As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have these prescribed meanings:
ABANDONED SIGNSigns that falsely advertise that an activity, business, product or service is sold or conducted on the premises upon which the sign is located and thereby misdirect traffic. Such signs, including the sign structures, are not permitted in the City and shall be removed within thirty (30) days of written notification to the owner of the premises.
AWNINGA fixed or retractable structure entirely supported by a wall or canopy to which it is attached and which is covered by canvas, cloth or other similar temporary material.
BILLBOARDAny sign which: (i) is located on a lot not containing a building; (ii) is visible from any point of the travelled ways of an interstate or primary highway; and (iii) is not a roof, post, monument or projecting sign. Also known as a standard outdoor advertising structure.
CANOPYA roofed structure other than an awning attached to a building at one (1) side and supported on the other sides. A portico shall be considered a canopy for the purposes of this Chapter.
CHANNEL LETTER SIGNA fabricated three (3) dimensional metal or translucent letter which includes a light source and a translucent face. Channel letters are mounted to a wall.
CITYThe City of Town and Country, Missouri
CITY ADMINISTRATORThe City Administrator or his/her designee or other City-authorized agent appointed by the City Administrator.
DIGITAL SIGNA sign that has static messages and changes messages by any electronic process or remote control.
DIRECTIONAL SIGNA sign which indicates a direction for vehicular or pedestrian traffic or other movement.
ERECTTo install, build, construct, attach, hang, rehang, place, affix, or relocate and includes the painting and repainting of signs.
ESTABLISHMENTA single building in which one (1) or more business activities are conducted, provided, however, that when a building is divided into separate parts by unpierced walls extending from the floor to the ceiling, and each part has an exterior entrance, then each part is a separate establishment.
FLASHING SIGNAn illuminated sign on which light, images or information is not steady, but which changes, including changes in color.
FLUTTERING SIGN, TEMPORARYA temporary sign which flutters, and includes flags, pennants, balloons, and banners, which moves with the wind.
FREESTANDING SIGNA sign erected and maintained on a freestanding frame, mast or pole not attached to any building, and not including ground mounted signs.
GLAREIntense and distracting light that can create discomfort for an observer with a direct line of sight to a light source.
GOVERNMENTAL SIGNA governmental sign is a sign that is constructed, placed or maintained by the Federal, State or local government or a sign that is required to be constructed, placed or maintained by the Federal, State, or local government either directly or to enforce a property owner's rights.
GROUND SIGNA sign which has its bottom portion erected upon or supported by the ground, a ground planter box or other supports. A ground sign shall not be supported by visible poles.
HANGING SIGNA sign which hangs more than eight (8) inches beyond the plane of the wall on which it is erected or attached, and which has its message perpendicular to the vertical axis of the wall.
ILLUMINATED SIGNA sign which is illuminated by light sources located on, in, or external to, the sign.
INCIDENTAL SIGNA sign which is too small to be legible from a position off the premises and in the interior of a building, not visible from the exterior of the building.
INTEGRAL SIGNA sign that is embedded, extruded or carved into the material of a building facade. A sign made of bronze, brushed stainless steel or aluminum, or other similar material attached to the building facade.
LETTERTypically a symbol or character representing a unit of the alphabet. This may also include a number, logo, emblem, trademark or icon.
LICENSED SIGN ERECTORA person, his/her agents and employees, who have secured a sign erector's license issued by St. Louis County or other governmental agencies.
MARQUEEA permanent structure supported entirely or largely by the building and which projects from the wall of the building.
MOVING SIGNA sign, all or any part of which moves by any means. Such sign does not include a fluttering sign.
NON-CONFORMING SIGNA sign which existed lawfully, whether by variance or otherwise, on the date this Chapter or any amendment thereto became effective, and which fails to conform to one (1) or more regulations and requirements in this Chapter or such amendments thereto.
OFF-SITE SIGNA sign located on property not owned or leased by the owner of the sign.
ON-SITE SIGNA sign located on property owned or leased by the owner of the sign.
ORIGINAL ART DISPLAYA hand-painted work of visual art that is either affixed to or painted directly on the exterior wall of a structure with the permission of the property owner. An original art display does not include; mechanically produced or computer generated print images, including but not limited to digitally printed vinyl; electrical or mechanical components; or changing image art display.
PAINTED SIGNAny sign, not considered an original art display, that is hand-painted on the wall of a building.
PERMANENT SIGNA sign that is rigidly and durably installed into or on the ground or attached to a building and is not intended to be temporary.
PERMANENT WINDOW SIGNA sign of permanent construction materials that is permanently affixed to either side of the glass of an exterior door or window. For the purpose of this Chapter, a glass block wall shall be deemed a window.
POLE SIGNA permanent sign erected on a vertical framework consisting of one (1) or more sign supports supported by the ground, not a mandatory sign or stake sign.
PORTABLE SIGNA sign which is not securely affixed to the ground or otherwise affixed in a permanent manner to an approved supporting structure, which can be carried, towed, hauled or driven and is primarily designed to be moved rather than be limited to a fixed location regardless of modifications that limit its movability.
PORTICOA structure consisting of a roof supported by columns at regular intervals, typically attached as a porch to a building.
PREMISESThat portion of a lot or building occupied by a single occupant, exclusive of common area, if any, shared with adjacent occupants. Permitted sign area shall be separately calculated for multi-tenant commercial buildings only when said tenants have a separate entrance for their exclusive use. If the building is permitted a ground sign, the permitted sign area for tenants shall be reduced accordingly.
PROJECTING SIGNA sign which projects more than eight (8) inches beyond the plane of the wall on which the sign is erected or attached.
REVERSE CHANNEL SIGNA sign that has opaque channel letter faces and sides with illumination inside the letter cavity that shines out the back of the letter. These back lit letters are mounted away from the wall so a halo forms behind them. A clear polycarbonate back shall be installed to prevent animals from nesting inside the letter. These types of signs are also called "halo lit" or "backlit" letters.
ROOF SIGNA sign erected on a roof, including mansard-style roof. Marquee, canopy, wall, or hanging signs which do not project more than twelve (12) inches above a parapet wall shall not be construed as a roof sign, provided, however, that the projection above said parapet wall shall not exceed the amount of the sign below the parapet wall level. The generally vertical plane of a mansard type roof shall be interpreted as a wall of a building.
SIGNA device, a structure or part of a structure, including structural trim, or monument used to display or communicate information of any kind.
SIGN AREAThe area of the sign face, which is the surface of a sign including structural trim (molding, battens, cappings, nailing strips, latticing and platforms which are attached to the sign structure), which can be seen from a single location on an adjacent street provided that the ends, or thickness, of a sign shall not be counted as separate sign facing or surface unless more than six (6) inches thick.
SIGN STRUCTUREThe sign and all parts associated with its construction.
SIGN SUPPORTSAll structures by which a sign is elevated, including, for example, pedestals, bases, poles, braces, guys and anchors.
STAKE SIGNA temporary sign with a base/stake commonly made of metal, wood, or other similar material.
TEMPORARYA limited period of time that is not permanent.
TEMPORARY SIGNA sign intended for a limited or intermittent period of display.
TEMPORARY WINDOW SIGNA sign of paper, cardboard, canvas, cloth or other non-permanent materials visible through an exterior window or door glass.
WALL SIGNA sign attached to, integrated with, or embedded/carved into the wall of any building or against the generally vertical plane of a mansard type roof with the plane of the sign area parallel to the plane of the wall below the roof line. This may also include a sign made of bronze, brushed stainless steel or aluminum, or other similar material attached to the building facade.
WINDOW SIGNAny sign which is posted on, painted on, or otherwise constantly attached to and is visible through a display window.
ZONING CODEThe Zoning Code of the City and the Zoning District Map related thereto.