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

Advertising sign, off-premises. A sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered on a premises other than the premises where the sign is displayed. Off-premises advertising signs include but are not limited to off-premises billboards but do not include community information signs described below.

Business sign, on-premises. A sign that directs attention to a business, commodity, service, or entertainment conducted, sold, offered, or manufactured on the premises where the sign is located.

Community information sign. A permanent, temporary, or seasonal sign, located on- or off-premises, that displays information of interest to the general community; serves as an identification, entrance, or wayfinding sign for the community.

Freestanding sign. A self-supporting sign resting on or supported by means of poles, standards, or any other type of base on the ground. This type of sign includes arm/post signs, monument signs, and pylon signs.

Group development sign. An on-premises sign displaying the collective name of a group of uses (such as an industrial park or multitenant retail center) and/or the names and/or logos of the individual occupants of a group of uses. For purposes of a group development sign, the premises shall include all lots that are contiguous, either under unified single ownership and intended to remain so, or within a unified business park or group development.

Identification sign. An on-premises sign indicating the name and/or address of the subdivision, residential development, or institutional or other noncommercial use within a residential zoning district. For purposes of an identification sign, the premises shall include all lots that are contiguous, either under unified single ownership and intended to remain so, or within a unified business park or group development.

Mobile sign. A sign mounted on a frame or chassis designed to be easily relocated, including vehicles and/or trailers whose principal commercial use is for signage, including portable message board signs. Does not include any advertising vehicle signs. An "advertising vehicle sign" is a vehicle or truck trailer parked so as to be seen from a public right-of-way, which attached to or located on is any sign or advertising device for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products or directing people to a business activity or event. Not considered advertising vehicle signs are mobile signs or business vehicles that contain typical business signage; are actively used for business purposes; and are parked in an approved parking space that either serves the advertised business or another property where actively receiving or providing goods or services.

Mural. A mural is any inscription, artwork, figure, urban wall art, marking or design that is marked, etched, scratched, drawn or painted directly on a wall, ceiling or other permanent surfaces. Painted graphics that are murals, mosaics, or any type of graphic art that are painted or affixed on a wall or fence and do not contain advertising symbols, trademarks, or other references to the premises, products, or services that are provided on the premises where the graphics are located or any other premises, are not signs for the purposes of these regulations. When any graphic (public or private) is installed on other than a wall or fence or contains advertising symbols, trademarks, or other references to the premises, products, or services, such display shall be treated as its appropriate sign classification and must adhere to requirements detailed for that specific sign classification.

On-building sign. A type of sign permanently affixed to an outside wall of a building. This type of sign includes awning signs, marquee signs, projecting signs, and wall signs, but not window signs.

Parking area sign, on-premises. A sign that indicates only the name (or logo or symbol) of a specific business/department/use area/destination within a development or premises, and a directional arrow or symbol to that destination, or used to state parking restrictions and/or conditions. For purposes of an on-premises directional sign, the premises shall include all lots that are contiguous, either under unified single ownership and intended to remain so, or within a unified business park or group development.

Sandwich board/pedestal sign. A movable, on-premises sign placed by hand outside the building while the business is open; removed at the time the business closes each day; self-supporting and stable even on windy days because of its design; and meeting all applicable size, placement, and other requirements of subsection 520-103.F. Does not include "mobile signs" as described above.

Sign area. Consists of the total area that can enclose the area in which sign copy can be placed and all surrounding borders and frames. In the case of a sign with no border or frame, sign area shall encompass the complete message. Where a sign has two or more display faces, the total area of all of the display faces that can be viewed from any single vantage point shall be considered the sign area.

Sign height. Measured from the average ground level adjacent to the sign to the top of the sign. The average ground level is defined as the average elevation of the ground upon which the building or sign supports are placed, except when the sign supports rest upon a berm or other area elevated above the surrounding ground. In such cases, the average elevation of the base of such berm or other area shall be considered as the ground level.

Sign setback. The shortest distance between the vertical plane extending from the property line (or other specified basis for the setback point) to the nearest structural element of the sign, whether said sign element is attached to the ground or suspended above the ground.

Sign, abandoned. A business sign that is no longer being used in connection with an ongoing business on the lot; a sign that is no longer being used because the business is discontinued; and/or a sign that has not been maintained in a manner that renders it legible.

Signable wall. An exterior front wall, street side wall, or interior or rear side wall with a customer building entrance facing a customer parking lot. No individual wall shall count as more than one signable wall for purposes of determining the allowable number and area of signs under this article.

Temporary sign. A sign or advertising display (including festoons, pennants, banners, flags, and similar devices) intended to be displayed for a certain limited period of time. If a sign display area is permanent but the message displayed is subject to periodic changes, that sign shall not be considered temporary but instead shall be considered permanent.

Variable message sign (VMS). A sign that displays words, lines, logos, graphic images, or symbols that can automatically or by computer program change to provide different information, including computer signs, electronic reader boards with changeable letters, LCD and other video display signs, and time and temperature signs.

Window sign. A type of sign mounted on or within an exterior window with a primary intent to advertise a business or product within the premises.

Yard sign. A two-sided plastic sign supported on a wire frame. Per the temporary sign requirements of section 520-107.

(Ord. No. 16-07, 6-20-2016; Ord. No. 17-05, 4-11-2017; Ord. No. 21-03, 2-23-2021)