[Ord. No. 917, 11-2-2010]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning. Where terms are not defined in this division and are defined in the building code, fire code, mechanical code, plumbing code, residential code, or property maintenance code, such terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as in those codes. Where terms are not defined through the methods authorized by this division, such terms shall have ordinarily accepted meanings as the context implies.
ATTENTION-ATTRACTING DEVICESAny item designed or used to promote, advertise, demonstrate, or call attention to any commercial, residential, office, retail or service business or activity.
AWNINGAn architectural projection that provides weather protection, identity or decoration and is wholly supported by the building to which it is attached. An awning is comprised of a lightweight, rigid skeleton structure over which a covering is attached.
BALLOONAny article filled with gas or inflated with air through the use of fans, blowers or any other air- or gas-injecting mechanism and displayed in such a manner as to attract attention to the premises on which it is located or used for advertising.
BUILDING LINEThe established by law, beyond which a building shall not extend, except as specifically provided by law.
BUILDING OFFICIALThe officer or other designated authority charged with the administration and enforcement of this division, or duly authorized representative.
CANOPYAn architectural projection, including porticos, that provides weather protection, identity or decoration, and is supported by the building to which it is attached and at the outer end by not less than one stanchion. A canopy is comprised of a rigid structure over which a covering is attached.
CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTSWritten, graphic and political documents prepared or assembled for describing the design, location, and physical characteristics of the elements of a project necessary for obtaining a permit.
CURB GRADEThe elevation of the top of the curb measured at the curb line at a point perpendicular to a sign.
CURB LINEThe line at the face of the curb most distant from the centerline of the street. In the absence of a curb, the building official shall establish the curb line.
DISPLAY SURFACEThe area made available by the sign structure for the purpose of displaying an advertising message, illustration, or symbol.
FASCIAA flat horizontal member of a building having the form of a flat band or broad fillet.
FLAGA piece of fabric or other material of distinctive design that is used as a symbol and is displayed hanging free from, but not limited to, a staff, pole, or halyard to which it is attached by one edge.
(1) Governmental. Legitimate City, county, state, national, United Nations, and military flags flown or displayed in their respectively correct manner. These flags are not considered a form of signage and, therefore, are not addressed by this division.
(2) Corporate. A flag flown or displayed containing the design or logo of a corporation or company, or of any product and/or service provided by said company. These flags are considered signage and therefore are regulated by this division.
HISTORIC BUILDINGSBuildings that are listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, or designated as historic under and appropriate state or local law.
JURISDICTIONThe governmental unit that has adopted this division under due legislative authority.
LOTA portion or parcel of land considered as a unit.
LOT LINEA line dividing one lot from another, or from a street, or any public place.
MANSARDA roof having two slopes on all sides with the lower slope steeper than the upper one.
MARQUEEA permanent roofed structure attached to and supported by the building and that projects into the public right-of-way.
OWNERAny person, agent, firm, or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in the property.
PERMITAn official document or certificate issued by the authority having jurisdiction, which authorizes performance of a specified activity.
PERSONAn individual, heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, and also includes a firm, partnership or corporation, its or their successors or assigns, or the agent of any of the aforesaid.
PREMISESA lot, plot, or parcel of land, including any structures thereon.
PRIMARY SYSTEMThat portion of the highways of the state located within the limits of the City, officially designated by the state highway and transportation commission as being the primary highway system as authorized by the constitution and laws of the state.
PROJECTIONThe distance by which a sign extends beyond the building line.
REGISTERED DESIGN PROFESSIONALAn individual who is registered or licensed to practice their respective design profession as defined by the statutory requirements of the professional registration laws of the state or jurisdiction in which the project is to be constructed.
REPAIRThe reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing structure for the purpose of maintenance.
SETBACKThe horizontal distance between the curb line and a vertical projection from that portion of the sign nearest the curb line.
SHOPPING CENTERA concentration of retail stores and service establishments in a suburban area, with generous parking space and planned to serve the community or neighborhood.
SIGNAny medium which is used or intended to be used to attract attention to any subject matter, including, but not limited to, advertising, instructional, direction, or announcement purposes.
(1) ABANDONEDA sign that advertises an activity, business, product, or service no longer conducted.
(2) ALTERATIONThe replacement, enlargement, reduction, reshaping, or adding to an existing sign, frame, pole, brackets, or any supporting member.
(3) ANIMATEDAny sign which uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or to create a special effect; this includes electronic message centers.
(4) AREAThat portion of the smallest rectangle which completely encloses the display surfaces of the sign.
(5) BANNERA temporary sign made of fabric or any other nonrigid material with no enclosing framework displayed in connection with public or semipublic promotional or festive occasions. The City Administrator may approve the installation of a banner in accordance with the requirements of this section and subject to such additional requirements and conditions as deems necessary.
(6) BILLBOARDAll signs which advertise a product or business not located on the same lot or premises as the sign. Real estate, subdivision and subdivision real estate signs are excluded from this definition.
(7) CONSTRUCTIONAny freestanding sign used only during the construction of a new building, reconstruction, or addition to an existing building to identify the project, owner, tenant, agent, architect, engineer, contractor, and financing institution of the project and shall be located on the parcel of land being improved.
(8) DIRECTIONALA ground or wall sign displaying traffic, parking, emergency vehicle, height clearance, or similar directional information. A directional sign shall not include any advertising message.
(9) FLASHINGA sign that contains a flashing, intermittent, or sequential flashing or blinking light source but does not include time and temperature signs, animated signs, or electronic message center signs.
(10) FREESTANDINGAny sign placed upon or fixed in the ground, self-supporting, not attached to any building.
(11) GROUNDA freestanding or monument sign placed at or near ground level.
(12) INCIDENTALAny sign which provides information or guides or directs pedestrian or vehicular traffic, which may be mounted on the ground, on a building, or in connection with a detached sign.
(13) MAINTENANCEThe normal care and minor repair that is necessary to retain a safe, attractive and finished structure, frame, pole, brackets, or surface.
(14) MARQUEEAny sign attached to or part of a marquee or permanent sidewalk canopy of a building and not extending above the roofline.
(16) OFF-PREMISESAny sign identifying, announcing or advertising real estate, products, services, or businesses not located on the same lot or premises as the sign.
(17) ON-PREMISESA sign identifying, announcing or advertising real estate, products, services, or businesses located on the same lot or premises as the sign.
(18) OPEN HOUSEAny off-premises ground sign announcing an open house for inspection of real estate.
(19) PERMANENTAny sign or advertising device designed and erected to be maintained as a permanent structure in accordance with the requirements of this division.
(20) POLEA freestanding sign wholly supported by upright poles or posts, mounted in the ground, with at least eight feet of clearance above the curb grade.
(21) POLITICALAny sign promoting, supporting, or opposing any candidate, office, issue, or proposition to be voted upon at any public election.
(22) REAL ESTATEAny sign advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the premises upon which it is located.
(23) REFACINGChanging or replacing the word, numerals, characters, or materials of the sign to serve a different establishment or business or create a different message on the same sign face.
(24) ROOFA sign which extends above a roof or parapet wall of a building and which is wholly or partially supported by said roof.
(25) STRUCTUREThe supports, uprights, bracing, or framework of any sign structure, be it single faced, double faced, or any framing otherwise supporting a sign.
(26) SUBDIVISION DEVELOPMENTAny on-premises real estate sign advertising an entire real estate development during its construction. Signs advertising sale of lots in an undeveloped subdivision may be erected and displayed in the subdivision, provided that not more than one such sign facing on any one street shall be permitted in any subdivision; and provided that each sign shall be removed at the expiration of one year after its erection or when 60% of the lots fronting on the street which such sign faces have been built upon and occupied as residences, whichever occurs first.
(28) TEMPORARYAny sign which is not permanently attached to any structure, building, motor vehicle, or the ground, or is portable, intended for a limited display period covering a special event, and is designed and constructed to be movable from one location to another.
(29) WALLAny sign attached to, erected against, or painted on the exterior walls, fascia, mansards, or sides of a building or structure.
WALLA vertical element with a horizontal length to thickness ratio greater than three, used to enclose space. The term parapet means the part of any wall entirely above the roofline.
YARDAn open space, other than a court, unobstructed from the ground to the sky, except where specifically provided by this division, on the lot on which a building is situated.