[Ord. No. 437, 9-9-2025]
Terms used in this Article, unless the context otherwise indicates, shall have the following meanings:
ANIMATED SIGNS
Signs that flash or move or otherwise change at intervals more frequently than once each six (6) seconds. Any sign that utilizes the appearance of movement using lighting to depict action or to create a special effect or scene. (Also see "Electronic Message Centers").
ATTENTION GETTING DEVICE
Any pennant, propeller, spinner, ribbon, streamer, searchlight, balloon, inflatable sign (static), figurine, statue, or other similar device or ornamentation designed to or having the effect of attracting the attention of potential customers or the general public. An attention getting device shall be considered a sign and shall meet all requirements of this Chapter for a sign.
AWNING OR CANOPY SIGN
Any sign attached to, in any manner or otherwise made a part of any awning or awning-like structure, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover which projects beyond a building or extends along and projects beyond the wall of the building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.
BANNER
Any sign constructed of lightweight fabric or similar material. Flags shall not be considered banners.
BEACON
Any light with one (1) or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one (1) or more points not on the same lot as the light source; also, any light with one (1) or more beams that rotate or move.
BILLBOARD
An outdoor sign, advertising an article or product not manufactured, assembled, processed, repaired, or sold upon the premises upon which the sign is located or advertising a service not rendered upon the premises upon which the sign is located.
BOX SIGN
A wall sign in which all components are contained within a frame and not composed of individual letters.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN
A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign (not including electronic message centers). A sign on which the message changes more than eight (8) times per day shall be considered an animated sign or electronic message center and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this Article.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
A sign which is designed and erected solely for the purpose of traffic or pedestrian direction and placed on the property (except as otherwise provided for in this Article) to direct the public to building locations, parking areas, or specific areas of a property or overall development.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER OR DISPLAY
Any sign, or portion of a sign, that displays an electronic image, which may or may not include text, where the rate of change is electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic processes. An electronic message center or display may include computer programmable, microprocessor, or controlled electronic or digital video displays and the images can be produced from LED technology, fiber optics, light bulbs, or other illumination devices within the display area. Electronic message centers do not include projected images or messages projected onto buildings or other objects.
ENGRAVED SIGN OR TABLET
Any sign that is cut into masonry or other surfaces.
ERECT
To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix, and shall also include the painting of wall signs.
FACING OR SURFACE
Any surface of a sign upon, against or through which the message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.
FLAG
A cloth with colors, patterns, etc.
FLASHING SIGN
Signs that have flashing lights or intermittent illumination, except as otherwise defined herein, including signs that draw attention to speed limits, stop signs, fire stations, school zones and similar governmental or public uses.
GROUND SIGN
Any sign which has the top part of its face less than ten (10) feet above the ground, and which is erected upon or supported by the ground, a ground planter box or other supports. Such sign may have a base composed of stone, masonry or concrete on which a sign constructed of other materials such as steel, composite materials, or plastic or a combination thereof is mounted. A monument sign may also be composed entirely of masonry materials.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign, which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outlines illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as a part of the sign proper. Such lighting may be internal to the sign structure or external to the sign face but part of the sign structure or mounting.
INCOMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL
Any material, which will not ignite at or below a temperature of twelve hundred degrees Fahrenheit (1,200° F.) and will not continue to burn or glow at that temperature.
LIGHT STANDARD SIGN
A sign that has the lowest part of its face at least eight (8) feet above the ground and which is designed to be attached to or a part of a light standard principally designed for illuminating a street, parking, or public space area.
MARQUEE SIGN
Any structure attached to a building often forming a canopy or porte cochere over a building entry attached at the building face and suspended from above or held up with posts or columns at it furthest point from the building or a free-standing structure, with one (1) or more supports, onto which signage may be affixed or incorporated.
MONUMENT SIGN
A sign, composed of stone, masonry or concrete on which a sign constructed of other materials such as steel, composite materials, or plastic or a combination thereof is mounted. A monument sign may also be composed entirely of masonry materials.
NITS
Nits are the standard unit of brightness for electronic and digital signage. The nit, also known as "candelas per square meter," is a unit of measurement for the total brightness over one (1) square meter of an LED display. It is a measure of the light being emitted by the sign in contrast to foot-candles which measure the brightness of the surface area or object that is being lighted.
NON-CONFORMING SIGN
Any sign that does not conform to the requirements of this Article.
OBSOLETE SIGN
Any sign that is no longer relating to current activities on a premises or lot.
OCCUPATIONAL SIGN
All industrial, commercial and mercantile signs advertising the business on its premises or any of its activities, including permanent theater signs.
PENNANT
Any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind. Flags are not considered pennants for the purposes of this definition.
POLE SIGN
Any sign, which has the lowest part of its face, at least ten (10) feet above the ground and which is supported by a freestanding pole except as noted in Subsection 400.330(D)(7) herein.
PORTABLE SIGNS
Any sign not permanently affixed to the ground or other permanent structure. Also, a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to: signs designed to be transported by means of wheels, signs converted to A- or T-frames, menu and sandwich board signs, balloons, umbrellas, and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way. Any sign designed to be transported, which has had its means of transportation removed (wheels, trailer, etc.), shall still be considered a portable sign.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign projecting outwardly from the building.
READER BOARD
Any sign that has changeable or removable lettering, with the exception of marquee signs.
RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION SIGN
Any sign located on common ground outside of residential subdivision. Any sign identifying the name of a residential subdivision, which may include a logo and the names of the streets within the subdivision.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign painted, erected, constructed and maintained upon the roof of any building, including wall signs or projecting signs attached to a building wall that extend above the roof line.
SHOPPING CENTER
An area containing three (3) or more shops, stores and other places of business and located in the "C-1" Local Business District or in an approved Planned Development Commercial District or Mixed Development District under the Zoning Ordinance and providing off-street parking facilities in common for all businesses and their customers.
SIGN
Any letter, figure, design, symbol, trademark, panel, device or structure designed or intended to convey information to the public in written or pictorial form, including without limitation, billboard, banner sign, directional sign, ground sign, monument sign, portable sign, pole sign, wall sign, roof sign, projecting sign, temporary sign, marquee, awning, canopy, time and weather information and street clock, when placed out of doors or in show display windows intended to be visible from the outside.
SIGN AREA
The total area of the space to be used for advertising purposes, including the spaces between open-type letters and figures, including the background structure, or other decoration or addition which is an integral part of the sign. Sign supports shall be excluded in determining the area of a sign. The total allowable area for a double-faced sign, where the two (2) faces are not substantially parallel, shall be equal to the allowable area for a single-faced sign.
STRUCTURAL TRIM
The molding, battens, cappings, nailing strips, latticing and platforms, which are attached to the sign structure.
TEMPORARY SIGNS
Signs which are not permanent in nature and typically are installed for a period of ninety (90) days or less.
THEATER SIGN
Any marquee sign or free-standing sign specifically used in conjunction with the operation of a theater.
WALL SIGN
Any sign affixed to the front, side or rear wall of any building and parallel to the face of the wall.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign that is intended to be viewed through a show display window.