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9.7. Sign Definitions

This section is included in your selections.

The following definitions apply specifically to the administration, interpretation, and enforcement of the sign regulations in Article 6: Signs.

Sign

Any medium, including its structure and component parts, including any illumination device, that is used or intended to be used to attract attention and/or advertise or promote a business or that is visible by the general public from any public right-of-way or any public area.

Abandoned Sign

Any sign that is located on property that becomes vacant and is unoccupied for a period of three months or more, or any sign that pertains to a time, event or purpose which no longer applies.

Attention-Getting Device

Any flag, streamer, spinner, pennant, costumed character, light, balloon, continuous string of pennants, flags or fringe or similar device or ornamentation used primarily for the purpose of attracting attention for promotion or advertising a business or commercial activity which is visible by the general public from any public right-of-way or public area.

Awning (canopy)

A shelter or cover projecting from and supported by an exterior wall of a building.

Back-Lit Sign

An indirect source of light that illuminates a sign by shining through a translucent surface or a sign, including plastic signs, lit from an internal light source.

Banner

Any advertisement device affixed to poles, wires, or ropes, which is located outdoors and which is primarily intended to announce, promote or decorate for an activity or event.

Building Identification Sign

A wall sign or freestanding sign that states the name of the building, but that does not advertise any business or product.

Copy

Any graphic, word, numeral, symbol, insignia, text, sample, model, device, or combination thereof which is primarily intended to advertise, identify or notify.

Directional Sign

A sign that includes copy offering pertinent directional information for the purpose of assisting in the flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

Directory Sign

A sign that serves as a common or collective identification of two or more uses on the same property and which may contain a directory to the uses as an integral part thereof or may serve as a general identification for such developments as shopping centers, office complexes and similar uses.

Flashing Sign

A sign having lights or illumination that flashes, moves, rotates, scintillates, blinks, flickers, varies in intensity of color, or uses intermittent electrical pulsations; provided, however, that seasonal lighting as permitted by Section 6.8.N, Seasonal Decorations, shall not be considered a flashing sign.

Freestanding Sign

A sign that is permanently erected in a fixed location and supported by one or more columns, upright poles or braces extended from the ground or from an object on the ground, or that is erected on the ground, where no part of the sign is attached to any part of a building, structure, or other sign.

Going-Out-of-Business Sign

A temporary sign indicating that the business displaying the sign will cease and be discontinued at a specific location.

Grand Opening Sign

A temporary sign indicating that a new business is opening at a specific location.

Identification Sign

Any sign that identifies, by name, a permitted use.

Ideological Sign

A sign that does not propose a commercial transaction but, instead, involves only the expression of ideas or beliefs.

Illuminated Sign

A sign with an artificial light source incorporated internally or externally for the purpose of illuminating the sign.

Information Sign

A sign used to indicate or provide information or direction with respect to permitted uses on the property, including, but not limited to, signs indicating the hours of operation, and such signs as “No Smoking,” “Open,” “Closed,” “Restrooms,” “No Solicitors,” “Deliveries In Rear,” current credit card signs, trade association emblems, and the like.

Lead-In Sign

A temporary off-premises sign used to direct vehicular traffic for the purpose of announcing a garage sale or an open house announcing the sale of a specific home or residential unit.

Lighting, Indirect

A light source separated from the sign surface that illuminates the sign surface by means of spotlights or similar lighting fixtures.

Master Sign Plan

A sign plan of any multiple-use office, commercial, or multifamily residential building, which includes the number, size, description and location of all signs located, or to be located, in or upon such property.

Marquee Sign

A sign that utilizes changeable letters or copy and is restricted to commercial uses for the purpose of advertising dramatic, musical, entertainment, or motion picture events which occur on the premises.

Menu Display Box

A freestanding or wall sign enclosed in glass for the express purpose of displaying menus. This shall include menus displayed flat against the interior of a window.

Moving Sign

A sign that moves or which simulates motion.

Neon Sign

Any sign that is illuminated by tubes filled with neon and related inert gases, including any display of neon lighting tubes which is in view of the general public from a public right-of-way or from any public area, regardless of the shape, size, design or configuration, including “open” neon signs.

Number of Faces on Signs

(a) One Face

If a sign has copy on one side only or if the interior angle between the two sign faces or sides is 45 degrees or greater, it shall be considered one face; the area will be considered to be the sum of the areas of both sides.

Figure 9-3: One Face Sign

sign faces 1

(b) Two Faces

If the angle between the two sign faces is less than 45 degrees, then the sign shall be considered double-faced and the sign area will be the area of one face only. If two sign faces are attached to a structure with a thickness exceeding 36 inches or the two faces are separated by a distance exceeding 36 inches, then the sign area will be the area of both faces.

Figure 9-4: Two Face Sign – Measure Area of One Face Only

sign faces 2

Figure 9-5: Two Face Sign – Measure Area of Two Faces

sign faces 3

(c) Multi-Faces

Any sign containing more than two sides. The area shall be the area of the largest side plus the area of any other side whose interior angle with any other side exceeds 45 degrees.

(d) Double-faced sign

A sign with two faces only, with each face oriented 180 degrees from the other.

Off-Premises/Off-Site Sign

A sign that directs attention to a business, product, commodity, service, entertainment, or attraction sold, produced, offered or existing elsewhere than upon the lot or parcel where the sign is located.

Off-Premises Community Information Kiosk

A group sign structure located on arterial streets which provides information about the City, welcomes visitors, advertises future events or activities, and provides general information and direction.

Off-Premises Directional Kiosk

A group sign structure located on arterial streets that provides general direction to community buildings, points of interest, subdivisions, and businesses that do not abut either SR 89A or SR 179.

On-Premises Sign

A sign advertising a business, place, activity, goods or services, or products on the same property on which the sign is located.

Outline Lighting

Any arrangement or display of incandescent bulbs or lighting tubes used to outline or call attention to the features of a building, including the building’s frame, shape, roof line or window dimensions. “Outline lighting” includes both temporary and permanent arrangement of bulbs or lighting tubing, whether located inside or outside of a building, if such bulbs or tubing is visible to the public from a public right-of-way or from an outdoor public area.

Permanent Window Sign

A sign permanently displayed in or painted on a window.

Political Sign

A sign designed to influence the action of voters for the passage or defeat of a measure, or the election or defeat of a candidate for a public office at a national, state, or other local election.

Portable Sign

Any sign not permanently affixed to the ground or structure on the site it occupies.

Projecting Sign

A sign, other than a wall sign, that projects six inches or more from and is supported by a wall of a building or structure.

Real Estate Sign

A temporary on-premises sign used to advertise the availability of real property.

Reflective Surface

Any material or device that has the effect of intensifying reflected light, including, but not limited to, “Scotchlite,” “Dayglo,” glass beads and luminous paint.

Residential Nameplate

A type of sign allowed for the sole purpose of identifying the occupants of a residential structure, the house name, occupant’s profession or identifying the address of the residence. The sign shall not contain advertising copy.

Roof Sign

A sign painted on the roof of a building, or supported by poles, uprights or braces extending from the roof of a building, or projecting above the roof of a building.

Sign Area (or “Surface Area”)

The surface area of a sign, as determined by the Director, including its facing, copy, insignia, background and borders, which is described by a combination of plane geometric figures.

Sign Height

Determined for signs above the average elevation of the finished grade within a six-foot radius of the point of measurement on the sign, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding, landscaping, or solely for the purpose of locating the sign.

Sign Illumination Device

Any fixture or mechanism used to shine light onto a sign, or to make a sign luminous.

Sign Owner

The permittee with respect to any sign for which a sign permit has been issued; or, with respect to a sign for which no sign permit is required, or for which no sign permit has been obtained, “sign owner” means the person entitled to possession of such sign, the owner, occupant, and agent of the property where the sign is located, and any person deriving a benefit from the sign.

Sign with Relief

A carved sign with a three-dimensional textured surface that is integral to its design, such as extensively carved, routed, and/or sandblasted signs. A sign with a simple raised or routed border shall not constitute a sign with relief.

Sign Structure

Any supports, uprights, braces or framework of a sign.

Site Development Sign

A temporary sign used to identify a real estate development which is under construction, and/or the owners, architects, contractors, real estate agents and lenders involved with the development. Sales and lease information may be included.

Statuary Sign

Any sign that is a modeled or sculptured likeness of a living creature or inanimate object intended to be used as an advertising device.

Subdivision Entrance Sign

A sign used to identify the name and entryway to a subdivision.

Suspended Sign

A sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.

Temporary Sign

A sign that is intended for a definite and limited period of display.

Temporary Window Sign

A window sign that advertises special commercial events or sales. Signs displaying solely product names, product logos, business names or promoting the ongoing nature of a business and the products sold shall not be considered as temporary window signs.

Under-Canopy Sign

A sign suspended beneath a canopy, ceiling, roof, or marquee.

Wall Sign

Any sign attached to or erected against the building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign in a place parallel to the plane of said wall. Awning signs, projecting/suspended signs, and window signs shall be treated as wall signs and shall be included in the overall calculations for wall-mounted signs.

Walking Sign

Any sign, including sandwich board type signs, or lettering on a costume, that is carried or worn by any person and is visible from a public right-of-way, adjacent property, or a public area.

Window Sign

A sign that is painted on, applied or attached to a window, but excludes merchandise included in a window display. Window signs shall include signs located in the interior of a structure placed so that they serve to effectively display advertising for passersby on any public areas or public rights-of-way.