§ 202-4. Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ACCESSORY SIGN

A sign which advertises the use of the premises on which the sign is located, the product sold or produced on the same site, including but not limited to the name and address of the owner.

ADVERTISING SIGN

A sign which calls attention of the public to a product, activity, service, commodity or business.

A-FRAME or SANDWICH

A temporary sign with two faces attached at the top and spread apart at the bottom to form a triangular support form.

ANIMATED SIGN

A sign which uses lights, moving parts, or other means to depict action, create an image of a living creature or person, or create a special effect or scene.

AWNING or CANOPY

A sign painted on, printed on or attached to the surface of nonrigid materials on a supporting framework attached to the exterior wall of a building.

BALLOON

A temporary sign composed of an inflatable, nonporous bag.

BANNER

A temporary sign made of cloth, fabric, plastic, or other nonrigid material without an enclosing structural frame.

BILLBOARD

A large outdoor, nonaccessory or off-premises sign, the face of which is rented or leased for advertising services or products, activities, persons, policies or events which are not made, produced, assembled, stored, distributed, leased, sold or conducted upon the premises upon which the billboard is located.

BULLETIN BOARD

A permanent sign with temporary or replaceable letters or characters used to announce functions or activities and the dates thereof.

CHANGEABLE COPY

A sign on which the message changes automatically (for example, time or temperature).

COMMUNITY EVENT SIGN

A temporary, portable, a-frame, sandwich board, lawn or special purpose sign, other than a bulletin board, which is erected for a limited period of time to call attention to special events sponsored by nonprofit groups, associations or corporations not for profit.

CONSTRUCTION SIGN

A temporary sign advertising a construction project under development identifying the developers, contractors, engineers, brokers and architects of the building under construction.

DIRECTIONAL SIGN

A permanent sign designed for the purpose of orientation and either privately placed or placed by the City, county, state or federal government.

ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN

A permanent sign that generates words and/or numbers into messages that repeat, move or change periodically.

ENTRANCEWAY SIGN

A permanent sign identifying a single or multifamily residential subdivision or condominium complex.

FLAG

A flag is a banner used as a symbol of a nation, state or other governmental entity or other organization.

FLASHING SIGN

A sign that is intermittently illuminated or reflects light intermittently from either an artificial source or the sun.

FREESTANDING SIGN

A permanent sign supported by one or more uprights, poles, pylons or foundation permanently set into the ground and not attached to any building or other structure.

GARAGE SALE SIGN

A temporary sign erected to notify the public of a sale of previously owned household items at a private residence. This definition applies equally to yard sale and rummage sale signs.

GROUND SIGN

A permanent freestanding sign supported by a permanent base on the ground or mounted on permanently imbedded post(s) extending not more than three feet above the ground.

HEIGHT OF SIGN

The vertical distance measured from the ground immediately beneath the sign to the highest point of the face of the sign or its supporting structure if higher than the sign face.

ILLEGAL SIGN

A sign which does not meet the requirements of this chapter and which has not received legal nonconforming status.

ILLUMINATED SIGN

A sign that provides artificial light on or through any translucent or transparent material from a light source within the sign or from an externally shielded light not visible from the right-of-way or from abutting property.

INFLATABLE SIGN

A temporary sign consisting of a nonporous bag or balloon inflated with air or gas.

INTERIOR SIGN

A sign which is visible from the public street, sidewalk, alley, or parking lot through an exterior window of a building.

LAWN SIGN

A temporary sign with metal or wooden support legs which are pushed or driven into the ground. Such signs are typically used as political signs, garage sales, for-lease or for-sale signs and other signs noticing activities of limited duration.

MARQUEE

A permanent structure constructed of rigid materials that projects from the exterior wall of a building generally over the means of ingress or egress of the building to which a sign is affixed.

MOVING SIGN

A sign in which the sign itself or any portion thereof moves or revolves.

MURAL

A design or representation painted or drawn on an exterior wall which does not contain promotional or commercial advertising.

NONACCESSORY OR OFF-PREMISES SIGN

A sign which identifies a use or advertises products and services not available on the site or parcel on which the sign is located or provides a message unrelated to the site on which the sign is located. A billboard is a nonaccessory sign.

NONCONFORMING

A sign which is prohibited under the terms of this chapter, but was erected lawfully and was in use at the time of the passage of this chapter or amendment thereof.

PERMANENT SIGN

A sign which has a permanent location on the ground or which is permanently affixed or attached to a structure and which meets the structural requirements for signs as established in the Building Code.

PLACARD

A sign which provides notices of a public nature, such as "no trespassing" or "no hunting."

POLITICAL SIGN

A temporary sign used in connection with a local, state or national election or referendum or a permanent sign expressing a political point of view.

PORTABLE SIGN

A sign attached to a support structure designed to facilitate the movement of the sign from one location to another. The sign may or may not have wheels, changeable letters, be illuminated and/or have portable hitches. A sign which is not supported by a structure permanently set into the ground pursuant to the requirements of the Building Code.

POSTER PANEL

A temporary sign used to draw attention to matters temporary in nature, such as price changes or sales. A-frame or sandwich signs are poster panel signs.

PROJECTING SIGN

A double-faced sign permanently attached to the roof or exterior wall of a building which projects out from the building so as to be viewed from both directions.

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

A sign advertising the construction and sale of lots, homes or building space in a subdivision, condominium complex or real estate development (such as a shopping center).

REAL ESTATE SIGN

A sign advertising the real estate upon which the sign is located as for sale.

ROOF SIGN

A display sign which is erected, constructed and maintained above any portion of the roof, be it attached to the roof itself or the exterior walls of a building.

SIGN

Visual or graphic device, or any object or form, designed through the use of words, numbers, colors, designs, characters or symbols to inform or attract attention and which is designed to be visible from outside any building or structure in which, upon which, or attached to which it may be located. Any announcement, display, billboard, illustration and insignia when designed and placed so as to attract general public attention. A sign shall be deemed to be a single sign whenever the proximity, design, content, or continuity reasonably suggest a single unit notwithstanding any physical separation between one or more separate parts. The word "sign" shall include any, but not be limited to, a banner, bulb, or other lighting device, streamer, pennant, balloon, insignia, emblem, logo, painting, placard, poster, propeller, flag (other than the official flag of a nation, state or local government), and any similar device of any kind, whether bearing letters or not, illuminated or nonilluminated, which is visible from a public place, including but not limited to highways, streets, alleys or public property or is located on private property and exposed to the public, which directs attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business, solicitation, political candidate, issue, policy, election or position on any particular topic.

SIGN AREA

The entire area within a circle, triangle, rectangle or other geometric shape enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem or any figure of similar character, together with any frame or other material, graphic or color forming an integral part of the display or message, or used to differentiate the sign from the background against which it is placed, excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which such sign is placed, if no advertising matter is placed thereon.

SPECIAL PURPOSE OR SEASONAL SIGN

A temporary sign indicating a special purpose, activity or event which is installed for a limited period of time.

SUBDIVISION SIGN

A permanent ground sign advertising the name of a subdivision which is constructed on private property within the subdivision and owned by the developer of the subdivision or the subdivision's homeowners' association, otherwise known as an "entranceway sign."

TEMPORARY SIGN

Any type of sign or other advertising device constructed of cloth, canvas, fabric, plastic, paper or other light temporary material, with or without a structural frame which is not permanently affixed to the exterior wall of a building or permanently set into the ground pursuant to the requirements set forth in the Building Code, or any sign intended for a limited period of display, but not including decorative displays for holidays or public demonstrations; examples: for sale, rent or lease.

VEHICLE SIGN

Signs painted or mounted on the side of a vehicle, including signs on the face of a truck or trailer, intended to be used as a portable or semipermanent sign at the location of the vehicle.

WALL SIGN

A sign placed flat, adjacent to the exterior wall of a building.

WAYSIDE EXHIBIT

A freestanding sign with single or multiple faces for the purposes of relaying directional, historical, environmental, cultural, or educational information to persons utilizing designated nonmotorized pathways and are subject to design regulations as noted in this chapter. Wayside exhibits include: upright (kiosk); low-profile; and trailside signs. (See § 202-9.)

WINDOW SIGN

A sign or placard placed on the inside of a window and intended to be viewed from the outside.