§ 260-3. Definitions.

Abandoned or dilapidated sign. Cessation of the use of a sign by either the owner of the sign or the occupant of the property on which the sign is placed, or through the removal or relocation of the previous occupant of the property, or a sign that has ceased to be used through the removal of its copy, or the deterioration of its copy through lack of maintenance, but excluding temporary or short-term periods of remodeling, refurbishment or maintenance of the sign.

Air- or gas-filled balloons. See Inflatable signs.

Animated sign. A sign that uses movement or changes of lighting to depict action or to create a special effect or scene or that uses the emission of smoke, noise, gas or other substance from the sign. Signs that utilize the movement of air through the device for visual effect are considered animated signs. Animated sign exclude changeable copy signs permitted by these regulations or changeable copy signs erected pursuant to consent order following litigation; provided no change is made in the type, size height, location, style or technology of the sign following its original erection.

Awning sign. A building sign imposed, mounted or painted upon an awning.

Banner. A sign other than a flag made of paper, cloth, thin plastic or similar lightweight material and rectangular in form.

Canopy sign. A building sign affixed to, superimposed upon, or painted on any canopy, such that the sign is mounted in such a manner that a continuous face with the canopy is formed.

Changeable copy sign. A sign on which the copy changes through either electronic or mechanical means.

Digital sign face. See Electronic sign face.

Directional Sign. Signs that provide traffic instruction for ingress and egress for travel to or from a lot.

Double-faced sign. A sign structure with two sign faces that are parallel (back-to-back) or that form an angle to one another of no more than 60 degrees, where each sign face is designed to be seen from a different direction.

Electronic sign [face]. An illuminated sign face without moving parts whose content may be changed by electronic process with intermittent light or lights, including light emitting diodes liquid crystal display, and plasma screen image display.

Externally illuminated sign. Any sign that is only illuminated by an artificial light source that directly or indirectly illuminates the face of the sign from outside the sign structure.

Feather flag. Means a sign made of paper, cloth, thin plastic or similar lightweight material oriented in a vertical direction and supported by a harpoon-style pole or staff driven into the ground as its primary means of support.

Festoons. Strings of ribbons, tinsel, small flags, pennants, streamers, pinwheels, or other devices or long narrow strips of fabric, plastic, or other pliable material designed to move in the wind or by mechanical fan. Festoons are considered animated signs.

Flag. A sign consisting of any fabric containing distinctive colors, patterns, logos, or symbols, used as an official symbol of a government or any other entity or organization.

Flashing Signs. Signs that flash, blink, rotate, revolve, or have moving parts or visible bulbs, and signs containing reflective elements that sparkle in the sunlight or otherwise simulate illumination during daylight hours. Flashing signs are considered animated signs.

Freestanding canopy signs. A sign erected on the side of a permanent freestanding canopy erected on a lot for the protection of commercial activity on that lot. The canopy shall not be connected to any building or other structure.

Ground sign. A sign permanently attached to the ground and that is wholly independent of any building or other structure for support.

Incidental sign. A small sign, emblem, or decal located on a building or structure. Such signs are normally located on doors, windows, and gas pumps, and are generally not readily visible or legible from public rights-of-way.

Inflatable signs. A sign that is intended to be expanded by air or other gas for its proper display or support.

Internally illuminated sign. Any sign that is illuminated by a source of light that is internal to the sign structure.

Miscellaneous Ground Sign. A permanent sign accessory to any other ground signs on the property.

Monument sign. A ground sign in which the entire bottom of the sign face or structure is in contact with the ground, providing a solid and continuous background for the sign face from the ground to the top of the sign.

Multi-faced sign. A single sign structure consisting of three or more sign faces that are separated from each other at their nearest point by no more than three feet. Sign faces on a single sign structure that are separated by more than three feet are treated as separate signs.

Nit. A measurement of brightness equal to the brightness of one [foot-]candle per square meter, measured perpendicular to the source.

Official signs. Signs placed by or at the direction of a governmental body, governmental agency, board of education or public authority.

Parapet sign. A building sign imposed, mounted, or painted on a parapet and not extending above the top of the parapet.

Pennant. Any lightweight plastic, fabric or similar material designed to move in the wind. Pennants are often suspended from a rope, wire, or string in series. The term "pennant" shall not include a "banner" or "flag" as defined in this article.

Permanent sign. A sign attached to a structure or the ground that is made of materials intended for long-term use. Banners and temporary signs are not considered permanent signs.

Pole sign. A permanent sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole, pylon, columns, or similar support such that the bottom of the sign face or lowest sign module is not in contact with the ground.

Project entrance sign. A permanent freestanding sign located at a discernible entrance into a multifamily development, or into a development containing multiple lots, such as, but not limited to, a particular residential or commercial subdivision, business center, office park or industrial park.

Projecting sign. A sign projecting perpendicularly from the outside wall of the building upon which it is located.

Property address signs. Property addresses (including multifamily building or unit numbers) displayed on a building or mailbox.

Pylon sign. See Pole sign.

Roof signs. A sign attached to or supported by the roof of a building, or a sign that extends into and/or above the immediately adjacent roofline of the building irrespective of attachment point. A sign applied to the fascia portion of a mansard roof, or to the face of a parapet wall, provided that the sign must not extend above the top of the mansard roof or parapet wall, is not considered a roof sign.

Sandwich board sign. A single- or double-faced, hinged or un-hinged, A-frame, temporary sign.

Sign. Any structure, display, or device that is used to advertise, identify, direct, or attract attention to a business, institution, organization, person, idea, product, service, event, or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, design characteristics, symbols, logos, fixtures, colors, movement or illumination.

Sign area. The area within the smallest rectangle enclosing the limits of a sign face, or the combination of the areas of all such rectangles delimiting each sign module, together with any frame or material, texture, or color forming an integral part of the sign copy.

Sign copy. That portion of the surface of a sign structure where words, letters, figures, symbols, logos, fixtures, colors, or other design elements are or may be located in order to convey the message, idea, or intent for which the sign has been erected or placed. The sign face may be composed of one or more modules on the same surface that are separated or surrounded by open space or by portions of a sign structure not intended to contain any advertising message or idea and are purely structural or decorative in nature.

Sign height. The height of a sign shall be equal to the vertical distance from the average grade at the base of the sign, or from the crown of the roadway of the nearest street if the street is within 100 feet of any portion of the sign (when measured perpendicular to the street), to the highest point of any portion of the sign, whichever results in the greater sign height. Any constructed earthen berms and elevated foundations supporting signs, signposts or other sign supports shall be included in the height of the sign.

Sign module. Each portion or unit of a sign face that is clearly and physically separated from other such units.

Sign structure. All elements of a freestanding sign, including the sign face, background, or decorative elements related to the presentation or support of the sign's message, and the structural supports.

Sound- or smoke-emitting signs. See Animated sign.

Stanchion sign. See Pole sign.

Standard Informational Sign. A sign made for short-term use, containing no reflecting elements, flags, or attachments, that is rectangular and which is mounted on a post, stake or metal frame, or for business use, mounted directly on the façade of a tenant space.

Temporary sign. A sign designed to be transported or easily relocated and not permanently attached to the ground, such as, but not limited to the following: (1) A sign designed to be temporarily placed upon the ground and not otherwise permanently affixed to it as otherwise required by the building code; (2) A sign mounted on a trailer, with or without wheels; or (3) A sidewalk, sandwich board or curb-type sign.

Transit signs. Signs owned by and placed by or with the approval of a nonprofit transportation authority or service on bus benches and shelters owned by the organization.

Tri-vision sign. A sign designed with a series of triangular slats that mechanically rotate in sequence with one another to show three different sign messages in rotation. For purposes of this chapter, a tri-vision sign is not a changeable copy sign.

Under-canopy sign. A permanent sign attached to the underside of a marquee or canopy and protruding over private sidewalks.

Variable message sign face. See Electronic sign face.

Vehicular sign. Any sign placed on, mounted on, painted on or affixed to a motor vehicle, freight, flatbed or storage trailer or other conveyance, including signs erected within truck beds or signs wrapped on a vehicle, when same are utilized, placed or parked in such a manner as to be viewed or intended to be viewed from the public right(s)-of-way, except that this definition shall not apply when:

(1)

Such conveyances are actively being used to load, transport or unload persons, goods or services in the normal course of business. Provided that the use of a truck bed to display signs while driven are prohibited;

(2)

When such conveyances are parked in an inconspicuous area such as, but not limited to: a loading dock or to the side or rear of a building (away from the street); or

(3)

When such conveyances are actively being used for storage of construction materials for, and on the same lot with a bona fide construction project for which building and other applicable permits have been issued and where construction is underway and provided said conveyances are located within designated storage areas.

Wall sign. A sign attached parallel to a wall, painted on the wall surface or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, and supported by such wall or building Window sign: A sign that is placed on or behind a windowpane or glass door and intended to be viewed from outside the building.

Window area. Window area is the term given to an entire assembly comprised of the sash, glazing, and frame or uninterrupted system of windows. Where a structural or architectural element of the structures interrupts the window or system of windows, it is considered a different window area.

(Ord. No. 743 , 12-19-17)