The following definitions are used in this article. (Note: Not all
types of signs defined herein are permitted under this article.)
ABANDONED SIGN
A sign which no longer correctly advertises a bona fide business,
owner, landlord/tenant, product or activity conducted, or product
available on the premises where the sign is displayed or elsewhere.
ANIMATED SIGN
Any sign or part of a sign which changes physical position
by movement or rotation or gives the illusion of such change of physical
position.
AREA OF COPY
The entire area within a single continuous perimeter composed
of squares or rectangles which encloses the extreme limits of an advertising
message, announcement or decoration.
AREA OF SIGN
The area is the perimeter which forms the outside shape,
but excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign
may be placed unless they are designed as part of the sign. If the
sign consists of more than one section or module, all areas will be
totaled. The area of an irregularly shaped sign shall be computed
using the actual sign face surface.
AWNING
A movable hood or cover which projects from the wall of the
building, which can be retracted, folded or collapsed against the
face of a supporting structure. For purposes of this article, an "awning
sign" is any awning. Decorative awnings without lettering or imagery
are not considered signs.
BANNER
A banner sign is generally constructed of a flexible nonrigid
material (i.e., canvas, cloth, plastic, etc.) upon which goods, events
or advertising has been placed, mounted to a pole or a building by
a permanent frame at one or more edges. National flags, state or municipal
flags, or the official flag of any institution or business shall not
be considered banners.
BILLBOARD
A flat surface, as of a panel, wall or fence, on which signs
are posted advertising goods, products, facilities or services not
necessarily on the premises where the sign is located or which directs
persons to a different location from where the sign is located.
BLANKETING
The unreasonable obstruction of view of a sign caused by
the placement of another sign.
BUILDING FRONT
The horizontal, linear dimension of that side of a building
which faces a street, a parking area, a mall, or other circulation
area open to the general public; and having either a main window display
of the enterprise or a public entrance to the building. (In industrial
districts, a building side with an entrance open to industrial employees
also shall qualify as a building front.)
BULLETIN BOARD
A sign used for the purpose of notification to the public
of an event or occurrence of public interest, such as a church service,
political rally, civic meeting or other similar event.
CANOPY
Any structure of canvas, other fabric, plastic, metal or
wood or other material which is permanently attached to any exterior
building wall in any manner, intended to shield any wall, window,
door, sidewalk or roadway from sun, rain or any other element, and
which is not retractable such as an awning.
CANOPY SIGN
Any sign attached to or constructed in, on or under a canopy
for the purpose of this article; canopy signs shall be controlled
by the rules governing projecting signs.
CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGN
A sign such as a manual, electronic- or electric-controlled
time-and-temperature sign message center or a reader board, whether
electronic or manual, where copy changes. Any sign may be, or include
as part of it, a changeable message sign.
COPY AREA
The geometric area in square feet that encloses the actual
copy message of the sign.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
Any sign that directs the movement or placement of pedestrian
or vehicular traffic on a lot and does not contain any advertising
copy.
DIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign designed to give any artificial light directly through
any transparent or translucent material from a source of light originating
within or on such sign.
DIRECTORY SIGN
Any sign on which the names and locations of occupants or
the use of a building is given. This shall include offices and church
directories. Directory signs shall be encouraged for use with advertising
of multiple-occupied commercial and industrial buildings.
DISPLAY SURFACE OR FACE
The display surface is the area made available by the sign
structure for the purpose of displaying the advertising message or
which is intended to draw attention to the advertising message.
DISTANCE OF SIGN PROJECTION
The distance from the exterior wall surface of the building
to the outer extremity of a sign attached to a building.
ELECTRIC SIGN
Any sign containing internal electrical wiring which is attached
or intended to be attached to an electrical energy source.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE UNIT SIGN
Any sign whose message may be changed by electronic process,
including such messages as copy, art, graphics, time, date, temperature,
weather or information concerning civic, charitable or the advertising
of products or services for sale on the premises. This also includes
traveling or segmented message displays.
FLASHING SIGN
Any directly or indirectly illuminated sign on which artificial
light is not maintained stationary and constant in intensity and color
at all times when in use.
GRADE
The elevation or level of the sidewalk closest to the sign
to which reference is made. If no sidewalk is present, then grade
shall be defined as the elevation or level of the street at the same
point, measured at the street's center line.
GROSS AREA
The area of a sign determined by using the outside perimeter
dimensions of the sign. If the sign consists of more than one module
or section, their areas will be totaled. If the modules are formed
in the shape of letters or symbols, the rules for area of copy apply.
GROUND SIGN
A sign supported by poles, uprights or braces extending from
the ground or an object on the ground but not attached to any part
of any building. Also known as a "freestanding sign."
HEIGHT OF SIGN
The vertical distance measured from the mean center-line
street grade to the highest point of the sign. If sign and sidewalk
are not in essentially parallel planes, then measured vertically at
the horizontal midpoint of the sign.
IDENTIFICATION SIGN
Any sign which carries only the name of the firm, major enterprise,
institution or principal products offered for sale on the premises,
or combination of these.
ILLUMINATED AWNING
An internally illuminated awning fabricated from a translucent
material or one which is backlighted as to appear to illuminate the
awning sign. An illuminated awning may be used for an awning sign
when other requirements are met.
ILLUMINATED CANOPY
An internally illuminated canopy or one which is backlighted
as to appear to illuminate the canopy sign.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting either
by lights on or in the sign or directed toward the sign.
JOINT IDENTIFICATION SIGN
A sign which serves a common or collective identification
for two or more businesses or industrial uses on the same lot. Such
sign may contain a directory to said uses as an integral part thereof.
LEGAL NONCONFORMING SIGN
Any sign which was already in existence and displayed on
the effective date of this article, which met Code requirements when
originally installed, but not meeting the requirements and limitations
of this article.
MARQUEE
A permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building
wall at an entrance to a building or extending along and projecting
beyond the building's wall and generally designed and constructed
to provide protection against weather.
MARQUEE SIGN
Any sign attached to or constructed in a marquee.
OFF-PREMISES THIRD-PARTY SIGN
Any sign, device or display which advertises goods other
than that commonly available or services other than that commonly
performed on the premises on which the sign is located.
ON-PREMISES SIGN
A sign identifying or advertising a business, person, activity,
goods, products or services located on a premises where the sign is
installed and maintained.
POLITICAL SIGN
Any sign displaying a candidate for an election or a current
referendum's or election's subject matter.
PORTABLE SIGN/MESSAGE BOARDS
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or a building
which is designed to be easily moved from one location to another.
PROJECTING SIGN
A sign other than a wall sign which projects from a wall
or roof and is supported by a wall or roof of a building. (See "wall
sign.")
PYLON SIGN
Any freestanding sign mounted on a pole or other pylon.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
Any sign which is used to offer for sale, lease or rent the
property upon which the sign is placed.
ROOFLINE
The highest point on any building where an exterior wall
encloses usable floor area, including roof area provided for housing
mechanical equipment.
ROOF SIGN
A sign erected upon or above the roofline or parapet of the
building or structure.
SANDWICH SIGN
A hinged or unhinged A-frame portable sign which is generally
temporary in nature and placed near the roadway.
SIGN
Any object or device or part thereof situated outdoors or
indoors which is 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, fixtures, colors, motion, illumination
or projected images.
SIGN CONTRACTOR
Any person, partnership or corporation engaged, in whole
or in part, in the business of erection or maintenance of signs, excluding
the business which the sign advertises.
SIGN INSPECTOR
That person charged with the responsibility to see that signage
in the community is installed and maintained in compliance with this
article. In the Village of Argyle, the sign inspector will be the
Zoning Administrator or Building Inspector.
SIGN PERMIT
A building permit issued for the erection, construction,
enlargement, alteration, moving, improvement, removal, conversion
or demolition of any sign, issued pursuant to this article and the
Building Code of the Village of Argyle.
SIGN STRUCTURE
Any supports, uprights, braces and framework of the sign
which does not include any portion of the sign message.
SWINGING SIGN
A sign installed on an arm or mast or spar that is not, in
addition, permanently fastened to an adjacent wall or upright pole
to limit or prevent free swinging.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign which is erected or displayed for a limited period
of time not to exceed 30 consecutive days or which is displayed only
during regular business hours and removed for storage at other times.
A temporary sign shall not exceed 32 square feet in area. Examples
of temporary signs include banners and decorative-type displays. For
purposes of this article, a portable sign is not a temporary sign.
THIRD-PARTY SIGN
Any sign which advertises or directs attention to a business,
commodity, service or activity conducted, sold or offered elsewhere
than on the lot on which said sign is located.
TIME-AND-TEMPERATURE SIGN
An electrically controlled sign displaying time and temperature
for public service information and may be incorporated into a business
identification sign.
WALL SIGN
Any sign attached to, erected on or painted on the wall of
a building or structure and projecting not more than 16 inches from
such wall.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign located completely within an enclosed building and
visible from a public way. For purposes of this article, a window
sign shall not include any sign permanently attached in the window
or directly painted on the glass.