Definitions. Words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the meanings set forth in this section. Words and phrases not defined in this section but defined in this chapter shall be given the meanings set forth in this chapter. Principles for computing sign area and sign height are contained in this section. All other words and phrases shall be given their common ordinary meanings, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
[Amended 7-18-2022 by Ord. No. 22-48]
A-FRAME OR SANDWICH SIGN An A-shaped temporary and easily movable ground sign, with a message on two sides, for advertising commodities, services or entertainment, usually conducted upon the premises where the sign is located.
ANIMATED SIGN Any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or the illusion of movement or create a special effect or scene.
APPLIED LETTERS A type of wall sign utilizing letters or a logo individually mounted on the facade of the structure to form the sign message.
AREA IDENTIFICATION SIGN A sign to identify a common area containing a group of structures, or a single structure, such as a residential subdivision, apartment complex, industrial park, mobile home park or shopping center, located at the entrance or entrances of the area. Such signs may or may not consist of a fence or wall or archway with letters or symbols affixed thereto.
AWNING SIGN Any sign that is part of, attached to or printed on an awning, canopy or other fabric, plastic or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window or outdoor service area.
AWNINGS and CANOPIES Roof-like coverings extending over a walkway, sidewalk or exterior place, supported by a frame attached to the building and/or ground with a surface made of fabric or a more rigid material, such as plastic or metal, and either retractable against the building or fixed in place.
BANNER Any sign printed or displayed upon cloth or other flexible material, with or without frames, including "feather" signs. National flags, state or municipal flags or the official flag of any not-for-profit institution shall not be considered banners for the purposes of this chapter.
BEACON A stationary or revolving light which flashes or projects illumination, single color or multicolored, in any manner which is intended to attract or divert attention; except, however, this term is not intended to include any kind of lighting device which is required or necessary under the safety regulations described by the Federal Aviation Administration or similar agencies.
BILLBOARD or OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN A sign which directs attention to a business, industry, profession, commodity, service or entertainment not necessarily sold or offered upon the premises where the sign is located.
BUILDING MARKER Any sign indicating the name of a building and date and incidental information about its construction, which sign is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.
BUILDING SIGN Any sign attached to any part of a building, as contrasted to a freestanding sign.
BULLETIN BOARD Any changeable message sign, other than an electronic or digital message board or ticker, erected by a charitable, educational or religious organization or a public body, which is erected upon the same property as said institution, for purposes of announcing changing events.
BUSINESS SIGN A sign which directs attention to a business, industry, profession, commodity, service or entertainment sold or offered upon the premises where such sign is located.
CANOPY See "awnings and canopies."
CHANGEABLE MESSAGE 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, including, without limitation, electronic or digital message boards or tickers.
COMMERCIAL MESSAGE Any sign wording, logo or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises or calls attention to a business, product, service or other commercial activity.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN A sign intended to direct or point toward a place or which gives directions. Such signs shall carry no advertising copy describing the activities carried on at the premises where such signs are located.
ERECT To construct, build, raise, assemble, place, affix, attach, create, paint, draw or in any other way bring into being or establish, but not including any of the foregoing activities when performed as incidental to the normal maintenance or repair of a sign or sign structure.
ESTABLISHMENT An economic unit where business is conducted or services or industrial operations are performed. More than one establishment could be located at a single street address.
EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN Any illuminated sign whose illumination is derived from an external artificial source outside the display portion of the sign.
FACADE The total wall surface, including door and window area, of a building's principal face. A mansard roof shall be considered as part of the facade.
FLAG Any fabric or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision or other not-for-profit institution.
FLASHING SIGN An illuminated sign, the illumination of which is not kept constant in intensity at all times when in use. Illuminated signs that indicate the time, temperature, weather or similar public service information shall not be considered flashing signs.
FREESTANDING OR GROUND SIGN Any sign supported by permanent structures or supports that are placed on or anchored in the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure, including both monument signs and pylon signs.
ILLUMINATED SIGN A sign which is lighted by a self-contained interior light or by lights projected or directed onto it.
INCIDENTAL SIGN A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary to the use of the lot on which it is located, such as parking, directional and warning signs, and signs reading "loading only," "telephone," "open/closed," "hours of operation" and other similar directives. No sign with a commercial message legible from a position off the lot on which the sign is located shall be considered incidental.
INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN Any sign whose sole source of artificial illumination is contained within the display portion of the sign, including neon-type signs and internally and backlit signs.
MARQUEE A type of canopy with a permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of the building and possibly supported in part from the ground, generally constructed above an entrance.
MARQUEE SIGN Any sign attached to, in any manner, or made a part of a marquee.
MONUMENT SIGN A type of freestanding sign in which the base of the sign, or the bottom of the sign itself, is close to or in contact with the ground.
NAMEPLATE SIGN A sign which states the name or address, or both, of the occupant of the premises where the sign is located and not exceeding 1 1/2 square feet in area.
NEON SIGN Self-luminous electric signs usually constructed of glass tubing containing a vapor or gas configured to form a display or lettering.
OFFICIAL SIGN Any sign, symbol or device erected and maintained by the federal government, State of New Jersey, County of Essex, Township of Bloomfield or a public utility for the purpose of informing or guiding the public or for the protection and promotion of the health, safety, convenience and general welfare of the public.
OVERHANGING SIGN A sign suspended from a marquee, awning, canopy or a wooden or metallic bar where such sign is located within the public right-of-way or other than parallel to the facade.
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, but not necessarily, in series, designed to move in the wind.
PERSON Any individual, association, company, corporation, firm, organization, partnership, or governmental entity.
POLITICAL SIGN A sign advancing the candidacy of any candidate or group of candidates for public office or a cause subject to political judgment.
PORTABLE SIGN Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designated to be transported, including but not limited to signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; A-frames and sandwich board signs; balloons used as signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business.
PROFESSIONAL SIGN A sign listing only the name, profession and/or specialty of each practitioner.
PROJECTING SIGN Any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than one foot beyond the surface of such building or wall.
PUMP ISLAND CANOPY SIGN A flush-mounted sign on the vertical surface and canopy, which is the ornamental or protective roof-like structure erected above the pumps of a gasoline station.
PYLON SIGN A type of freestanding sign with which the signboard is mounted on one or more poles or other support which elevates the signboard six feet or more above grade.
REAL ESTATE SIGN A temporary sign placed upon the property for the purpose of advertising to the public the availability for sale, rent or lease of said property.
ROOF SIGN Any sign erected, constructed and maintained upon or over the roof of any building with the principal support of the roof structure or parapet wall.
SETBACK The distance from the property line to the nearest part of the applicable building, structure or sign, measured perpendicularly to the property line.
SHOPPING CENTER OR MALL A building or group of related buildings of more than three units having a common entrance or with more than one entrance not on a public road or highway.
SIGN And include every object, device, frame, figure, character, mark, point, fixture, graphic design, picture, stroke, stripe, trademark, model, emblem, placard, symbol, display, light, logo or reading matter which is used or intended to be used to advertise, identify, display, direct or attract attention to an object, person, institution, organization, business, product, service, event or location by any means, including words, letters, figures, designs, symbols, colors, illumination or projected images, when the same is placed in the view of the general public, either outdoors or indoors. Any of the above which is not placed out of doors, but which is illuminated with artificial or reflected color or otherwise made visible from out of doors, shall be considered a sign within the meaning of this chapter when placed in such a way as to be used to attract attention or convey information to motorists or pedestrians. Notwithstanding the above, storefront window displays shall not be deemed signs.
SIGN AREA The net geometric area enclosed by the display surface of the sign, including the outer extremities of all letters, characters and delineations, the surfaces upon which they are presented, voids between elements of the sign or any element of the display that goes beyond the primary surface, whichever is greatest; provided, however, that display surface area shall not include the structural supports for freestanding signs; provided, further, that only one face of a double-faced sign as defined shall be considered in determining the display surface area.
SIGN STRUCTURE The method employed to support any sign except a window sign.
TEMPORARY SIGN Any sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently mounted.
WALL SIGN Any sign that shall be affixed parallel to the wall or printed or painted on the wall of any building in such a manner as to read parallel to the wall on which it is mounted; provided, however, said wall sign shall not project above the top of the wall or beyond the end of the building. For the purposes of this chapter, any sign display surface that is affixed flat against the sloping surface of a mansard roof shall be considered a wall sign.
WINDOW A glass area presented to the public for purposes of display. For glass storefronts made up of multiple window panes, each pane shall be deemed a separate window.
WINDOW SIGN A sign, pictures, symbol, or combination thereof, designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale or service, that is placed upon a window pane and is visible from the exterior of the window.