The following words and phrases, when used in this article, shall
have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
A-FRAME SIGN
A portable sign having two separate surfaces meeting at the
top to form an "A" and supported on these surfaces without any support
by a pole.
ABANDONMENT
The relinquishment of property or the cessation of the use
of property or of a sign for 180 days by the owner with the intention
neither of sale or resuming the use of the property or sign.
ANIMATED SIGN
Any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict
action or create a special effect or scene.
BANNER
Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is
permanently 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.
BEACON
Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere
or directed at one or more points not on the same lot as the light
source; also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
BILLBOARD
A permanent sign which directs attention to a business, commodity,
service, or entertainment conducted, sold, or offered at a location
other than the premises on which the sign is located.
BUILDING MARKER
Any sign indicating the name of a building and date and incidental
information about its construction, which is cut into a masonry surface
or made of bronze or other permanent material.
BUILDING WIDTH
The horizontal distance of the building generally parallel
to the street right-of-way line at the front of such building.
BUS STOP SHELTER
Any structure used for the purpose of providing temporary
shelter for persons waiting for public transportation vehicles.
CANOPY OR AWNING SIGN
Any sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy,
or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door,
entrance, window, or outdoor service area.
CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN
A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations
that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or other
surface of the sign. A changeable copy sign may be incorporated as
part of another sign but shall not be used in addition thereto as
a separate sign. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an
electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be
considered a "time-and-temperature sign" and not a changeable copy
sign for purposes of this article.
CHANGEABLE ELECTRONIC VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGN (CEVMS)
Any sign which permits light to be turned on or off intermittently
or which is operated in a way whereby light is turned on or off intermittently,
including any illuminated sign on which such illumination is not kept
stationary or constant in intensity and color at all times when such
sign is in use, including an LED (light-emitting diode) or digital
sign, and which varies in intensity or color. A CEVMS sign does not
include a sign located within the right-of-way that functions as a
traffic control device.
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.
DIRECTOR
The Director of the Department of Licenses and Inspections
of the Township or his or her designee.
ESTABLISHMENT
An economic unit generally at a single physical location
where business is conducted, services provided, or industrial operations
are performed.
FREESTANDING SIGN
Any sign supported by structures or supports that is placed
on or anchored in the ground and that is independent from any building
or structure.
GROUND SIGN
A sign, other than a freestanding sign, placed upon or supported
by the ground, independent from any building or structure.
INCIDENTAL SIGN
A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary
to the use of the property on which it is located, such as "no parking,"
"entrance," "loading only," "telephone," and other similar directives.
No sign with a commercial message legible from a position off the
lot on which a sign is located shall be considered incidental.
INFLATABLE SIGN
An inflated object tethered or otherwise attached to the
ground, structure or other object. This definition includes, but is
not limited to, inflated representations of blimps, products, cartoon
characters, animals and the like.
LOT FRONTAGE
The length of the front lot line measured at the street right-of-way
line. The front of the building shall be the same side as that which
is designated the mailing address. In the case of a corner lot, the
side of the lot shall not be used to determine the size of the sign.
MARQUEE SIGN
Any permanent structure projecting beyond a building or extending
along and projecting beyond the wall of the building, generally designed
and constructed to provide protection from the weather, including
any sign attached to, in any manner, or made a part of a marquee.
Changeable copy is permitted for theaters and similar establishments
where it is required as a normal part of operating the establishment.
Marquee signs shall be permitted only for establishments whose operation
requires such signs.
NAMEPLATE SIGN
A sign indicating only the name and/or profession and address
of the person(s) residing or legally occupying the premises.
OFF-PREMISES SIGN
Any commercial sign, including human signs, advertising a
product, service, business or activity sold, located or conducted
elsewhere than on the premises on which the sign is located.
OFFICE CENTER
A group of establishments used primarily for conducting the
affairs of a business, profession, service, government or like activity
and managed as a single unit.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING DEVICE
Any outdoor sign, display, light, figure, painting, drawing,
message, poster, or billboard which is designed, intended, or used
to advertise or inform.
OVERHANG SIGN
A sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal
surface and is supported by such surface.
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 series, designed to move in the wind.
PORTABLE SIGN
Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other
permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including
but not limited to A-frame signs and signs designed to be transported
by means of wheels.
PRINCIPAL BUILDING
The building in which is conducted the principal use of the
lot. Lots with multiple principal uses may have multiple principal
buildings, but storage buildings, garages and other clearly accessory
uses shall not be considered principal buildings.
PROJECTING SIGN
Any sign, except for canopy and awning signs, affixed to
a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends
more than 12 inches beyond the surface of such building or wall.
ROOF SIGN
Any sign erected and constructed wholly on and over the eaves
of the roof of a building and supported by the roof structure.
SALES OR PRICE CHANGE SIGN
A type of sign which has a high message turnover, such as
those advertising "sales" and frequent price changes. These signs
are most commonly found on the inside of windows/doors of supermarkets,
grocery stores, and beverage distributors. In most cases, these signs
are constructed of paper, cardboard, or other lightweight materials.
SIGN STRUCTURE
The supports, uprights, braces, and framework of the sign.
TEMPORARY SIGN
Any sign that:
(1)
Is used in connection with an event, situation or circumstance
that is designed or intended to take place or be completed within
45 days after the sign is first displayed; or
(2)
Is intended to remain on the location where it is placed or
erected for not more than 45 days, and which may be used only for
45 days before as well as for the duration of the event, situation,
or circumstance in connection with which it is to be used, and must
be removed within seven days after completion of the event, situation,
or circumstance in connection with which it is to be used.
WALL SIGN
Any sign, except for a bus stop shelter advertisement, attached
parallel to but within 12 inches of a wall, or erected and confined
within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure,
which is supported by such wall or building.
WINDOW SIGN
Any sign, pictures, symbol or combination thereof, designed
to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity,
event, sale or service that is placed inside a window or upon the
window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.