As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
A-FRAME SIGN
A portable sign with two or more steeply angled sides not to exceed six square feet on each side.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURE
A prominent or significant part or element of a building, structure or site.
ATTENTION-GETTING DEVICE
Any flag, streamer, spinner, light, balloon or similar device or ornamentation used for purposes of attracting attention for promotion.
AWNING and/or CANOPY
A roof-like protective cover over a door, entrance, window or outdoor service area that projects from the face of a structure and is constructed of durable materials, including but not limited to fabrics and/or plastics.
AWNING and/or CANOPY SIGN
Any sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy or other fabric, plastic or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window or outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy.
BANNER
Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is permanently mounted to a pole or a building by a permanent frame at one or more edges.
BANNER, TEMPORARY
Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is temporarily mounted to a pole or a building. The banner shall not exceed two square feet for each linear foot of width of the building or space.
BILLBOARD
A surface whereon advertising matter is set in view conspicuously and which advertising does not apply to premises or any uses of premises wherein it is displayed or posted.
BUILDING DIRECTORY SIGN
A sign listing the tenants or occupants of a building or group of buildings and that may indicate their respective professions or business activities.
BUILDING FRONTAGE
The width of a building facing a street or public parking lot; in the case of a corner lot, it may be either frontage at the option of the applicant. Where a mall exists, "building frontage" shall mean that portion of the building perimeter facing a street or designated parking area; in the case of two such perimeters, it may be either frontage at the option of the applicant.
BULLETIN BOARD
See "changeable-copy sign."
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.
CHANGEABLE-COPY SIGN, TEMPORARY or PORTABLE
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. Such sign is mounted on wheels or easily transported.
COPY
Characters, letters or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged on a changeable-copy sign.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
Any sign limited to directional messages, principally for pedestrian or vehicular traffic, such as "one-way," "entrance" and "exit."
EXTERIOR ENTRANCE
A direct entrance from a public way to a habitable or tenantable space.
FASCIA SIGNS
See "wall sign."
FLAG
Any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision or other entity.
FREESTANDING SIGN
A sign supported by one or more upright poles, columns or braces placed in or on the ground and not attached to any building or structure. Such sign may have permanent or changeable copy.
GRAPHIC SIGN
A sign which is an integral part of a building facade. The sign is painted directly on, carved in or otherwise permanently embedded in the facade.
GROUND SIGN
See "freestanding sign."
HANGING SIGN
See "projecting sign."
HOLIDAY DECORATION SIGN
Temporary signs, in the nature of decorations, clearly incidental to and customarily and commonly associated with any national, local or religious holiday.
ILLUMINATED (DIRECTLY) SIGN
A sign designed to give forth artificial light directly from a source of light within such a sign.
ILLUMINATED (INDIRECTLY) SIGN
A sign illuminated with a light so shielded that no direct rays therefrom are visible elsewhere on the lot where said illumination occurs.
LOGO
Any picture, shape or drawing, with or without letters or words, used to identify a product, service, business or organization.
MARQUEE
Any hood, awning or permanent construction that projects from a wall of a building, usually above an entrance.
[Amended 7-30-1998 by L.L. No. 6-1998]
MOBILE SIGNS
See "portable sign."
NONCONFORMING SIGN
Any sign lawfully existing at the date of adoption of this chapter or any amendment thereto that does not meet the requirements of this article.[1]
POLE SIGN
A sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole or other supports.
POLITICAL SIGN
A temporary sign announcing or supporting political candidates or issues in connection with any national, state or local election or caucus.
PORTABLE SIGN
A sign, whether on its own trailer, wheels or otherwise designed to be mobile and not structurally attached to the ground, a building, a structure or another sign.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign other than a wall sign that is attached to and projects from the wall or face of a building or structure.
REFLECTIVE SURFACE
Any material or device which has the effect of intensifying reflected light, such as Scotchlite (trademark), Dayglo (trademark) or glass beads.
ROOF SIGN
A sign that is mounted upon the roof of a building.
SANDWICH SIGN
See "A-frame sign."
SEE-THROUGH LETTERED SIGNS
Letters on a sign with transparent background, such as lettering on a window.
SIGN
Any material, structure or device, or part thereof, composed of lettered or pictorial matter which is located out-of-doors or on the exterior of any building or indoors as a window sign, displaying an advertisement, announcement, notice or name, and shall include any declaration, demonstration, display, representation, illustration or insignia used to advertise or promote the interests of any person or business or cause when such is placed in view of the general public.
SIGN PERMIT
No sign shall be hereafter erected, placed or maintained at any place in the Village of Livionia or the Town of Livonia except as provided by this article and only after a permit therefor has been obtained in compliance with the provisions of this article, unless stated otherwise.[2]
SIGN, AREA
The area defined by the frame or edge of a sign. Where there is no geometric frame or edge of the sign, the area shall be defined by projected, enclosed, four-sided (straight sides) geometric shape which most closely outlines said sign.
STRUCTURE
Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on the ground or attachment to something having location on the ground.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Sign applicable to business and special events. No such sign shall be displayed for more than 30 days each calender year.
TENANT
An occupant who temporarily holds or occupies land, a building or other property owned by another.
TENANT IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A sign designed or intended to identify a tenant, occupant or establishment.
VEHICLE SIGN
Signs displayed on licensed and registered motor vehicles which are used in conjunction with a business.
WALL SIGN
A sign attached to and erected parallel to the face of a building and supported throughout its length by such building. Such sign may have permanent or changeable copy.
WINDOW AREA
The total area of any single window pane or series of window panes separated by mullions.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign visible from a sidewalk, street or other public place, painted or affixed on glass or other window material or located inside within four feet of the window, but not including graphics in connection with customary window display of products.
WINDOW SIGN, TEMPORARY
A window sign not permanently affixed that does not identify the tenant, occupant or establishment and is limited to a maximum use of 120 days.
ZONING DISTRICT
The classification of lands as established in this chapter.