§ 36-1490. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Abandoned sign means a sign which no longer identifies or advertises a bona fide business, lessor, lessee, service, owner, building occupant or activity, or a sign for which no legal owner can be found.
Accessory sign means a sign relating in its subject matter to the lot or tract on which it is located, or to products, accommodations, services or activities on the premises on which it is located.
Address sign means postal identification numbers only, whether written or in numeric form.
Area identification sign means a sign which identifies the name of a neighborhood, a residential subdivision, a multiple residential complex consisting of two or more principal buildings, a shopping center or area, an office complex consisting of two or more principal buildings or any combination of the above that could be termed an area.
Awning or marquee means a roof-like structure of rigid or semi-rigid materials attached to and extending from the facade of a principal building.
Banners and pennants mean devices which resemble flags and are of cloth or plastic-like consistency, and may be square, rectangular or triangular in shape.
Bench sign means a sign which is affixed to a bench.
Building identification sign means a freestanding sign or wall sign bearing the name of a building or occupant in a residential building or the name of a tenant or business in a nonresidential building.
Canopy means a roof-like structure, located on the same lot as the principal building, that is either freestanding or attached to the principal building.
Church directional sign means a sign which bears the address and name of a church and directional arrows pointing to a church location.
Clear view zone means a triangle formed by connecting the three following points: the point of intersection of the extensions of the curb lines or edge of the traveled portion of each street or drive aisle, and a point on each curb line 30 feet from the aforementioned point of intersection.
Flag means the official flag of any country, state or municipality.
Freestanding sign means a self-supported sign which is placed in the ground and not affixed to any part of any structure. The term "freestanding sign" includes monuments and area identification signs.
Governmental sign means a sign which is erected by a governmental unit for the purpose of directing or guiding traffic, or providing public information. The term "governmental signs" includes community bulletin boards, area identification sign directions or banners erected by the city.
Height means the distance measured from the average ground elevation adjoining a freestanding sign to the highest point of a freestanding sign.
Illuminated sign means any sign which is illuminated by an artificial light source.
Monument means a structure built on grade, not supported by poles, posts or a pylon, which is constructed of brick, stone or stucco and to which a sign is affixed.
Motion sign means any sign which revolves, rotates or has any moving parts.
Nameplate sign means a sign which bears the name or address of the occupants of the building.
Nonaccessory sign means a sign other than an accessory sign.
Noncommercial opinion sign means any sign which is not a commercial sign and which expresses an opinion which is deemed by the state or federal courts to have greater protection under the constitution of the United States or the state than a commercial sign. For purposes of this definition, the term "commercial sign" means any sign which advertises or identifies a product, business, building, place, service, event or any other matter or thing of a commercial nature, even though the matter or thing may be related to or involve a nonprofit organization.
Nonconforming sign means a sign which lawfully existed prior to the adoption of the ordinance from which this article is derived but does not conform to the requirements of this article.
Permanent sign means any sign which is not a temporary sign.
Portable sign means a sign so designed as to be movable from one location to another which is not permanently attached to the ground or any structure.
Projecting sign.
(1)
The term "projecting sign" means any sign or any part thereof which extends by more than 12 inches over public property, a street right-of-way or public sidewalk.
(2)
The term "projecting sign" does not mean signs integral to awnings, canopies or marquees.
Roof sign means any sign erected upon a roof or projecting above the eave line or a parapet of a building to which it is affixed.
Sign means any letter, word or symbol, logo, device, banner, pennant, beacon, searchlight, poster, picture, statuary, reading matter or representation in the nature of an advertisement, announcement, message, or visual communication whether painted, posted, printed, affixed or constructed, which is displayed outdoors for informational or communicative purposes.
Sign area means:
(1)
The smallest single rectangle which can be made to circumscribe the letters, message, symbol, logo or figure inscribed into or directly onto a building or a monument and not affixed to a sign panel; or
(2)
The smallest single rectangle which can be made to circumscribe a sign panel which bears the letters, message, symbol, logo or figure.
Sign panel means the display surface upon which the message is painted or inscribed and which is attached to a building or structure.
Temporary sign means a sign which is erected or displayed for a limited period of time. Such temporary signs shall include those listed in division 4 of this article.
Traffic directional sign means a sign which is erected on private property by the owner of such property for the purpose of guiding vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Such sign bears no advertising information.
Wall sign means a sign affixed to the wall of any building including projecting signs and signs affixed to marquees, awnings or canopies.
(Code 1970; Code 1992, § 460.02(2))