The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this division, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Area of a sign.The square foot area enclosed by the perimeter of the sign face with each face contributing to the aggregate area. The sign face shall exclude decorative wood or metal devices, frames, and sign supports, but shall include sign supports which are defined as a monolith. However, double-faced sign faces shall be counted only as the area of one face. In cases where the sign, or portion thereof, is composed only of letters, figures, or other characters, standing against no sign face background or secured to a monolith, then the sign face area shall be the sum of the area of an imaginary figure (circle, triangle, rectangle, or other) which fully contains all words, figures, devices, designs, or trademarks which constitute the sign.
Auxiliary sign.Any sign attached to a building or canopy indicating general information, such as trading stamps, credit cards, official notices or services required by law, or giving directions to offices, restrooms, exits, and like facilities. References to a product, service, business, name or pricing shall disqualify a sign as an auxiliary sign.
Banner.A sign intended to be hung without frames made of paper, plastic, or fabric of any kind which may possess colors, characters, letters, illustrations, or ornamentations. Flags of governmental jurisdiction and flags carrying the emblem of a business or institution are not to be considered a banner for the purposes of this chapter.
Billboard.A sign that is designed for changeable copy, so the characters, letters or illustrations can be changed or rearranged within a fixed sign face which advertises a business, organization, event, person, place or thing not located on the same site (or property) as the billboard.
Building frontage.The distance or length of the primary building on the property adjacent and generally parallel to the business frontage. In the case of multitenant buildings, each tenant space shall be lease space portions of the building frontage.
Building lot.A lot or a portion of a lot or a combination of lots when used for construction of one building or commercial center.
Business frontage.The distance along the adjacent street frontage between the two side lot lines. On corner lots, the business frontage shall be measured along a highway or street. Lot lines shall be those established by the most recent deed to the property as recorded in the real property records of the county clerk of Lee County, Texas. If one business, or integrated business, occupies and utilizes more than one lot, the frontage distance of all lots occupied by the business, or integrated business, may be combined.
Canopy sign.A sign attached to a canopy that extends over a public right-of-way that is attached to or an extension of a building.
Chalkboard or daily-special-type signs.Are signs which announce daily specials and special sales and are signs which are typically written or have menu attachments and the like. These shall be permitted and otherwise treated as a wall sign provided, however, that:
(1) No location may display more than one of these signs;
The sign will be counted in the maximum allowable sign area for the purveyor of the sign;
The sign does not exceed four square feet; and
It is otherwise secured and not hazardous.
Changeable lighted message sign.A 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 however generated. This definition includes signs which utilize lights to form letters, words, figures, symbols, etc., and a sign with lights which illuminate intermittently (e.g., a sign with blinking or moving lights) regardless of wattage, whether directly or indirectly illuminated, except for time and temperature signs. This definition does not include a sign located within the right-of-way that functions as a traffic-control device and that is described and identified in the Manual of Uniform Traffic-Control Devices approved by the Federal Highway Administrator as the National Standard or by the Texas Department of Public Safety and is for governmental use.
Community service (public service) sign.A sign which solicits support for or advertises a nonprofit community use, social institution, or public use. Such signs may include, but shall not be limited to, seasonal holidays such as Christmas or Easter, school activities, charitable programs, religious activities, or location of places or events of community or tourist interest and may include business advertising, provided that the same shall constitute not more than 25 percent of the sign.
Construction sign.A sign temporarily placed on a construction site identifying the project and/or owner, developer, contractor, or architect, and may include other information regarding the project.
Damaged sign.A sign which is unsafe, unsecured, disfigured, or broken.
Directional sign.An on-premises sign that is freestanding, the primary purpose of which is to give directions to parking lots, exits, entrances, drive-through windows, or similar directions. Reference to a product, service, business, or name, other than a subordinate business name or logo, shall disqualify a sign as a directional sign.
Double-faced sign.One structure containing either one sign with two faces back-to-back, oriented in opposite directions, or two signs back-to-back, with the faces oriented in opposite directions and with a distance of not more than three feet between the two signs.
Feather flag sign.A freestanding flexible or rigid pole (not a flagpole) temporarily mounted in the ground to which one side of a flexible fabric in the shape of a feather or similar shape, is attached and which is used for the primary purpose of advertising or attention getting. Feather flags are also known and sold under names which include, but are not limited to, feather sign," "feather banner," "feather banner sign," "quill sign," "banana banner," "blade banner," "flutter banner," "flutter flag," "bow flag," "teardrop banner," etc. This definition includes functionally similar display devices.
Freestanding sign.Any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or anchored in the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure.
Governmental sign.A sign indicating a public works project or other program or activity conducted or required by any governmental subdivision. This is also considered a community service sign.
Ground sign.A sign which is secured to the ground and which is not affixed to a building. The term “secured” is defined in the definition of unattached signs in this section.
Height, sign.The vertical distance between the highest part of the sign or its supporting structure, whichever is higher, and the average established ground level beneath the sign, unless curb elevation is higher than the ground level, in which case the height shall be measured from curb level.
Integral sign.A memorial sign or tablet, name of a building, or date of erection when cut into any masonry surface or when constructed of bronze or other incombustible material mounted on the face of a building.
Integrated business.A commercial business which is operated by more than one business owner and which meets one or more of the following criteria:
(1) Each business owner has shares of stock or a partnership interest in a corporation that owns the grounds and buildings;
Each business owner owns his own space under an undivided interest arrangement or a condominium arrangement;
Each business owner rents/leases his own space within the same building; or
Each business owner is a member of a merchants association which contributes to the joint promotional efforts of the center.
Marquee sign.A sign hung from or affixed to a marquee. It shall be synonymous with a canopy sign.
Medallion sign.A two-sided panel bearing a decorative figure or a relief or identifying emblem and limited to the business, address, proprietor and date of establishment.
Nonconforming sign.A sign that does not conform to the regulations of this division or city ordinances, but which was placed or constructed in accordance with city ordinances existing at the time of its placement or construction. If a sign does not conform to the regulations of this division or city ordinances and was also illegal under the city ordinances existing at the time of its placement or construction, it does NOT obtain the protection and benefit of a nonconforming sign.
Off-premises sign.A sign designed for identifying or advertising a specific establishment, merchandise, service product, or entertainment which exists or is sold, produced, manufactured, and/or furnished at a place other than on the property on which such sign is located.
Party responsible.The person whose name of business is being advertised on the sign and the owner of the property upon which the sign is located.
Person.An individual, partnership, corporation, firm or organization.
Projecting sign.A sign, other than a wall sign, which is affixed to any building or wall, and whose leading edge extends more than two feet beyond such building or wall. A canopy or marquee sign is not defined as a projecting sign.
Realty sign.A sign which is used to offer property for sale, lease, or rent.
Roof sign.A sign that is mounted on, and is wholly supported by, the roof of a building and does not extend beyond the wall line.
Sign.Any letters, figures, symbols, trademarks, or devices designed to inform people or attract the attention of persons to an individual, firm, profession, business, commodity or service, and which is recognizable from any public right-of-way, and which is more specifically defined in various definitions in this section.
Snipe sign.A sign made of any material when such sign is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences, or other objects, and the advertising matter appearing thereon is not applicable to the use of the premises upon which such sign is located.
Temporary sign.A sign to be hung with a frame, made of paper, plastic, fabric of any kind, wood, or metal, which may possess colors, characters, letters, illustrations, or ornamentations.
Unattached sign.A sign which is carried, wheeled, or moved about without having to detach the sign from a secure anchoring device which is set in the ground or affixed to a building which is set on an approved foundation, or a sign which is not secured in a manner approved by the building official and designed to withstand wind pressures as specified in section 1605 of the International Building Code adopted by the city. Such signs are considered to be unattached if they can reasonably be expected to be blown out or about in high winds and may cause injuries to pedestrians and traffic hazards.
(1) The term “unattached sign” includes:
The term “unattached sign” does not include:
(B) Individual contractor signs;
Political signs which are six square feet in area or less;
Signs intended for temporary use for safety reasons due to construction, danger, or traffic-control; and
Governmental or community service signs which are to inform the public.
Wall sign.A sign that is painted on, or attached to and erected parallel or approximately parallel to, the face of, or erected and confined within the limits of, the outside wall of any building and supported by such wall or building and which displays only one surface for display/advertising. No wall sign shall be affixed to any structural addition to a building which has been added primarily to evade the limitations of this division, or which projects above the roofline of the building.
(Ordinance 688 adopted 10/28/13; Ordinance 898 adopted 2/10/2025)