Sign types are as follows:
ANIMATED SIGN
A sign with action or motion, flashing, color changes and/or
copy changes at intervals of less than 10 seconds requiring electrical
energy, but not including wind-activated elements such as flags, banners
or specialty items.
ARTISAN SIGN
Any sign giving the name or names of principal contractors,
architects, and lending institutions responsible for painting or construction
on the site where the sign is placed.
AWNING
Fabric, plastic, metal, or other roof-like covering that
projects from a wall for the purpose of shielding a doorway or window
from the elements. Awnings are either permanently attached to a building,
or can be raised or retracted to a position against the building when
not in use.
AWNING SIGN
A sign that is mounted or painted on, or attached to, an
awning with no internal or background illumination. Such sign shall
not be backlit in any way.
BANNER SIGN
Any temporary sign intended to be hung either with or without
frames, possessing characters, letters, illustration or ornamentations
applied to fabric or similar material that is applied to a pole or
building in a temporary manner. National flags, state or municipal
flags, or those containing decorative illustrations shall not be considered
a banner for the purposes of this article unless its use or purpose
is that of advertising the location of a business at which it is flown.
BEACON SIGN
A sign that contains or consists of beacon lights, spotlights,
and/or searchlights used primarily or incidentally to cast a beam
or beams of light generally skyward to attract attention to its location
rather than, or in addition to, using the light to illuminate a sign
attached to a structure.
BENCH SIGN
A sign located on any part of the surface of a bench or seat
placed on or adjacent to a public right-of-way.
BOX SIGN
A sign fastened to a wall, constructed as a box with enough
internal depth to accommodate internal lighting.
BUSINESS SIGN
An on-premises sign which advertises or otherwise directs
attention to a business, commodity, service, industry or other activity
which is sold, offered or conducted, other than incidentally, on the
premises upon which the sign is located, or to which it is affixed.
CANOPY
A structure other than an awning made of fabric, metal, or
other material with frames affixed to a building and carried by a
frame that is supported by columns or posts affixed to the ground.
CHANGEABLE COPY
A sign with text, numbers, or graphics, which is designed
to be easily and periodically changed. These can take one of two forms,
outlined below:
(1)
ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE COPY SIGNA changeable copy sign whose messages can be electronically programmed without altering the physical surface of the sign. All copy that changes shall be displayed at intervals of not less than 10 seconds. Animation or any other significant distracting movement of the changeable copy as determined by the Township is prohibited.
CHANNEL LETTER SIGN
A sign consisting of three-dimensional letters, individually
applied to a wall.
CIVIC EVENT SIGN
A temporary, noncommercial sign that promotes and/or advertises
an activity sponsored by the municipality, school district, public
agency, civic or charitable association, religious institution, or
other similar noncommercial organization. The sign is posted on the
site of the event.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN
Any temporary sign giving the name or names of principal
contractors, architects, and lending institutions responsible for
construction on the site where the sign is placed together with other
information included thereon with such sign to be limited to the duration
of construction.
DEVELOPMENT SIGN
A temporary on-premises sign which announces the property
is in the process of subdivision or land development.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
An on-premises, incidental sign designed to guide or direct
pedestrians or vehicular traffic. Such signs shall not include logos,
insignia, commercial symbols, etc.
DIRECTORY SIGN
A sign designating businesses or offices, and their locations
on a multi-tenanted lot.
DOUBLE-FACED SIGN
A freestanding sign with two identical faces of the same
size which are parallel to each other and not more than two feet apart
or two identical faces which form an angle not in excess of 45°.
EAVE
The overhanging lower edge of the roof.
ERECT
To build, construct, attach, place, suspend, or affix, which
shall also include the painting of wall signs or other graphics.
FLAG
A piece of fabric or other material of distinctive design
that is used as a symbol of a nation, state, municipality, agency,
civic organization, or corporation and which is usually displayed
hanging free from a staff or halyard.
FREESTANDING SIGN
A self-supporting sign resting on or supported by means of
poles or standards which are secured in the ground, and which is not
dependent of structural support from any building, fence, or other
support.
GOVERNMENTAL/REGULATORY SIGN
Any sign for the control of traffic or for identification
purposes, street signs, warning signs, railroad crossing signs and
signs of public service companies indicating danger or construction,
which are erected by or at the order of a public officer, employee
or agent thereof, in the discharge of official duties.
GROUP SIGN
A freestanding business sign which identifies more than one
tenant or use on a single sign.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign in which a source of light is used in order to make
the message readable. This shall include internally and externally
lighted signs as defined below:
(1)
EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATEDArtificial light, located outside and away from the sign, that lights the sign, but which is itself not visible to persons viewing the sign from any street, sidewalk or adjacent property. This includes festoon lighting, which is comprised of either:
(a)
A group of incandescent light bulbs hung or
strung overhead or on a building or other structure(s); or
(b)
Light bulbs not shaded or hooded or otherwise
screened to prevent direct rays of light from shining on adjacent
properties or rights-of-way.
(2)
INTERNALLY ILLUMINATEDA light source that is concealed or contained within the sign and becomes visible in darkness through a translucent surface.
INCIDENTAL SIGN
A directional sign of a public service nature such as signs
identifying parking lots, telephones, restrooms, loading docks, and
similar services. These signs contain no advertising.
LANDMARK SIGN
An older sign of artistic or historic merit, uniqueness or
extraordinary significance to the municipality as identified by the
governing body.
LIMITED DURATION SIGN
A nonpermanent sign that is displayed on private property
for more than 30 days, but not intended to be displayed for an indefinite
period. Limited duration signs require a sign permit, which is valid
for up to one year, and can be renewed annually. A limited duration
sign is separate and distinct from a temporary sign.
[Added 3-6-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
MARQUEE SIGN
Any sign attached to a marquee for the purpose of identifying
a use. If attached to a theater, it may also advertise films or productions.
MOBILE BILLBOARD SIGN
A sign affixed to a vehicle or pulled by a vehicle, the primary
purpose of which is for advertising while the vehicle is moving or
in traffic.
MONUMENT SIGN
A sign supported by a brick, stone, or masonry wall or structure
which forms a supporting base for the sign display. The wall area
is not counted in the sign display area.
MURAL
Artwork applied to the wall of a building, wall, or other
structure. A mural covers all of the surface and depicts a scene or
event of natural, social, cultural, or historic significance.
NEON SIGN
A sign with glass tubing containing a large proportion of
neon gas. The tubing is typically bent to form words, numbers, logos,
symbols, etc.
NONCONFORMING SIGN
A sign which has a valid permit and was erected prior to
the effective date of this or any subsequent amendment hereto to the
provisions of which such sign does not conform.
NONSTATIONARY SIGN
A sign which, by means of some mechanical device, changes
its position constantly or at regular intervals by rotating around
an axis, or shifting in horizontal or vertical alignment.
OFF-PREMISES ADVERTISING SIGN OR BILLBOARD
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity,
service, entertainment or facility not located, conducted, sold or
offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
[Added 6-6-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-1]
ON-PREMISES SIGN
A sign whose message and design relate to an individual business,
profession, product, service, event, point of view, or other commercial
or noncommercial activity sold, offered, or conducted on the same
property where the sign is located.
[Amended 3-6-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
PARALLEL (WALL/FLUSH WALL) SIGN
A sign painted or mounted parallel to a wall or other vertical
building surface. A parallel sign shall not extend beyond the edge
of any wall, roof line or other surface to which it is mounted and
shall not project more than 12 inches from its mounting surface.
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 a series, designed to move in the wind.
PERSONAL EXPRESSION SIGN
An on-premises sign that expresses an opinion, interest,
position, or other noncommercial message.
[Added 3-6-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
PUBLIC SERVICE SIGN
A sign posted at a site to promote and advertise a service
sponsored by the municipality, public agency, school district, religious
institution, civic association, or other nonprofit public agency.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign mounted on a building wall, but not at the same
plane as the building wall. The sign extends more than 12 inches from
the building wall.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
Any temporary sign which is used to offer for sale, lease
or rent the property upon which the sign is placed.
REVOLVING SIGN
A sign which revolves in a circular motion rather than remaining
stationary on its supporting structure.
ROOF SIGN
A sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet wall of a
building, and which is wholly or partly supported by said building.
SANDWICH BOARD SIGN
A portable advertising sign consisting of two faces, taken
down at the end of the day. Sandwich board signs are typically used
to advertise dining, entertainment, or sales; and are located along
the street or sidewalk in front of the business it advertises.
SIGN STRUCTURE
Poles, posts, walls, frames, brackets, or other supports
holding a sign in place. The structure is not counted towards the
area of the sign.
SNIPE SIGN
Sign of any material whatsoever that is attached in any way
to a utility pole, tree, fence, guiderail, rock, traffic control device
or sign, or any similar object located or situated on public or private
property.
SPECIAL-EVENTS SIGNS
On-premises signs announcing special events including, but
not limited to, auctions, grand openings, new management, going-out-of-business
sales and events by religious, charitable or public service groups.
STREET BANNER SIGN
Any off-premises temporary banner sign which is stretched
across and hung over a public right-of-way.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A type of nonpermanent sign that is located on private property
that can be displayed for no more than 30 consecutive days at one
time. Temporary signs do not require a permit. A temporary sign is
separate and distinct from a limited-duration sign.
[Amended 3-6-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
TIME AND TEMPERATURE SIGN
A display containing numbers flashing alternatively at intervals
of not less than five seconds to show time and temperature.
TRAILER SIGN
Any sign which is erected upon a structure having wheels,
rollers, or similar devices facilitating movement and is capable of
being moved from one location to another.
UNDER-MARQUEE SIGN
A lighted, or unlighted, display attached to the underside
of a marquee protruding over a public or private sidewalk or right-of-way.
VEHICULAR SIGN
Any vehicle to which a sign is affixed in such a manner that
the carrying of such sign, or signs, no longer is incidental to the
vehicle's primary purpose, but becomes a primary purpose in itself,
shall be considered a freestanding sign, and as such, shall be subject
to the provisions regarding freestanding signs in the district in
which the vehicle is located.
WALL SIGN
A building-mounted sign which is either attached to, displayed
on, or painted on an exterior wall in a manner parallel with the wall
surface. A sign installed on a false or mansard roof is also considered
a wall sign.
[Added 3-6-2024 by Ord. No. 2024-02]
WINDOW OR DOOR SIGN
A sign which is fastened, painted, or placed on the inside
area of a window or a door window. This excludes window displays.
Such signs must be included in total sign face calculations.
SIGN LIGHTER
A directed and controlled light specifically intended to
illuminate a sign.