ADULT BOOKSTORE – An establishment having as a substantial or significant portion of its stock-in-trade printed matter, books, magazines, picture periodicals, motion-picture films, videocassettes, computer compact disks, computer disks or diskettes, or coin-operated motion-picture machines for sale, barter or rental which are distinguished or characterized by their emphasis on matters depicting, describing or relating to "sexual conduct" as that term is defined in MGL c. 272, § 31, or an establishment having for sale sexual devices, which shall mean any artificial human penis, vagina or anus or other device primarily designed, promoted or marketed to physically stimulate or manipulate the human genitals, pubic area or anal area, including dildos, penisators, vibrators, penis rings, erection enlargement or prolonging creams or other preparations, or an establishment with a segment or section devoted to the sale or display of such materials.

ADULT LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ESTABLISHMENTS – Establishments which feature live entertainment which consists of entertainers engaging in "sexual conduct" or "nudity" as defined in MGL c. 272, § 31.

ADULT MINI MOTION-PICTURE THEATER – An enclosed building with a capacity for fewer than 50 persons used for presenting material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to "sexual conduct" as defined in MGL c. 272, § 31, for observation by patrons therein.

ADULT MOTION-PICTURE THEATER – An enclosed building with a capacity of 50 or more persons used for presenting material distinguished or characterized by an emphasis on matter depicting, describing or relating to "sexual conduct" as defined in MGL c. 272, § 31, for observation by patrons therein.

SUBSTANTIAL OR SIGNIFICANT PORTION – At least that portion of:

(i)

Retail sales accounting for at least 25% of gross sales;

(ii)

Merchandise accounting for at least 25% of total merchandise available for sales; or

(iii)

Shelf space and display space which when combined is in excess of 80 square feet.

SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING – A building designed for occupancy as a residence and substantially separated by side yards from any other structure except accessory buildings.

TWO-FAMILY DWELLING – A building designed for occupancy as a residence for two families, each occupying a single dwelling unit.

MULTIFAMILY DWELLING – A building or structure designed for occupancy as a residence by more than two families, but not including: attached dwellings; an apartment house.

DWELLING UNIT – One or more rooms forming a habitable unit for one family and complete and independent housekeeping facilities. Where a dwelling has more than one kitchen, the burden of proof shall be upon the owner to show that the premises constitutes not more than one dwelling unit.

FRONT LOT LINE – A line separating the lot from a street or private way.

REAR LOT LINE – The lot line opposite the front lot line, except that, in the case of a corner lot, the rear lot line shall be the line opposite from the street on which the principal building faces.

"Pave," and its derivatives, shall mean the placement of materials on the ground, including but not limited to tar, asphalt, concrete, gravel, bituminous material, crushed stone, tile, and stone, concrete and brick pavers.

"Repaved" shall mean the replacement of the existing paved surfaces or the supplementation of existing paving materials or the placement of a new type of surface material over an existing paved surface.

ART, ARTWORK or WORKS OF ART or PLACE-MAKING – Tangible creations by artists exhibiting the highest quality of skill and aesthetic principles and includes all forms of the visual arts conceived in any medium, material, or combination thereof, including but not limited to paintings, sculptures, engravings, carvings, frescos, stained glass, mosaics, mobiles, tapestries, murals, photographs, video projections, digital images, bas-relief, high relief, fountains, kinetics, collages, drawings, monuments erected to commemorate a person or an event, functional furnishings, such as artist-designed seating and pavers, architectural elements designed by an artist, and artist-designed landforms or landscape elements. The following shall not be considered artwork or works of art for this chapter: (i) reproductions or unlimited copies of original artwork; (ii) art objects which are mass produced; or (iii) works that are decorative, ornamental, or functional elements of the architecture or landscape design, except when commissioned from an artist as an integral aspect of a structure or site.

ARTIST or PROFESSIONAL ARTIST – A practitioner in the visual arts, and shall include visual artists, landscape artists and architects, as well as graphic artists, generally recognized by critics and peers as a professional of serious intent and ability. Indications of a person's status as a professional artist or place-maker include, but are not limited to, income realized through the sole commission of artwork, frequent or consistent art exhibitions, placement of artwork in public institutions or museums, receipt of honors and awards, and training in the arts.

DEVELOPMENT – Any construction or redevelopment of any private or public building within the Quincy Center Urban Redevelopment District or the Quincy Center Zoning Districts.

PUBLIC ART COMMISSION – The entity appointed by the Mayor to administer the Public Art and Place-Making Program and administer the Public Art Fund.

PUBLIC ART FUND – A separate, interest-bearing account set up by the City to receive moneys for the Public Art and Place-Making Program.

REMODELING or CONVERTING – Changes to the facade of a building, changes to the interior of a building, increases or decreases in the floor area of a building and changes to exterior improvements.

The following definitions shall apply in this section:

ABANDONED SIGN – A sign that no longer identifies or advertises a location, product or activity conducted on the premises on which the sign is located; a panel, box or cabinet in disrepair.

ANIMATED SIGN – A sign employing actual motion or the illusion of motion. They differ from changeable signs as follows:

Environmentally Activated. Animated signs or devices motivated by wind, thermal changes, or other natural input. Includes spinners, pinwheels, pennant strings, and/or other devices that respond to natural phenomena.

Mechanically Activated. Animated signs characterized by repetitive motion and/or rotation activated by a mechanical system, electric motor or other mechanical means.

Electrically Activated. Animated signs producing the illusion of movement by means of electronic, electrical, or electromechanical input and/or illumination capable of simulating movement through employment of the classifications noted below:

a.

Flashing. Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by a repetitive cycle in which the period of illumination is either the same as or less than the period of nonillumination. For the purposes of this chapter, "flashing" will not be defined as occurring if the cyclical period between on-off phases of illumination is 60 seconds or more.

b.

Patterned Illusionary Movement. Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by simulated movement through alternate or sequential activation of various illuminated elements for the purpose of producing repetitive light patterns designed to appear in some form of constant motion.

ANNOUNCEMENT BOARD – See "bulletin board."

APPURTENANCE – A device supporting or lighting a sign.

ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTION – Any projection that is not intended for occupancy and that extends beyond the face of an exterior wall of a building but that does not include signs as defined here.

AWNING – An architectural projection or a shelter or both projecting from and supported by the exterior wall of a building and composed of a covering of rigid material and/or fabric on a supporting framework that may be either fixed or retractable.

AWNING SIGN – A sign on or attached to a temporary retractable shelter or permanent architectural projection that is supported entirely from the exterior wall of building.

BACKGROUND AREA OF SIGN – The entire area of a sign on which copy and/or graphics could be placed.

BACK-LIT AWNING – An awning whose covering material exhibits the characteristic of luminosity obtained by means of a source of illumination contained within its framework.

BANNER – A flexible fabric material on which copy or graphics may be displayed.

BANNER SIGN – A sign utilizing a banner as its display surface, generally composed of lightweight flexible material, sometimes in a rigid frame.

BELT SIGN – Any sign designed in the horizontal strip part of a facade. See "storefront sign."

BILLBOARD – See "off-premises sign."

BOX SIGN – See "freestanding sign."

BUILDING NAME SIGN – A sign that indicates the name of a building, normally made of stone, stainless steel, or other permanent material.

BULLETIN BOARD – A sign with nonelectronic changeable sign copy.

BUSINESS GOODS OR SERVICES SIGN – A sign that indicates the goods or services available on the premises.

BUSINESS HOURS SIGN – A sign that indicates the hours and days of operation of a business.

BUSINESS NAME SIGN – A sign that indicates the name of a business.

BUSINESS SALE SIGN – A temporary sign that indicates that certain goods, services or products are being offered at a special or reduced price or with other considerations.

CANOPY, ATTACHED – A multi-sided structure or architectural projection supported by attachment to a building on one or more sides and either cantilevered from such building on one side or also supported by columns at additional points.

CANOPY, FREESTANDING – A multi-sided structure supported by columns. The surface(s) and/or soffit of a freestanding canopy may be illuminated by means of internal or external sources of light.

CANOPY SIGN – A sign affixed to the visible surface(s) of an attached or freestanding canopy. May be internally or externally illuminated.

CHANGEABLE SIGN – A sign with capability of content change by means of manual or remote input. Includes these types:

a.

Manually Programmed. Changeable sign whose message copy or content can be changed manually on a display surface.

b.

Electrically Programmed. Changeable sign whose message copy or content can be changed by means of remote electrically energized on-off switching combinations of alphabetic or pictographic components arranged on a display surface. Illumination may be integral to the components, such as characterized by lamps or other light-emitting devices, or may be from an external light source designed to reflect off of the changeable component display. See "electronic message sign."

COMMERCIAL SIGN – A sign belonging to any private establishment, office or place of business, where such business is conducted for profit.

COMPOSITE SIGN – Any freestanding sign listing the name of a shopping center or complex and its establishments.

CONSTRUCTION SIGN – A temporary sign that indicates the name of architects, contractors, lenders and others involved in the design, construction or financing of a building or structure or alteration of such structure.

COPY – The graphic content or message of a sign.

COPY AREA OF SIGN – The actual area of the sign copy as applied to any background. Copy area on any individual background may be expressed as a mathematically or geometrically computed portion area, regulated by law, to control the amount and size of letters, words, graphics or logos. In the case of freestanding signs, and where a sign has a background color, surface or finish material which is different from the building or window face, the area shall include that surface on which all message, symbols or other graphic designs are displayed, but does not include the supporting framework and bracing.

CORNICE – Any prominent, continuous, horizontally projecting feature surmounting a wall or other portion of a building.

CORNICE SIGN – A sign which is affixed to the visible surface of a cornice. May be internally or externally illuminated.

DATE SIGN – A sign indicating date of initial construction or alteration of a building.

DIMENSIONAL LETTERS – Individually attached letters cut so as to allow visibility of their spatial qualities of width, height and length.

DIRECTIONAL SIGN – Any sign whose content informs the viewer, pedestrian or vehicular traffic, how to proceed to locate a particular premises, activity or facility.

DIRECTORY SIGN – A sign that lists the businesses within a building.

DOUBLE-FACED SIGN – A sign with two faces, commonly back to back.

EASEL SIGN – A freestanding sign mounted on a tripod, often single-sided, or a sandwich board type A-frame sign, generally two-sided.

ELECTRIC SIGN – Any sign activated by means of electrical energy.

ELECTRONIC MESSAGE SIGN – An electrically activated changeable sign whose variable message capability can be electronically programmed. The copy must remain in a stationary position.

ENTRY SIGN – Any sign located at a recessed building entry.

EVENT SIGN – A temporary sign indicating a public event.

EXTERIOR SIGN – Any sign placed on the outside of a building or on the premises.

FACADE – The separate face of a building including parapet walls. Where separate faces are oriented in the same direction, they are to be considered as a single facade.

FASCIA – Flat horizontal band or member between moldings or between vertical elements on a facade, usually above doors and windows on a storefront.

FASCIA SIGN – See "wall sign."

FLAG SIGN – Any sign mounted on a flagpole or similar support. See regulations for banners. Flying the flag of the United States of America is not subject to a permit.

FOR SALE/FOR RENT/FOR LEASE SIGN – See "real estate sign."

FREESTANDING SIGN – Any sign attached to or part of a completely self-supporting structure which is connected to the ground and not attached to any building or other structure.

FRONTAGE, BUILDING – The length of an exterior building wall or structure of a single premises along either a public way or other properties that it faces. Commonly, the street address side.

FRONTAGE, PROPERTY – The length of the property line(s) of any single premises along either a public way or other properties on which it borders.

GOOD REPAIR – A physical condition required of both permanent and temporary signs; signs which do not contain rust, decay, broken or dangling parts, cracked, peeling or flaking paint, ripped, torn or faded materials, with clean sign copy that is not obscured.

GROUND SIGN – See "freestanding sign."

HISTORICAL COMMISSION – The duly established Historical Commission of the City of Quincy.

HISTORIC COMMERCIAL DISTRICT – A duly established historic commercial district of the City of Quincy.

HISTORIC DISTRICT – The duly established historic district of the City of Quincy.

HISTORIC MARKER – A sign that provides information on the history or architecture of a building or structure located within the historic district or on a building which is listed on one of the historic registers.

IDENTIFICATION SIGN – A sign identifying the occupants of a building. See "directory sign."

ILLUMINATED SIGN – A sign characterized by the use of electric light, either projecting through its surface(s) (internally illuminated) or reflecting off its surface(s) (externally illuminated).

INTERMEDIATE REMOVABLE SURFACE – A removable sign face.

LOGO SIGN – A graphic-type sign indicating a business, goods, services, product or activity.

MANSARD – A roof-like facade comparable to, and part of, an exterior building wall.

MARQUEE – A permanent canopy or overhanging shelter projecting from and entirely supported by the building to which it is attached.

MARQUEE SIGN – A sign on or attached to a permanent overhanging shelter that projects from the face of a building.

MURAL – A sign or painting intended to function as a sign, or just a painting executed on or affixed to the wall(s) or window(s) of a building.

NONCOMMERCIAL SIGN – A sign containing any noncommercial message such as civic, philanthropic, charitable, religious, cultural, political, or ideological or time, temperature and bus stop.

OFF-PREMISES SIGN – A sign which advertises or announces a use conducted or goods provided that are available elsewhere than within the building or on the lot on which the sign is located.

ON-PREMISES SIGN – A sign which advertises or announces a use conducted or goods that are available within the building or on the lot on which the sign is located. The sign bears a direct relationship to the activities conducted on the premises.

PARAPET – The extension of a building facade above the line of the structural roof.

PEDESTRIAN ORIENTATION – Description of area abutting a roadway which is not a super highway and which indicates by its layout that it has made accommodations for people to walk there.

PERMANENT SIGN – A durable sign structure designed to promote, advertise, and support a place of business, an office, or an establishment for the duration of its existence. It is normally stationary and affixed.

POLE SIGN – See "freestanding sign."

POLITICAL SIGN – Any temporary nonpremises sign which refers only to the issues, causes or candidates involved in a political election and is designed to influence the actions of voters.

PORTABLE SIGN – Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or to a building or building surface.

PREMISES – A tract of land including its buildings and other appurtenances.

PRODUCT SIGN – A sign that indicates a product or goods.

PROJECTING SIGN – A sign (other than a wall sign, an awning, a canopy, a marquee or a V sign), including all of its mounting or supporting devices, that is attached to or projects more than 12 inches from a building face or wall over a public way or from a structure whose primary purpose is other than the support of a sign. Projecting signs under the two-square-foot limit and not mounted over a public way are permitted.

PUBLIC SAFETY DEVICE – For purposes of this chapter, a traffic light, a traffic light pole, a sign or sign pole listing City parking rules, directions, policies or announcements, or any other device serving these municipal purposes.

PUBLIC SIGN – A sign erected or maintained by a municipality or other government entity.

REAL ESTATE SIGN – A temporary sign advertising the sale, lease, or rental of the property or premises upon which it is located.

REMOVABLE FACADE SURFACE – A flat object that is attached flush to and covers a portion of a building facade often becoming the receiving surface for sign copy.

REVOLVING SIGN –A sign that revolves 360° about an axis. See "animated sign."

ROOFLINE – The edge of the roof or the top of the parapet, whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette; for a pitched roof, this shall mean the lower edge of the roof where it meets the building wall. Where a building has several roof levels, that roof level belonging to that portion of the building on whose wall the sign is located.

ROOF SIGN – A sign located on and attached to the roof or above the roof line of a building, which is wholly or partially supported by such building.

SANDWICH BOARD SIGN – A freestanding, double-sided A-frame sign.

SECONDARY SIGN – A sign located on a building face other than the one which is directed to the main stream of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

SETBACK – That open portion of a lot which is located between the property line and the building wall.

SIGN – Any structure, device, letter work, symbols, banner, logo, commercial flag or pennant, insignia, light, figure, picture, message, plaque, poster, form or other representation (excluding displays of merchandise) designed to be seen from outside a building and visible from a public way, which is used to direct public attention to and/or indicate the presence of any person, product, service or activity, whose purpose is to convey a commercial or noncommercial message. Such structure above shall include any removable facade surface used for signage.

SIGN AREA – The area of the smallest rectangle or circle within which the entire sign can fit, including any portion of the structural supports which contribute through shape, color, or otherwise to the sign's message, and including any separate surface, board, frame or shape on or within which the sign is displayed. For signs the components of which are applied directly to a building or other structure, the sign area shall include any background of a different color, material, or appearance from the remainder of the wall or structure and shall in any event enclose all letters, figures, or representations related to the sign.

SIGN BAND – That exterior portion of a retail or commercial building which contains an area specifically designed to accommodate signage, usually set off by architectural details or framing elements.

SIGN ILLUMINATION – Any means of artificially lighting a sign.

SIGN MATERIALS – Any materials used to construct a sign.

SIGN MOUNTING PANEL – That portion of a fascia which has a surface to which a sign may be attached and which is generally set off and framed. In a building with several storefronts, such panels will generally be separate and distinct for each one. Sign mounting panels would be considered to be abandoned when they meet the criteria listed for abandoned signs or if they are left in disrepair.

SIGN SUPPORT – Any pole, post, streetlight, cable or other structural fixture necessary to hold and secure a sign.

SLOGAN – A catch phrase used in advertising or promotion.

STOREFRONT – That portion of a ground floor building front occupied by a separate and distinct use and at which a major entrance is located.

STOREFRONT SIGN – A graphic design which may or may not incorporate words, symbols, or letters painted on or applied as surface material to a large unbroken expanse of blank wall.

TEMPORARY SIGN – A poster, sign or sign card lacking a permanent support structure and intended to be displayed for only a specified period of time.

TIME/TEMPERATURE SIGN – A sign indicating the time and temperature that may contain the ability to transmit other information.

TRADEMARK – A name, symbol or other device identifying a product officially registered and legally restricted to the use of the owner or manufacturer.

UNDER CANOPY OR UNDER MARQUEE SIGN – A sign attached to the underside of a canopy or marquee.

V SIGN – A sign containing two faces of equal size, positioned at an angle of less than 179° at the point of juncture of the individual faces.

WALL SIGN – A flat sign mounted against a flat wall, with the exposed face parallel to the exterior plane of the building to which it is affixed. It projects not more than 18 inches from the building or structure wall. It also includes signs affixed to architectural projections provided the copy area of such signs remains on a parallel plane to the face of the building facade or to the face of the architectural projection to which it is affixed.

WINDOW SIGN – A permanent sign erected, applied and located so as to be visible through a window and placed in the interior surface of a window with its message intended to be visible to the exterior environment.

DIRECTOR – Director of Inspectional Services

HEIGHT – The height of a wind turbine measured from natural grade to the tip of the rotor blade at its highest point, or blade-tip height.

PERMIT GRANTING AUTHORITY – The Planning Board shall be the site plan review permit granting authority and the special permit granting authority.

RATED NAMEPLATE CAPACITY – The maximum rated output of electric power production equipment. The manufacturer typically specifies this output with a nameplate on the equipment.

WIND FACILITY – A facility where the primary use of the facility is the conversion of wind to electricity, including but not limited to the wind turbine(s) and all the equipment and/or machinery required for the generation, storage, and transmission of such electricity.

WIND MONITORING OR METEOROLOGICAL TOWER – A temporary tower equipped with devices to measure wind speeds and direction, used to determine how much wind power a site can be expected to generate.

WIND TURBINE – A device that converts kinetic wind energy into rotational energy that drives an electrical generator. A wind turbine typically consists of a support tower, nacelle body, and a rotor with two or more blades.

PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICE FACILITIES – Facilities for the provision of personal wireless services.

PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICES – Commercial mobile services, unlicensed wireless services, and common carrier wireless exchange access services.

UNLICENSED WIRELESS SERVICE – The offering of telecommunications service using duly authorized devices which do not require individual licenses, but does not mean the provision of direct-to-home satellite services.

WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY – A personal wireless service facility.