on the property on which the sign is located. One construction sign for each street frontage of a construction project, not to exceed 16 square feet in sign area per face in residential zones or 64 square feet in sign area in all other zones. Such signs may be erected ten days prior to beginning of construction and shall be removed ten days following completion of construction.
Copy means the wording on a sign surface in either permanent or removable letter form.
Directional/information sign means a sign that does not exceed two feet square, and no more than four feet in height, giving direction to a specific location, instructions or facility information. The sign may contain the business name or logo and an arrow for direction of travel, but no advertising or commercial copy.
Director means the director of the department of the city designated by the mayor as having authority and responsibility under this chapter.
Double-faced sign means a sign with two faces.
Electrical sign means a sign or sign structure in which electrical wiring, connections or fixtures are used.
Facade means the entire building front including the parapet, wing walls, etc.
Face of sign means the area of a sign on which the copy is placed or message conveyed.
Festoon means a string of ribbons, tinsel, small flags, pinwheels or similar objects. Festoons are prohibited.
Flashing sign means a sign which contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source used primarily to attract attention. Flashing sign does not include a changeable (electronic) copy sign, or sign which through reflection or other means, creates an illusion of flashing of intermittent light. Flashing signs are prohibited.
Freestanding sign means a permanently attached sign on a freestanding pole or other support so that the bottom edge of the sign is nine feet or greater above grade in pedestrian areas or 13 feet or greater in vehicular areas.
Frontage means the length of the property line of any one premises along a public right-of-way on which it borders.
Frontage, building means the length of an outside building wall on a public right-of-way.
Government sign means any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained by the city, county, state or federal government for traffic direction or for designation of or direction to any school, hospital, historical site, or for providing information concerning public services or events, public properties, or public facilities.
Ground mounted sign means a permanently attached sign, other than a freestanding sign, in which the entire bottom of the sign is in contact with the ground or is close to the ground and is independent of any other structure.
Height (of a sign) means the vertical distance measured from the highest point of the sign, including decorative embellishments, to the grade of the adjacent street or the surface grade beneath the sign, whichever is less (compare "clearance").
Identification sign means a sign whose copy is limited to the name and address of a building; institution, or person and/or to the activity or occupation being identified.
Illegal sign means a sign which does not meet the requirements of this chapter and which has not received legal nonconforming status.
Illuminated sign means a sign with an artificial light source incorporated internally or externally for the purpose of illuminating the sign.
Incidental sign means a sign, emblem or decal informing the public of facilities or services available on the premises, e.g., a credit card sign or a sign indicating the hours of business. Incidental signs shall not exceed five square feet in aggregate sign area per occupancy.
Lot means a parcel of land legally defined on a subdivision map recorded with the assessment department or land registry office, or a parcel of land defined by a legal record or survey map.
Maintenance means the cleaning, painting, repair or replacement of defective parts of a sign in a manner that does not alter the basic copy design or structure of the sign.
Mansard means a steeply sloping ornamental roof-like structure commonly used on exterior walls of buildings having flat, or nearly flat roofs.
Marquee means a permanent roof-like structure or canopy of rigid materials supported by an extending structure from the facade of a building.
Marquee sign means any sign attached to or supported by a marquee structure. All permitted marquee signs shall have a minimum clearance of 13 feet over any vehicular use area and nine feet over any pedestrian use area. Marquee signs shall not exceed one-third square foot of sign area per each linear foot of marquee frontage.
Nameplate means a non-electric on-premises identification sign giving only the name, address and/or occupation of an occupant or group of occupants.
Nonconforming sign means a sign which was erected legally but which does not comply with subsequently enacted sign restrictions and regulations.
Occupancy means the portion of a building or premises owned, leased, rented or otherwise occupied for a given use.
Off-premises sign means a sign structure advertising an establishment, merchandise, service or entertainment, which is not sold, produced, manufactured or furnished at the property on which the sign is located, e.g., billboards or outdoors advertising.
On-premises sign means a sign which pertains to the use of the premises on which it is located.
Owner means a person recorded as such on official records. For the purposes of this chapter, the owner of property on which a sign is located is presumed to be the owner of the sign unless facts to the contrary are officially recorded or otherwise brought to the attention of the administrator, e.g., a sign leased from a sign company.
Painted wall sign means a sign which is applied with paint or similar substance on the face of a wall.
Parapet means the extension of a false front or wall above a roof line.
Permanent mounting means to set, fix or secure in or on a support, thereby allowing such sign to become a fixed object to be used for the purpose of which it was intended.
Point of purchase display means advertising of a retail item accompanying its display, e.g., an advertisement on a product dispenser.
Pole cover means a cover enclosing or decorating poles or other structural supports of a sign.
Political sign means a temporary sign used in connection with a local, state, or national election or referendum. No political sign be shall allowed to be placed within eight feet of the curb or edge of pavement on any public street except when flush mounted on a building face of a permanent building nor will they be permitted to interfere with safe sight distance for vehicle turning movement. Political signs in residential zones shall be limited in sign area to 16 square feet per face of sign.
Portable sign means any sign designed to be moved easily and not permanently affixed to the ground or to a structure or building.
Poster panel means a billboard containing up to 300 square feet of sign area.
Premise means a parcel of land with its appurtenances and buildings which, because of its unity of use, may be regarded as a conveyable unit of real estate.
Projecting sign means a sign, other than a flat wall sign, which is attached to and projects from a building wall or other structure not specifically designed to support the sign.
Real estate sign means a temporary sign of 16 square feet or less advertising the real estate upon which the sign is located as being for rent, lease or sale. Real estate signs must be removed 14 days following sale, rental or lease.
Roof sign means any sign erected over or on the roof of a building. Roof signs are prohibited.
Rotating sign means a copy in which the sign itself or any portion of the sign moves in a revolving or similar manner. Such motion does not refer to methods of changing copy.
Scenic corridor means a public right-of-way which in the opinion of the city council exhibits special aesthetic and visual characteristics worthy of protection through enhanced billboard regulation.
Sight triangle means a triangular shaped piece of land established at a street intersection in which nothing is erected, placed, planted or allowed to grow in such a manner as to limit or obstruct the sight distance of motorist entering or leaving the intersection. The sight triangle is measured from the intersection of the two rights-of-way, a distance of 25 feet along each right-of-way. Within this sight triangle there shall be no obstruction to vision between a height of two feet and a height of nine feet above the average grade of each street at the centerline of the street. Street name signs, fire hydrants, street lighting poles and associated appurtenances thereto shall be permitted within this area.
Sign means any attention gathering device, structure, balloon, festoon, fixture or placard using imagery, graphics, symbols, and/or written copy designed specifically for the purpose of advertising or identifying any establishment, product, goods or services.
Sign, area of means that area enclosed by one continuous line connecting the extreme points or edges of a sign. The area shall be determined using the largest sign area or silhouette visible at any one time from any one point. This area does not include the main supporting sign structure but all other ornamental attachments, inner connecting links, etc., which are not a part of the main supports of the sign, are to be included in determining sign area.
Snipe sign means a temporary sign or poster affixed to a tree, telephone poles, public benches, fence, etc. or placed on public property or in the public right of way. Snipe signs are prohibited.
Subdivision identification sign means a ground mounted sign identifying a recognized subdivision, condominium complex, or residential development, not to exceed 32 square feet in area and six feet in height.
Temporary sign means a sign not constructed or intended for long-term use, and not permanently attached to the ground, a building or structure.
Trailer sign means any sign that is attached to a frame with wheels (or with the wheels removed) and designed in a manner that allows it to be moved easily. Trailer signs are prohibited.
Under-canopy sign means a sign suspended beneath a canopy, ceiling, roof or marquee.
Use means the principal purpose for which a building, lot, sign or structure is intended, designed occupied or maintained.
Vehicular sign is any sign displayed on a parked or moving vehicle, where the primary purpose of the vehicle is to advertise a product or business or to direct people to a business or activity. Vehicular signs shall not include business logos, identification, or advertising on vehicles primarily used for other business purposes. Vehicular signs are prohibited.
Wall sign means a sign attached parallel to the wall of a building. Wall signs include painted, individual letter and cabinet signs and signs on a mansard.
Window sign means a sign installed inside a window and intended to be viewed from the outside. Window signs shall not exceed 25 percent of the total window space. Incidental signs, when placed inside a window shall not be included in this 25 percent measurement.
(Ord. No. 7674, § 2(Exh. A), 11-22-04)