Types of signs. The following words, terms and phrases regarding
types of signs, when used in this article, shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in this subsection, except where the context clearly
indicates a different meaning:
ACCESSORY SIGN and ON-PREMISES SIGN
A sign which advertises goods, services, facilities, events
or attractions pertaining to the principal use of the premises where
located. Accessory signs include wall signs, awnings, illuminated
signs, projecting signs, roof signs, marquee signs, ground signs and
directional signs.
AWNING
A roof-like structure, often made of canvas or plastic, that
serves as a shelter, decoration, or advertisement, as over a storefront,
window, door, or deck, which projects beyond the face of the building.
An awning by itself is not a sign. An awning with lettering, a logo,
or some form of advertising display is considered to be a sign.
FESTOON SIGN
A sign where incandescent lightbulbs, banners or pennants
or other such features are hung or strung overhead and are not an
integral physical part of the building or structure they are intended
to serve. Any electrical device shall be installed pursuant to the
City electrical code. Festoon signs shall be considered a temporary
sign.
FLASHING SIGN, ANIMATED SIGN and MOVING SIGN
A sign that intermittently reflects lights from either an
artificial source or from the sun or a sign which has movement of
any illumination such as intermittent, flashing, oscillating or varying
intensity or a sign that has any visible portion in motion, either
constantly or at intervals, which motion may be caused by either artificial
or natural sources.
GROUND SIGN
A sign not attached to any building and supported by uprights
or braces or some object on the ground. A pole sign is a ground sign.
A billboard is not considered a ground sign under this article.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs,
or outlines illuminated by an electric light or luminous tubes as
a part of the sign proper. An LED or digital sign is a type of illuminated
sign.
ILLUMINATED TRIM
Luminous tubes outlining windows, doors, or portions of buildings
not part of a sign.
MARQUEE SIGN
A sign on a marquee which is a rooflike structure, often
meant to bear a signboard, projecting over an entrance, such as to
a theater.
NAMEPLATE
An accessory sign stating the name or street number of a
person, firm, building or institution of a certain permitted use.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING SIGN
Any card, cloth, paper, metal, glass, wood, plaster, stone
or sign of other material or any kind, placed for outdoor advertising
purposes on the ground or on any tree, wall, bush, rock, post, fence,
building, structure, or thing whatsoever. The term "placed" as used
in this definition shall include erecting, construction, posting,
painting, printing, tacking, nailing, gluing, sticking, carving, or
other fastening, affixing or making visible in any manner whatsoever.
The following shall be excluded from this definition:
(1)
Signs not exceeding one square foot in area and bearing only
property numbers, postbox numbers, names of occupants or premises,
or other identification of premises not having commercial connotations.
(2)
Flags and insignia of any government except when displayed in
connection with commercial promotion.
(3)
Legal notices, identification, informational or directional
signs erected or required by governmental bodies.
(4)
Integral decorative or architectural features of buildings,
except letters, trademarks, moving parts, or moving lights.
(5)
Signs directing or guiding traffic and parking on private property,
but bearing no advertising matter.
POLITICAL SIGN
A sign relating to the election of a person to public office
or relating to a political party or relating to a matter to be voted
upon at an election called by a public body.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign which is not permanently affixed to a building,
structure or the ground or which is attached to a mobile vehicle.
The following are also considered as portable signs:
(1)
FREESTANDING SIGNA sign other than a ground sign which is not attached to a building and is capable of being moved from one location to another on the site on which it is located. Sandwich boards are considered freestanding signs.
(2)
INFLATABLE SIGNA sign that is either expanded to its full dimension or supported by gases contained within the sign or sign parts at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign which is attached to a building and extends beyond
the line of the building or beyond the surface of that portion of
the building to which it is attached more than 24 inches.
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT SIGN
A sign placed on the premises of a subdivision or other real
estate development to indicate a proposed start or to inform relative
to availability.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
A sign placed upon a property advertising that particular
property for sale, rent or lease.
ROOF SIGN
A sign erected, constructed and maintained above the roof
of any building.
SPECIAL EVENT SIGN
A sign made of wood, plastic, cardboard or paper, which is used to advertise a special event such as Feast of the St. Clair, Pow-Wow, art fairs, garage sales, etc. See §
52-813 for restrictions on special event signs.
SUBDIVISION SIGN
A sign which displays the name of the subdivision or multihousing
development. A permanent subdivision sign is a decorative ground sign
which is affixed on the premises as a landmark to indicate the name
of the subdivision or housing complex. A temporary subdivision sign
is a ground sign located on the premises during the construction,
development, or leasing stages, displayed as a short-term sign for
advertisement purposes.
SWINGING SIGN
A sign installed on an arm, mast, spar or building overhang
that is not rigidly attached to such arm, mast, spar or building overhang.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign with or without letters and numerals, such as window
signs in business and industrial districts, of lightweight cardboard,
cloth, plastic or paper materials and intended to be displayed for
special events, sales and notices. Temporary signs shall not be permanently
fastened to any structure, including posts with permanent footings,
and shall not be intended to have a useful life of more than 30 days.
A permit is required for the erection of a temporary sign if the sign
is in excess of 24 square feet in area and/or located outside of the
building.
WALL SIGN
A sign which is affixed to an exterior wall of any building,
when such sign shall project not more than 24 inches from the building
wall or parts thereof. A picture or mural painted on the side of a
building, with or without lettering, advertising a business or denoting
the nature of the business on said premises, is also considered a
wall sign for the purpose of this article.