Definitions. The following definitions shall apply in interpretation
and enforcement of this Chapter unless otherwise specifically stated:
ABANDONED SIGN
A sign which no longer correctly directs or exhorts any person,
advertises a bona fide business, lessor, owner, project or activity
conducted or product available on the premises where such sign is
displayed.
ANIMATED SIGNS
Any sign which includes action or motion. For purposes of
this Chapter, this term does not refer to flashing or changing, all
of which are separately defined.
BANNER
A sign made of fabric, plastic, paper or other light pliable
material, not enclosed in a rigid frame and characteristically suspended
along or across a public street.
BILLBOARD (OFF-PREMISES SIGN)
A sign structure advertising an establishment, merchandise,
service, or entertainment, which is not sold, produced, manufactured,
or furnished at the property on which said sign is located, such as
billboards or outdoor advertising signage.
CANOPY
Any structure attached to a building at the inner end and
supported on the other end, or a freestanding structure, with one
(1) or more supports, meant to provide shelter from weather elements
onto which signs may be affixed or incorporated.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN (MANUAL)
A sign on which copy is changed manually in the field, i.e.,
reader boards with changeable letters or changeable pictorial panels.
CHANGING SIGN (AUTOMATIC)
A sign such as an electronically or electrically controlled
public service time, temperature and date sign, message center or
reader board, where different copy changes are shown on the same lamp
bank.
CHURCH BULLETIN BOARD
A sign attached to the exterior of a church or located elsewhere
on church premises and used to indicate the services and/or other
activities of the church and including the church name, if desired.
CITY
The City of Edmundson.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The officially designated representative of the City of Edmundson
responsible for the enforcement of the sign ordinance and other ordinances.
COPY
The wording or graphics on a sign surface.
DISTRICT
As defined under the zoning ordinance and Zoning District
Map.
ERECT
To build, construct, reconstruct, attach, hang, rehang, alter,
place, affix, enlarge, move or relocate and includes the painting
and repainting of existing sign structures.
FACADE
The front or main part of a building facing a street; for
purposes of this Chapter, the facade is defined as measured from the
ground elevation to the head beam.
FACE OF SIGN
The entire area of a sign on which copy could be placed.
The area of a sign which is visible from one (1) direction as projected
on a plane.
FLASHING SIGN
Any sign which contains an intermittent or flashing light
source, or which includes the illusion of intermittent or flashing
light by means of animation, or an externally mounted intermittent
light source. Automatic changing signs such as public service time,
temperature and date signs or electronically controlled message centers
are not classed as "Flashing Signs".
FRONTAGE
The length of the lot along the street side. The front of
a lot bordering more than one (1) street is considered separate for
each street.
HEIGHT OF SIGN
The vertical distance measured from the surrounding grade
to the highest point of sign.
ILLEGAL SIGNS
A sign which contravenes this Chapter, or a non-conforming
sign for which a permit required under a previous ordinance was not
obtained.
LOGO
A letter, character or symbol used to represent a person,
corporation or business enterprise.
LOT
A parcel, tract, plot or area of land accessible by means
of a street or other permanently reserved principal means of access.
It may be a single parcel separately described in a deed or plat which
is recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Deeds, or it may
include parts of or a combination of such parcels when adjacent to
one another and used as one (1) as determined by the Code Enforcement
Officer.
OWNER
A person recorded as such on official records and including
duly authorized agent or notary, a purchaser, lessee, devisee, judiciary;
any person having a vested or contingent interest in the property
or business in question.
PERSON
Any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or organization of any kind.
PREMISES
An area of land with its appurtenances and buildings which,
because of its unity of use, may be regarded as the smallest conveyable
unit of real estate.
READER BOARD
Any sign that has changeable or removable lettering.
ROOFLINE
The highest point of the coping on a flat roof, false mansard,
or parapet wall; the deckline of a true mansard roof; the ridgeline
between the upper and lower slopes of a gambrel roof; or the mean
height level between the eaves and ridge for a gable or hip roof.
SEASONAL DISPLAY
Decorations and displays celebrating or denoting religious
holidays or events, the seasons of the year, State and national holidays
and similar occasions; provided however, that this shall not include
pennants, non-permitted fluttering flags or similar materials prohibited
herein. Such seasonal displays may be in place for a period not longer
than sixty (60) days. Such seasonal displays shall be removed no later
than thirty (30) days after the holiday or event regardless of the
total number of days that such seasonal displays were in place. If
any seasonal display conveys a commercial message or bears the name
of the business, it shall be considered and regulated as a "Seasonal
or Special Occasion Temporary Sign".
SEASONAL OR SPECIAL OCCASION TEMPORARY SIGNS
Non-permanent signs not exceeding thirty-two (32) square feet limited to a specific activity, special event, holiday, demonstration or the promotion of civil welfare or charitable purposes. Such temporary signs may be in place for a period not longer than thirty (30) days or as otherwise allowed by permit in accordance with Section
410.130(B) of this Chapter.
SETBACK
The minimum horizontal distance between either the face or
curb, the edge of pavement, or the right-of-way line and the sign
structure as specified in a particular Section of this Chapter.
SHOPPING CENTER
A building containing four (4) or more shops, stores, and
other places of business and providing off-street parking facilities
in common for all of the businesses and their customers.
SHOW WINDOW SIGN
Any temporary sign advertising sales or specials attached
to or within three (3) feet of the glass surface of any fixed window
(glazing) visible from a public right-of-way.
SIGN
Any identification, description, illustration or device illuminated
or non-illuminated which is visible from any public place or is located
on private property and exposed to the public and which directs attention
to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business
or solicitation, including any permanently installed or situated merchandise
or any emblem, painting, banner, pennant or placard designed to advertise,
identify or convey information, with the exception of window displays
and national flags. For the purpose of removal, signs shall also include
all sign structures. Not included are decorative devices or emblems
as may be displayed on a residential mailbox. For the purposes of
this Chapter, this definition shall include those signs painted directly
upon a building or other structure.
SIGN AREA
The area of the sign face. The "sign area" of a multi-faced sign is the sum of the sign areas of each face,
including structural trim which can be seen from a single location
on an adjacent street. If a sign is attached to a building or suspended
in any manner whereby there is no apparent trim or confining border,
the sign area shall be computed by drawing an imaginary straight line
around a generally rectangular margin and measuring the area so encompassed
upon a building or other structure.
SIGN, ATTACHED
A sign erected or placed upon the wall of any building with
the plane of the face parallel to the plane of the wall below the
roofline.
SIGN, COMMERCIAL DIRECTORY
A permanent pole sign designating the name of a commercial
center and listing the various tenants of the center.
SIGN, CONSTRUCTION
A temporary sign used during construction of new buildings
or reconstruction of or additions to existing buildings, such as those
identifying the project and denoting the owner, architect, engineer,
contractor, and/or financing institutions of the project
SIGN, DIRECTIONAL
A sign which indicates a direction for vehicular or pedestrian
traffic or other movement.
SIGN, FLUTTERING
A sign which flutters and includes banners, flags, pennants,
or other flexible material which moves with the wind or by some artificial
means.
SIGN, GROUND
Any detached sign on the same lot or parcel as the use it
advertises which has its bottom portion erected upon or supported
by the ground, a ground planter box, or other supports.
SIGN, HANGING
Any sign hanging entirely beneath a canopy, portico or marquee.
SIGN, ILLUMINATED
Any sign which is illuminated by light sources mounted on
or in the sign or at some other location.
SIGN, MEMORIAL OR TABLETS
The permanent part of a building which denotes the name of
the building, date of erection, historical significance, dedication,
or other similar information.
SIGN, NON-CONFORMING
A sign legally erected under the previously existing ordinances
of the City, but which does not conform to the provisions of this
Chapter.
SIGN, POLE
Any detached sign located on the same lot or parcel as the
use it advertises which is supported by one (1) or more stationary
poles longer than thirty (30) feet above the mean grade line of the
ground at its base provided that this shall not include a permitted
ground sign as set forth.
SIGN, POLITICAL
A temporary sign advocating or opposing any political proposition
or candidate for public office.
SIGN, PROJECT IDENTIFICATION
A permanent ground sign identifying an apartment complex,
condominium project, or mobile home development entry, name, and/or
street names within the project.
SIGN, PROJECTING
Any sign which projects more than twelve (12) inches beyond
the plane of the wall on which the sign is erected or attached.
SIGN, PROPERTY REAL ESTATE
A sign pertaining only to the prospective rental, lease or
sale of the property upon which it is located. Real estate signs shall
be excluded from the definition of pole signs.
SIGN, RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Any temporary sign that provides direction to any residential
development under construction or promotes the residential development
on the project site.
SIGN, ROOF
Any sign erected on a roof but excluding marquee and canopy
signs and wall signs. The generally vertical plane of a mansard-type
roof shall be interpreted as the same as a wall of a building.
SIGN STRUCTURE
The sign and all parts associated with its construction.
SIGN SUPPORTS
All structures by which a sign is held up, including, for
example, poles, braces, guys and anchors.
SIGN, TEMPORARY
Any sign intended for a limited or intermittent period of
display.
STANDARD OUTDOOR ADVERTISING STRUCTURE AND/OR BILLBOARD
All signs which advertise products or businesses which are
not located on the same premises as the sign. This includes billboards,
detached pole signs on separate parcels, wall signs and signs otherwise
attached to buildings and/or supported by uprights or braces on the
ground. Real estate signs and political signs are excluded from this
definition.
STREET
A public thoroughfare which affords the principal means of
access to abutting property.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign which is not permanent and is allowed for a specific
time period.
USE
The purpose for which a building, lot, sign or other structure
is arranged, intended, designed, occupied or maintained.
ZONING ORDINANCE
The zoning ordinance of the City of Edmundson and the current
Zoning District Map related thereto.