Alter.To change the size, shape, outline, intent or type of sign.
Anchor tenant.A tenant with at least 20,000 square feet of retail space in a multitenant shopping center.
Awning.An architectural projection, which provides weather protection, identity and decoration, attached and supported by the building. It is composed of a lightweight rigid or retractable frame over which a thin cover of fabric or other materials is attached, and may be illuminated.
Banner.A temporary sign made of cloth, canvas or other light fabric not permanently affixed.
Building line.A line established by ordinance beyond which a structure may not be built. A building line may be a property line.
Building Official.City Manager or designee charged with the administration and enforcement of this code, or the Building Official's duly authorized representative.
Can/box sign.A metal nonmolded square or rectangular casing with plastic or Plexiglass face with adhesive lettering attached. The inside of the casing contains bulbs, tube lights and sliding tracks for simple replacement or exchange of the face. Can/box signs are prohibited in Carrollton.
Canopy.A roof-like structure which shelters a use and is supported by either one or more columns or by the building to which it is accessory and is open on two or more sides.
Capsule sign.A sign fabricated from aluminum or metal with an acrylic face that allows light to pass through and illuminate the letters or logo. Capsule signs typically include a company logo or other graphic that describes the product or service offered by the business. Capsule signs may not exceed 25 percent of the total combined area of the main sign and capsule sign.
Channel letter sign.Individually constructed letters fabricated out of aluminum or other similar materials to form a three-dimensional letter that may accommodate a light source. Letters may be installed on a raceway or directly to the exterior wall.
City parkway.The R.O.W. area between the street curb and the R.O.W./property line.
Cold air inflatable device.A temporary object secured to the ground, constructed of plastic, cloth, canvas or other light fabric which assumes a three-dimensional shape when filled with air under pressure or helium gas, and does not create an occupiable space.
Commercial billboard.A sign that is intended to be leased, or for which payment of any type is intended to be or is received, for the display of any good, service, brand, slogan, message, product, or company, except that the term does not include a sign that is leased to a business entity and located on the same property on which the business is located; or a sign that is located on property owned or leased for the primary purpose of displaying a sign; or any sign that promotes or advertises off-premises commodities or services.
Digital billboard.Any commercial billboard sign utilizing digital message technology, capable of changing the static message or copy on the sign electronically. Digital billboards shall contain static messages only, and shall not have animation, movement or the appearance or optical illusion of movement. Each static message shall not include flashing, scintillating lighting or the varying of light intensity.
Erect.To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix, and shall also include the painting of signs on the exterior surface of a building or structure.
Flag.A piece of fabric, cloth, plastic, vinyl, canvas, leather, or other similar material attached to a staff cord on one end generally used as a symbol of a nation, state, city or other local government entity.
Flag pole.A permanent staff or pole specifically designed with pulleys and a cord on which a flag may be mounted.
Ground sign.A temporary sign that is made of wood, metal or other rigid materials and supported by one or more uprights, poles in the ground.
Illuminated.Any sign that has characters, letters, figures, designs or outline illuminated by electric lights, luminous tubes or other similar means.
Incidental sign.Small signs, less than two square feet in surface area, of a noncommercial nature, intended primarily for the convenience of the public. Included are signs designating restrooms, address numbers, and entrances to buildings, directions, help wanted, public telephone and so forth. Also included in this group of signs are those designed to guide or direct pedestrians or vehicular traffic to an area or place on the premises of a business building or development by means of a directory designating names and addresses only.
Lot.An individual parcel or tract of land approved by the city and recorded by a plat in the office of the appropriate County Clerk.
Lot line.A line dividing one lot from another, or from a street or place.
Molded cabinet sign.A uniquely shaped and molded sign illuminated with internal lamps. Light is transmitted through an acrylic or routed metal face. Acrylic, Plexiglas or Lexan faces are molded with unique shapes which would not be considered easily interchangeable.
Monument sign.A sign having a low profile and made of stone, concrete, metal, routed wood planks or beams, brick or similar materials. A monument sign shall be solid from the ground up; pole(s) or supports shall be concealed.
Mural.Noncommercial pictures painted on or attached to the exterior walls not advertising a product or service which is sold on the premises.
Nameplate.Any sign showing only the name and address of the owner or occupant of the premises on which it is erected or placed.
Obsolete.Any sign which no longer serves a bona fide use or purpose on a lot with or without a structure.
Off-premises.A sign that pertains to a business, person, organization, activity, event, place, service, or product not principally located or primarily manufactured or sold on the premises on which the sign is located.
Old downtown commercial district.A 15.7 acre tract of land with a perimeter boundary measured at the R.O.W. center line of Belt Line Road, IH-35E, Vandergriff Drive and the Railroad, situated in the John Nix Survey, Abstract No. 1089, and the William Larner Survey, Abstract No. 799, Dallas County, Texas.
On premises.A sign identifying or advertising a business, person, or activity, and installed and maintained on the same premises at the business, person, or activity.
Pan sign.A sign fabricated from aluminum or steel panel or other similar materials containing digitally printed artwork, cut out vinyl letters and logo or channel letters and logos mounted to the pan face. Pan signs may be designed with square or rounded corners and are not internally lit. Pan signs are prohibited on retail buildings.
Pole sign.A freestanding sign supported by a pole having no guys or braces to the ground or to any other structure. Pole signs are allowed only on IH-35E.
Political sign.An off-site sign which refers only to the candidates or issues involved in a political election, and designed to be seen from a road, but does not include a bumper sticker.
Portable sign.Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported by wheels including, but not limited to signs which are mounted on skids, trailers, wheels, legs or stakes; signs converted to A- or T-frames; menu and sandwich board signs; balloons used as signs; umbrellas used as signs.
Premises.Land together with any buildings or structures occupying it.
Projecting sign.Signs that project from a building and have one end attached to a building or other permanent structure. Projecting signs are prohibited in all districts except the Transit Center.
Property line.The line denoting the limits of legal ownership of property.
Pylon sign.A freestanding sign supported by two vertical pole supports encased in brick, stone or materials architecturally compatible with the main building or structure on the property.
Rear wall.A wall with no main entrances, no store fronts and which does not face the front of the lot. A building may have a maximum of one rear wall.
Sail sign.A wind device that contains a harpoon-style pole or staff driven into the ground for support or mounted on a weighted portable base. Sail signs are generally used in connection with a commercial promotion or to advertise a commercial product, service, business, activity condition, or person. Sail signs are prohibited in the City of Carrollton.
Sandwich board.A self-supporting "A" shaped sign with two visible sides that is situated on or adjacent to a sidewalk. Sandwich boards are only allowed on sidewalks in the Transit Center District.
Setback.The distance between the closest portion, whether the support structure or edge of the sign, to the back of street curb or edge of street pavement.
Sign.Shall mean and include every sign, name, number, identification, description and announcement, declaration, demonstration, advertisement, device, display, flag, banner, pennant, illustration, beacon, light or insignia, and structure supporting any of the same, affixed directly or indirectly to or upon any building or outdoor structure, or erected or maintained upon a piece of land, which directs attention to any object, project, service, place, activity, person, institution, organization or business. Any interior illuminated or moving sign or lights which are visible from the exterior of the building or structure.
Sign area.The square footage of a sign made up of letters, words or symbols within a frame shall be determined from the outside edge of the frame itself. The square footage of a sign composed of only letters, words or symbols shall be determined from imaginary rectangle drawn around the entire copy or grouping of such letters words or symbols. Double-faced signs shall be calculated as the area of one side only.
Sign placement area.A designated area on a building specifically designed for placement of signage, generally a feature that is architecturally designed to enhance the building and give specific prominence to the placement area.
Stake sign.A temporary sign supported by a piece of material driven into the ground.
Temporary.Any sign, banner, pennant, valance or display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard or other like materials, with or without frames, and any type sign not permanently attached to the ground, wall or building, intended or appears to be intended or is determined by the Building Official to be displayed for a limited period of time.
Vehicle.For the purpose of this chapter shall mean any automobile, truck, camper, tractor, van, trailer or any device capable of being transported and shall be include a vehicle in both moving and stationary modes, irrespective of state of repair or condition.
Vehicular sign.Any sign 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. This definition shall not include signs that are being transported to a site of permanent erection.
Wall sign.Any sign attached to a wall with the sign facing parallel to and not more than ten inches from the wall surface.
Window sign.Any sign, pictures, symbol, paint 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 windowpanes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.
(Ordinance 3899, § 2, adopted 3/19/2019)