Definitions. As used in this article, unless the context otherwise
indicates, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ABANDONED SIGN
A sign which advertises or identifies a business establishment,
product or activity not legally established, that has ceased or that
is no longer in operation.
AREA
The number of square feet within the perimeter of one continuous
rectangle enclosing the face of a sign. Except in the case of a wall-mounted
sign, "area" includes the surface of all integral color, framing or
other design feature by which the sign is differentiated from the
structure supporting it or upon which it is erected.
ATTACHED SIGN
An on-premises sign that is attached to a building wall or
other surface. Awning signs, canopy signs, window signs, projecting
signs, suspended signs and wall signs are all considered attached
signage.
AWNING SIGN (ON-PREMISES)
An on-premises attached sign displayed, attached to or incorporated
into the surface of an architectural projection or shelter projecting
from and supported by the exterior wall of a building and composed
of a covering of nonrigid materials, and/or fabric on a supporting
framework that may be either permanent or retractable. Such sign shall
be considered a wall sign.
BANNER
A temporary sign made of a flexible material such as canvas,
sailcloth, plastic or waterproof paper.
BILLBOARD
A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity,
service, organization or entertainment conducted, sold or offered
at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located.
BUILDING FRONTAGE
The total length in linear feet of an establishment's portion
of a building that fronts directly on a street, regardless of whether
such portion of the building is functionally the front, rear, end
or side of the building. Buildings with no street frontage shall use
the linear frontage of the building's principal entrance. Buildings
can have multiple fronts.
CANOPY
A structure, either detached from or attached to and extending
from the enclosed portion of a building and used principally to provide
shelter in connection with activities conducted in the principal building.
This definition includes but is not limited to fuel station, bank
and pharmacy canopies. Such sign shall be considered a wall sign.
COMMERCIAL
That which relates to a for-profit business organization
engaging in the sale, rental, lease or exchange of goods, products,
services or properties of any kind.
CONSTRUCTION/DEVELOPMENT SIGN
A sign erected or maintained on the premises temporarily
while undergoing construction by an architect, contractor, subcontractor,
developer or finance organization, or other type of affiliation with
the construction, at which location such individual is furnishing
labor, materials or services and bearing the name(s) of the same.
Such signs shall be considered a temporary sign.
DECORATIVE FLAG
A specific type of flag which is distinguished from the general
definition of "flag" in that it does not relate to any government,
political subdivision or other entity.
DIRECTORY SIGN
A sign, either freestanding or wall-mounted, listing the
location of activities, services, addresses and/or tenants within
a multitenant/multiuse development, incidental to the property it
is located on, but not intended to advertise the use in any manner.
ELECTRONIC MESSAGE BOARD
A sign, or portion of a sign, that displays an electronic
image and/or video, which may or may not include text. Such signs
include any sign, or portion of a sign, that uses changing lights
to form a sign message or messages or uses electronic means to change
the sign message. Electronic message boards include but are not limited
to signs also known as "electronic reader boards," "electronic message
center signs," "tri-panel message systems" and "commercial electronic
variable message signs (CEVMS)." Electronic message signs are not
considered flashing signs.
ERECT
To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix,
and shall also include the painting of wall signs.
FACADE
The entire building wall, including the wall face, parapet,
fascia, windows, door and canopy of an elevation of the building.
FACING or SURFACE
The surface of the sign upon, against or through which the
message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.
FLAG
Any fabric, banner or bunting, containing distinctive colors,
patterns or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision
or other entity.
FREESTANDING SIGN
An on-premises sign, identifying the principal use conducted
on the lot where the sign is located, that is placed on or anchored
in the ground with one or more supports and that is not part of a
building or other structure. Freestanding signs can also be referred
to as ground, monument, pole or pylon signs.
GOVERNMENT SIGN
Any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained for
any government purposes other than signs placed on the premises of
a publicly owned building or structure or other land use designed
to identify the land use to the public. Examples of government signs
include, but are not limited to, speed limit signs, city limit and
welcome signs, street name signs and traffic signs. Conversely, a
sign placed at a public building such as a library, school or safety
building, which identifies said building, shall not be considered
a government sign.
HANGING or SUSPENDED SIGN
An on-premises attached sign that is suspended from the underside
of a horizontal plane surface or arm, such as a canopy or marquee,
and is supported by such surface.
HISTORIC MARKERS
Signs approved by the Town Council that explain the historical
facts or events or locations.
HOME OCCUPATION SIGN
A sign used in conjunction with a home occupation that conforms
to home occupation regulations in the Zoning Code. One permanent sign
not exceeding three square feet is allowed.
ILLEGAL SIGN
Any sign placed, erected or installed without proper approval
or permits from the Town or not in compliance with the regulations
set forth in this section.
ILLUMINATED SIGN
Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs
or outlines illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as a
part of the sign proper.
ILLUMINATION, EXTERNAL
Illumination of a sign face or graphic element from a shielded
light source that is not internal to the sign itself.
ILLUMINATION, INTERNAL
A light source concealed or contained within the sign which
becomes visible by shining through a translucent surface, letter or
graphic image.
INCOMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL
Any material which will not ignite at or below a temperature
of 1,200° F. and will not continue to burn or glow at that temperature.
MAINTENANCE
The normal and routine cleaning, as needed, painting, repair
or replacement of defective parts of a sign in a manner that does
not alter the basic copy, design, size or structure of the sign.
MARQUEE SIGN
Any sign affixed to a marquee or canopy over the entrance
to a building, extending wholly or in part across the sidewalk and
supported from the building.
MENU BOARD SIGN
A sign displaying the bill of fare of a drive-in or drive-through
restaurant, generally adjacent to the front entry.
MESSAGE
A communication, statement or display of information or ideas
through written words, letters, numerals, symbols, images, colors,
illumination or theme comprising the face of a sign. The message may
be distinguishable from the structural and supportive elements of
the sign.
MONUMENT SIGN
A freestanding sign where the supporting structure of the
sign face is architecturally and aesthetically integrated into the
overall design of the sign. The base of the supporting structure is
embellished to conceal all structural or support members. The perimeter
of said sign is landscaped to enhance the area adjacent to the sign.
Eighty percent of the base supporting structure shall be in contact
with the ground. The sign face should be solid and is not intended
to be a pole-type design.
NEON SIGN
A sign using neon gas tubing as a light source.
NONCONFORMING SIGN
A sign which lawfully existed prior to April 10, 2012, and
does not conform to this chapter.
ON-PREMISES SIGN
A sign displaying information pertaining only to a business,
industry, activity or profession located on the premises where the
sign is displayed and pertaining only to the name of the business,
type of product sold, manufactured or assembled, and/or service, activity
or entertainment offered on said premises, including business identification
and occupancy signs.
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.
POLITICAL SIGN
A temporary sign used in connection with a local, state or
national election or referendum.
PORTABLE SIGN
A sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent
structure, including but not limited to signs with attached wheels,
A-frame signs, umbrellas used for advertising, signs attached or painted
on vehicles parked and visible from a street, unless said vehicle
is used as a vehicle in the normal day-to-day operations of the business
it advertises and is parked on the same zoning lot as the business.
A sandwich board sign as defined by and in conformance with this article
is not considered a portable sign.
PREMISES
A recorded lot or, in the case of a multi-occupant lot such
as a shopping center, office park or industrial park, the total area
of the development under common ownership, leasehold or other assignment
of interest in real property which is used as a unified parcel.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that
its leading edge extends more than six inches beyond the surface of
such building or wall.
REVERSE CHANNEL WALL SIGN
Individual copy lettering or sign components that are individually
mounted directly on the wall having lighting concealed within the
letter or number so that light reflects off the wall (i.e., reverse
lighting), creating a "halo" effect.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign erected, constructed or maintained upon the roof
of any building.
SANDWICH BOARD
A single- or double-faced moveable sign that is intended
to be used on a sidewalk or pedestrian way in front of the business
for which the commercial message is intended.
SIGN
Includes every sign, billboard, ground sign, wall sign, roof
sign, illuminated sign, projecting sign, temporary sign, marquee,
awning, canopy, and street clock, and shall include any announcement,
declaration, demonstration, display illustration or insignia used
to advertise or promote the interests of any person when the same
is placed out of doors in view of the general public.
SIGN FACE
The portion of the sign on which copy is displayed, and shall
not include the base or foundation of the monument sign.
SIGN OWNER
For the purposes of this section the owner/tenant/person(s)
responsible for the installation, erection, mounting, maintenance
and/or repair of the sign shall be considered the sign owner.
SIGN, ANIMATED
Any sign which flashes, revolves, rotates or swings by mechanical
means or which uses a change of lighting to depict action or to create
a special effect or scene.
STRUCTURAL TRIM
The molding, battens, cappings, nailing strips, latticing,
and platforms which are attached to the sign structure.
SUSPENDED SIGN
An on-premises attached sign that is suspended from the underside
of a horizontal plane surface or arm, such as a canopy or marquee,
and is supported by such surface.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign intended for temporary use with a permitted duration
period.
WALL SIGN
An on-premises sign affixed to or painted on the wall sign
installed or erected parallel (within six inches of a wall) to the
facade of any building upon which it is attached and designed to be
in proportion to the architectural facade or wall upon which it is
fastened and not projecting or extending above the building's roof
or parapet line. Wall signs shall include all signs such as awning/canopy
signs, marquee signs or any other similar signs, but shall not include
window signs as herein defined. This does not include any sign painted
directly on the wall of any building.
WINDOW SIGN
An on-premises sign located within a window or upon the inside
surface or outside surface of the window glass used to attract such
attention located within the premises. Signs which are located within
12 inches of the face of a window opening shall be considered a window
sign. Window sign area shall not include signage displaying business
hours of operation, credit card logos or open/closed designation if
said sign does not exceed two square feet.
WINDOW SIGN AREA
The total area of the imaginary rectangles contiguous to
and surrounding each word, picture, logo, logotype, symbol, banding
or graphic, as a percentage of the total ground or second floor window
area of the premises as it may apply in accordance to this section.