§ 110-3. 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 any sign face which advertises a bona fide business no longer conducted or product no longer sold, or any previously permitted portable or temporary sign for which the permitted time has expired. In making the determination that a sign advertises a bona fide business no longer being conducted, the building official shall consider the existence or absence of a current business tax certificate or utility service deposit or account, use of the premises, and relocation of the business; or any sign structure which has not been used for bona fide business purposes for over six months, that is nonconforming as to existing codes regarding area of sign, height, setback or maintenance.
Animated sign means an on-site sign depicting or involving action, motion, light, or color changes through electrical or mechanical means. This type of signage is not only recognized by type but also may be recognized by its display, which may be regulated by city code, zoning regulations, or other agreements. Animated signs may contain lists of specific products and auxiliary services. Animated signs are not identified as illuminated signs. An animated sign's display shall be limited to four differing levels of regulation which are defined as such:
(1)
Level 1 static display only, i.e., the messages are changed with no transitions.
(2)
Level 2 static display with "fade" or "dissolve" transitions, or similar subtle transitions and frame effects that do not have the appearance of moving text.
(3)
Level 3 static display with "fade," "dissolve," "travel," or "scrolling" transitions, or similar transitions and frame effects that have text or animated images that appear to move or change in size, or be revealed sequentially rather than all at once.
(4)
Level 4 full animation, flashing and video.
Area of sign means the total surface of a sign, including the background and frame but not structural supporting elements outside of its frame. Where a sign is of skeleton letters, characters or symbols applied to a frame or to a background which is not a structural part of the sign, the area of the sign shall be the smallest rectangle, triangle or circle which will include the display. Where a sign is built with two faces back to back, the area of the sign shall be the larger of the areas of the two faces computed as specified in this subsection.
Balloon means an airtight bag filled with hot air, helium, hydrogen or any other gas lighter than air which is tethered to the ground or any other stationary object for the primary purpose of attracting attention to its site, whether or not the bag displays characters, ornamentation or letters.
Banner means any sign with characters, letters, illustrations or other ornamentation applied to or integrated in any cloth, paper, fabric, plastic or similar material that is not permanently attached to a solid backing wood, metal or masonry.
Blank panel means a sign or portion of a sign having no identifiable copy, letters, numbers, symbols, graphics, pictures or figures, or combination thereof; the blank panel of the sign must be constructed of or consist of the same, similar or like materials as being removed or replaced.
Building, front foot means each foot, or major portion thereof, measured along the main entry of a building. Where buildings form an "L" or "U," all main entry sides are measured.
Business identity flag means a flag that advertises only the name or logo of a business located on the premises where the flag is flown.
Change in occupancy means, for the purpose of this chapter only, a site where the use changes (e.g., professional office to retail use) or where a site plan is required, will result in the loss of the permitted status of a nonconforming sign or sign structure per subsection 110-82(3). A site where there is a change in the name, owner or proprietor of the same use (e.g. professional office to professional office) will not result in the loss of the permitted status of a nonconforming sign or sign structure per subsection 110-82(3).
Changeable copy means a sign or portion thereof on which the copy or symbols change either manually, or through mechanical means, changing the placement of letters or symbols on a panel mounted in or on a track system. Changeable copy signs may contain lists of specific products and auxiliary services.
Commercial flag means any flag that advertises grand openings, special sales or other events (both profit and nonprofit events) on the premises where the flag is flown or on other premises.
Construction sign means a sign announcing and identifying the construction project scheduled or underway on the site where the sign is located.
Digital sign means a sign that displays electronic, static or animated images, static or animated graphics or static or animated pictures, with or without information, defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes, fiber optics, light bulbs or other illumination devices within the display area where the message change sequence is accomplished immediately or by means of fade, repixalization or dissolve modes. These include computer programmable, microprocessor controlled electronic or digital displays. This also includes any rotating, revolving, moving, flashing, blinking, or animated display and any display that incorporates rotating panels, LED lights manipulated through digital input, or any other method or technology that allows the sign face to present a series of images or displays.
Directional sign means any sign used to indicate the direction to entrances, exits, parking areas, restrooms or other non-business-related facilities on the site.
Directory sign means a sign which gives the names of the businesses or individuals located in the building or complex where the sign is located. A directory sign shall be of a unified design and common material, and shall allow for a uniform size sign for each business or unit of space in the development. Directory signs shall be limited to the name and type of business and its location within the building or complex.
Double-faced sign means a sign with two faces which are no more than three feet apart at their closest point, and which describe an internal angle between the face planes extended of no more than 60 degrees.
Embellishments means extensions of the major graphic area of an off-site sign face to include integral copy or design, the area of which extension does not exceed ten percent of the area of the sign face. Additional panels for supplementary copy are not embellishments.
Fascia sign means a sign located on the fascia of a roof or canopy, including signs that extend the plane of the structural fascia such that the vertical dimension of the sign is no more than one-third the distance from the ground to the bottom of the fascia, and where no lateral supports are used.
Flag means any cloth, paper, fabric, plastic or similar material, usually rectangular in shape, whether or not the material displays characters, ornamentation or letters, attached to any staff, cord, building or other structure, that hangs loosely or blows in the wind.
Freestanding sign means any sign with vertical supports placed upon or in the ground and architecturally and aesthetically integrated with the overall development. A freestanding sign shall include a ground or pole sign as defined in this section.
Ground sign means the total square footage of a sign where the bottom of the sign face either: 1) rests upon the ground; 2) extends above the ground with vertical supports a maximum of four feet; or 3) rests upon a base that is embellished to conceal all structural vertical supports. A monument sign is considered a ground sign.
Height of sign means, for on-site signs, the distance between the top of a sign and the average grade elevation below it. For off-site signs, height of sign means the distance between the top of the sign, excluding embellishments, and the roadway centerline grade perpendicular to that point of the sign closest to the road right-of-way.
Identification sign means a sign that indicates the name and business type or service orthe name of the development located on the site where the sign is located. Identification signs shall be limited to the name of the business or service, street address, phone number, and graphic of business logo.
Illuminated sign means a sign that uses artificial light, either internal or external to the sign faces, to draw attention to the sign or otherwise increase its visibility.
Instructional sign means a sign conveying nonadvertising information relating to the use of the premises, including such signs as no parking, no trespassing, and warning signs.
Internally illuminated sign means a sign that uses artificial light from behind the sign face to increase its visibility.
Logo means a distinctive trademark or symbol of a company, publication, etc.
Membership sign means a sign identifying affiliation with a travel club, business association, credit card company or professional association.
Multiple-frontage property means a plot or parcel that is contiguous to more than one public right-of-way, being either a corner plot or parcel or a through plot or parcel.
Multiuse complex means any development of two or more business or industrial uses that are under common land ownership or that share common property frontage.
Noncommercial flag means any flag other than a business identity flag or commercial flag including, without limitation, a flag of any governmental, religious, charitable, fraternal or political organization or cause.
Nonconforming sign means any sign or sign structure that does not conform to the requirements of this chapter.
Off-site advertising sign means any sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, product or activity not conducted, sold, offered or available on the premises where such sign is located or to which it is affixed.
On-site sign means a sign that identifies or advertises only goods, services, facilities, events or attractions available on the premises where the sign is located.
Parasite sign means any sign not exempted by this chapter, for which no permit has been issued, and which is attached to another sign.
Pennant means any long, narrow, usually triangular, flag-like piece of cloth, plastic, paper or other similar material, whether or not the material displays characters, ornamentation or letters, attached to any staff, cord, building or other structure, that hangs loosely for the primary purpose of attracting attention to its site.
Permitted signs. All signs permitted under this chapter, except those specifically designated as off-site signs, shall be located on the lot or parcel of the business, service or facility identified or advertised on the permitted sign.
Pole sign means a sign that is supported by a pole (sometimes more than one).
Premises means the lot or lots, plots, portions or parcels of land considered as a unit for a single development or activity.
Projecting sign means a sign supported by a wall of a building, projecting away from that wall 12 inches or more, designed with a face reading at an angle to that wall.
Property front foot means each foot, or major portion thereof, measured along the public right-of-way where the subject property abuts the right-of-way.
Real estate sign means a sign erected by the owner or his agent advertising the real property where the sign is located for sale, lease or rent.
Roof sign means a sign located on the roof of a building and primarily supported by that roof structure, which extends above the top of the parapet or ridge line in the area where the sign is located, except fascia signs.
Sequential interval message means a message that is not complete in one interval of a changing sign face, such as questions, riddles or story boards. A business advertising on more than one interval of a changing sign face is not considered to have sequential interval messages unless any one message is reliant on another in the rotation to complete the message.
Setback. The setbacks for signs specified in this chapter shall be measured horizontally from the vertical plane of the property line to the closest point of the sign.
Sign means any letters, numbers, symbols, graphics, pictures or figures, or combination thereof, which are erected, constructed, placed, attached or painted on a structure or the ground, which identify, advertise or direct attention to a product, business, institution, place, person or event, which can be seen from the public right-of-way. When not modified by the term "structure" or "face," the term "sign" shall include all parts of the sign and its supporting structure. Unless context requires a different interpretation, sign refers to a digital, static or tri-vision sign.
Sign face means the plane area which is defined as sign area, except that, for off-site advertising signs, sign face shall not include trim, embellishments or the owner's nameplate.
Sign structure means any structure, which is designed specifically for the purpose of supporting a sign, has supported or is capable of supporting a sign. This definition shall include any decorative covers, braces, wires, supports, or components attached to or placed around the sign structure.
Sponsor sign means a business, organization or person that uses its logo on a freestanding sign located at a park, public or private school, college or university. The logo shall be limited to a percentage of the total sign face of a freestanding sign.
Static sign means a sign that displays a message without electronic or mechanical means; i.e., a static sign is a sign other than a digital or tri-vision sign.
Streamer means any strip of cloth, paper, fabric, plastic or similar material hanging loose at one or more ends, whether or not the material displays characters, ornamentation or letters, which is attached to any staff, cord, building or other structure for the primary purpose of attracting attention to its site.
Target removal area means the city's community redevelopment areas in existence as of January 1, 2011, together with an area encompassed by a 1,000 foot radius around the external boundaries of such community redevelopment areas.
Temporary sign means a sign used to advertise or identify transitory events of two weeks' or less duration, unless specifically permitted for a longer period by this chapter.
Tri-vision sign means a sign composed of mechanically operated triangular louvers or slats containing three separate advertising messages, each of which becomes visible when the louvers are synchronically rotated to one of three positions.
Wall sign means a sign painted on or affixed to the structural wall of a building, with a sign face approximately parallel to the wall, perpendicular to the ground, and projecting no more than 12 inches from the wall. The term "wall sign" shall also include window signs and fascia signs.
Wayfinding signage means noncommercial signs, landmarks or other visual graphic communication that are part of a city-sponsored and coordinated program for the purpose of directing pedestrian and vehicular traffic to local destinations open to the public. Typical wayfinding signs include: gateways, vehicular directional, destinations (parks, downtown and neighborhoods), murals, parking lot identification, parking trailblazer, pedestrian directional, vehicular directional and pedestrian kiosk.
Window sign means a permanent sign affixed to, suspended behind or painted on either face of a window or glass door that reads to the exterior of the building.
(Code 1961, § 16B-3; Code 1985, § 7-413; Ord. No. 1828, § 1, 3-4-86; Ord. No. 2207, §§ 1, 2, 3-5-91; Ord. No. 2270, §§ 1, 2, 4-21-92; Ord. No. 2422, § 1, 11-2-93; Ord. No. 2751, § 1, 8-19-97; Ord. No. 5745, §§ 1, 2, 11-6-07; Ord. No. 5746, §§ 1, 2, 11-6-07; Ord. No. 5823, § 1, 2-19-08; Ord. No. 2012-13, §§ 1, 2, 11-17-11; Ord. No. 2012-58, §§ 1, 2, 9-18-12; Ord. No. 2013-16, § 1, 1-22-13; Ord. No. 2014-30, § 1, 4-1-14; Ord. No. 2015-3, §§ 1, 2, 11-4-14; Ord. No. 2017-25, § 1, 1-17-17)
Cross reference
Definitions generally, § 1-2.