"Abandoned sign"means a sign that was legally erected, but for a period of 90 days or more: use of the sign has ceased; the sign has not been used to identify an ongoing business, product, or service available on-site; or the structure upon which the display is placed has been abandoned or not maintained.
"A-frame sign"means a freestanding sign usually hinged at the top, or attached in a similar manner, and widening at the bottom to form a shape similar to the letter A. Such signs are usually designed to be portable, hence they are not considered permanent signs.
"Alteration"means any change of copy, sign face, color, size, shape, illumination, position, location, construction, or support of any sign or advertising device.
"Animated sign"means any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or create a special effect or scene. Includes flashing, revolving signs, etc.
"Architectural element"means an integrated component of the design of a building, including walls, windows, entryways, rafters, roofs, neon bands, and other physical components.
"Awning"means a fixed structure of any material projecting from and connected to a building, column or post or supported by a frame extending from a building and/or posts.
"Balloon"means a flexible, nonporous bag or similar object capable of being filled with air or gas such as helium.
"Banner"means any temporary sign either with or without frames, possessing characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentations applied to paper, plastic or fabric of any kind. National flags, flags of a political subdivision, and symbolic flags of any non-commercial organization are not considered to be banners.
"Bench sign"means a sign located on any part of the surface of a bench or seat placed on or adjacent to a public right-of-way.
"Billboard"means a sign structure advertising an establishment, merchandise, service or entertainment, which is not sold, produced, manufactured or furnished at the property on which the sign is located (also known as an off-site sign).
"Building sign"means any sign attached to any part of a building, as contrasted to a freestanding sign.
"Cabinet sign"is a geometrically-shaped sign consisting of a rigid frame, which supports sign face panel(s) and/or a background constructed of plastic or similar material, and which may have an internal light source.
"Canopy sign"means 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. A marquee is not a canopy.
"Center"can be a commercial, industrial or professional use, consisting of one or more buildings sharing common facilities such as off-street parking, access, or landscaping. In each case, a center will consist of two or more stores, organizations or businesses, but may not necessarily be under a single ownership.
"Channel letters"means individual letters or figures, illuminated or non-illuminated, affixed to a building or freestanding sign structure.
"Colonial post"means a temporary real estate sign constructed of a single vertical post, not to exceed six feet, with a horizontal crossbar from which a real estate identification sign is suspended. The real estate identification sign shall not exceed six square feet in area, and the length and height shall not exceed three feet.
"Commercial center sign"means a freestanding sign which identifies the name and/or address of a commercial center and which may also identify the principal tenants of the center.
"Commercial sign"means any structure, housing, device, figure, statuary, painting, display, message placard, or other contrivance, or any part thereof, which is designed, constructed, created, engineered, intended, or used to advertise, or to provide data or information in the nature of advertising, for any of the following purposes: to designate, identify or indicate the name of the business of the owner or occupant of the premises upon which the advertising display is located; or to advertise the business conducted, services available or rendered, or the goods produced, sold, or available for sale, upon the property where the advertising display is erected.
"Community neighborhood identification sign"means a monument or wall sign within the boundaries of a residential development or subdivision containing only the name and/or identifying symbol of the community, residential development, or subdivision.
"Construction sign"means a temporary sign erected on the parcel on which construction is taking place, limited to the duration of the construction, indicating the names of the architects, engineers, landscape architects, contractors, or similar artisans, and the owner, financial supporters, sponsors, and similar individuals or firms having a major role or interest with respect to the structure or project.
"Damaged sign" or "sign in disrepair"means any sign which has sustained physical damage or deterioration by intentional or unintentional means or through normal exposure to the elements over time.
"Design standards"means a detailed description of prescribed sign type, size, illumination, location, construction, materials, text, font, and colors for a commercial center or specific site.
"Directional sign"means a sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary to the use of the site on which it is located, such as "no parking," "entrance," "loading only," "telephone," directions to a new residential subdivision, and other similar directives.
"Director"means the Director of Community Development for the City of Lake Forest, or duly authorized representative.
"Directory sign"means a sign for listing the tenants or occupants and their suite numbers of a building center.
"Double-sided sign"means a single structure designed with the intent of providing copy on both sides.
"Drive-through signage"includes any signs associated with a drive-through feature of a development, including, but not limited to, menu boards, height clearance bars, directional signage, speaker boxes.
"Eave line"means the bottom of the roof eave or parapet.
"Electronic message board sign"means a directly illuminated sign which presents variable advertising messages displayed by electronically controlled lighting pattern against a contrasting background, and which may be programmed to change the message display periodically.
"Flag"means any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision, or other entity.
"Flag banner"means any temporary, freestanding sign made of non-rigid material, excepting its single rod support structure and stand, with a vertical configuration whereby its height exceeds its width.
"Flashing sign"means a sign that contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source.
"Freestanding sign"means any sign supported by structures or supports that is placed on (or anchored in) the ground and that is independent from any building or other structure.
"Freeway"means a limited access highway with multiple lanes.
"Freeway frontage"means that portion of a building located on a lot or site adjacent to a freeway which generally faces the freeway.
"Freeway-oriented sign"is a sign facing the freeway or intended to be viewed by motorists on a freeway, as opposed to local traffic or pedestrians.
"Fuel price sign"means a permanent sign subject to state regulation, usually of a monument type, containing the prices and grades of fuel for sale at an automobile service station.
"Future facility sign"means a temporary sign denoting sale, lease, rental of a site that is under construction, or future use of a site or building.
"Garage sale sign"means a temporary sign announcing the limited sale, from a private resident, of goods, furniture, clothing, or similar articles.
"Government official sign"means a sign displaying information pertaining to services offered by City, county, state, or other official government agencies.
"Hanging sign"means a sign hanging from a building canopy, arcade, or other structural member.
"Human sign"means any person, live or simulated, attempting to attract the attention of a motorist by: (1) wearing a costume or uniform; (2) holding a sign or prop; or (3) making physical gestures.
"Identification sign"means, generally, any sign that identifies the business, service, or specific type of land use.
"Illegal sign"means any of the following: (1) a sign erected without first complying with all ordinances and regulations in effect at the time of its construction and erection or use; (2) a sign that was legally erected which later became nonconforming as a result of the adoption of a chapter, the amortization period for the display provided by the chapter rendering the display nonconforming has expired, and conformance has not been accomplished pursuant to Sections
9.164.140 and 9.164.150; (3) a sign which is a danger to the public or is unsafe; (4) a sign which is a traffic hazard not created by relocation of streets or highways or by acts of the City or County.
means ancillary signs displaying business information (hours of operation, menus, credit card placards, phone number, or other non-profit activities, etc.) and which do not constitute advertising.
"Institutional sign"means a sign identifying the premises of a church, school, hospital, rest home, or similar institutional facility, including public facilities.
"Interior sign"means a sign located more than three feet inside of a building (not a window sign).
"Kiosk"means a freestanding obelisk, or round or multiple-sided structure whose main purpose is to display signs or information.
"Logo"means a name, symbol, or registered trademark of a company, business or organization.
"Lot"means any piece or parcel of land or a portion of a subdivision, the boundaries of which have been established by some legal instrument of record, that is recognized and intended as a unit for the purpose of transfer of ownership.
"Marquee"means any permanent roof-like 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.
"Marquee sign"means any sign attached to, in any manner, or made a part of, a marquee.
"Mobile sign"means signs attached to or painted on vehicles used for the purpose of transporting personnel or goods as part of the day-to-day operations of a business. A sign attached to or printed on a vehicle not used for this purpose is considered a portable sign.
"Monument sign"means a freestanding sign supported from grade to the bottom of the sign with the appearance of having a solid base.
"Multitenant"means a building occupied by more than one business or organization.
"Municipal services sign"means any sign specifically sanctioned by the City Council that serves a directional or informational purpose. Examples include decorative holiday banners on street lights and civic events such as a Fourth of July parade.
"Mural"means a display or illustration painted on a building or wall within public view.
"Neon band"means a neon light tube used to accent the lines of a sign or building, which follows the building form of the structure.
"Neon sign"means any glass tube lighting in which a gas and phosphors are used in combination to create a colored sign.
"Nonconforming sign"means a permanent sign legally erected, established, and maintained in conformance with the applicable ordinances at the time of original installation, but which does not conform to the current requirements of this chapter. Illegal signs shall not qualify as nonconforming signs.
"Noncommercial sign"means a sign containing an ideological, political, or other message not relating to a commercial transaction.
"Off-site sign"means any sign which advertises or informs in any manner businesses, services, goods, persons or events on a property other than that upon which the sign is located.
"On-site sign"means any sign which directs attention to an occupancy, business, service or activity conducted, sold or offered upon the premises where the sign is located.
"Painted sign"means any sign which consists of paint or a similar substance applied directly to a building surface, such as a wall, window, rafter, canopy support, or applied directly to the surface of a sign face or structure.
"Parapet"means an architecturally integrated low wall, railing, or screen to protect the edge of a building's platform or roof.
"Parking lot"means any area of a site dedicated to the parking of customer and employee vehicles. Does not include areas used exclusively for loading or storage.
"Parking stall designation sign"means a freestanding sign on a post located adjacent to a parking stall in a private parking lot that specifies the use of the parking stall. For example, the sign copy may include, but is not limited to, "Pickup," "Curbside Pick Up," "Drive Up," "Curbside Take-Away," "Loading," or "Reserved Drive-Thru." Does not include accessibility parking signs.
"Pennant"means 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.
"Planned Sign Program"is a comprehensive Planned Sign Program that assures coordination and compatibility between all signs within a site, and allows for flexibility through exceptions from the general sign requirements of this chapter. See Section
9.164.080.
means any sign which is elevated from grade by one or more supporting members, poles or structures higher than one foot mounted in or upon the ground is independent of support from any building, and has no solid base from the bottom of the sign to the ground.
"Portable sign"means any commercial sign (with the exception of a City-approved pushcart) not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted to A- or T-frames; menu and sandwich board signs; balloons used as signs; umbrellas used for advertising; human signs; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business.
"Primary sign"means the main sign for a business or a building, comprising over 50% of the sign's size.
"Projecting sign"means any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than one foot beyond the surface of such building or wall.
"Pylon sign"means a sign with visible support structure or with the support structure enclosed with a pole cover.
"Revolving sign"means a sign, which all or a portion of, may rotate either on an intermittent or constant basis.
"Roof sign"means any sign erected or constructed upon and over the roof of any building and supported solely on the roof structure.
"Seasonal decorations"means any lights, signs, or accessories which are applied or installed on a temporary basis.
"Shopping center"means a commercial development, consisting of one or more buildings sharing common facilities such as off-street parking, access, or landscaping. Typical shopping center uses include general and service retail uses, service uses, and restaurants. Shopping centers consist of four or more tenants, but need not be under a single ownership.
"Sign"means any structure, housing, device, figure, statuary, painting, display, message placard, or other contrivance, or any part thereof, which is designed, constructed, created, engineered, intended or used to advertise, or to provide data or information in the nature of advertising, for any purpose. Religious symbols, such as a cross, Star of David, and others, are not considered to be signs for purposes of this chapter.
"Sign copy"means any words, letters, numbers, figures, designs or other symbolic representations incorporated into a sign.
"Sign face"means the surface, or that portion of a sign that is visible from a single point as a flat surface or a plane, and considered as such, together with the frame and the background.
"Sign feature"means a unique, artistic, two- or three-dimensional image reflective of a company's use, product or service.
"Site"means one or more parcels of land identified by the assessor's records where an integrated building development has been approved or proposed. The site shall include all parcels of land contained within or identified as a part of the development application. An integrated building development shall include all parcels served by common access ways, driveways, parking and landscaping.
"Snipe sign"means any sign, usually found off-site, made of cloth, paper, cardboard, poster material, plastic, metal or other material affixed to or upon fences, posts, trees, buildings, people, or other structures or surfaces.
"Special event sign"means a temporary sign which advertises special events and activities, such as charitable events. Such signs are limited to the provisions of this chapter.
"Stake sign"means any sign supported by stake-like structures or supports that is placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that is independent of any building or other structure.
"Street frontage"means the distance for which a lot line of a lot adjoins a public street, from one lot line intersecting said street to the furthest distant lot line intersecting the same street. A freeway is not considered a street.
"Storefront sign board"means a temporary one or two sided portable sign not exceeding five feet in height or four square feet in area, displayed outdoors and directly adjacent to the storefront/ building façade in conjunction with an established nonresidential use. May include "A-frame sign."
"Suspended sign"means a hanging sign oriented toward pedestrians that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.
"Temporary noncommercial sign"means a noncommercial sign not otherwise prohibited by this chapter that is not permanently affixed to a building or structure.
"Temporary sign"means any sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently mounted, such as signs to promote the sale of new products, new management, new hours of operation, a new service, or a special event.
"Travel directory sign"means a sign to inform the motorist as to the route or direction to travel in order to arrive at the residential subdivision development project for sale or rent to which it pertains (original sales/rentals only).
"Vehicle sign"means a sign which is attached to or painted on a vehicle which is parked on or adjacent to any site, the principal purpose of which is to attract attention to a product sold or an activity or business located on such site.
"Vision clearance triangle"means a triangle-shaped area established at the intersection of a street, alley or driveway within which no sign taller than 36 inches shall be displayed. See Section
9.164.050.
means any sign attached parallel to, but within one foot of, a wall, painted on the wall surface of, or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, which is supported by such wall or building, and which displays only one sign surface.
"Wall sign location"means the area on a building elevation where a wall sign is, or proposed to be, located.
"Window graphic"means any graphic or opaque surface etched or permanently applied onto windows.
"Window sign"means any sign that is applied or attached to a window or located within three feet inside the tenant suite or building.
(Ord. 214 § 1, 2010; Ord. 260 § 1, 2014; Ord. 267 § 3, 2014; Ord. 285 § 2, 2016; Ord. 306 § 1, 2018; Ord. 374, 2/4/2025)
