Definitions. The following words and phrases shall be interpreted
and construed in accordance with the definitions noted:
ADVERTISE
To advise, announce, apprise, command, give notice of, inform,
make known, publish or call to the public attention by any means whatsoever.
ADVERTISEMENT
Notice given in a manner designed to attract public attention.
Information communicated to the public or to the individual concerned,
as by handbills, newspaper, television, billboards, radio.
ANIMATED SIGN
A mechanical or electronically illuminated or nonilluminated
sign which displays letters, words, characters or symbols which are
not stationary.
AWNING or CANOPY
A retractable or fixed shelter constructed of materials on
a supporting framework that projects from the exterior wall of a building.
AWNING OR CANOPY SIGN
A sign affixed to or integral with the surface of an awning
or canopy, retractable or fixed shelter constructed of fabric or cloth
on a supporting framework that projects from the exterior wall of
a building.
BALLOON
A sign composed of an inflatable, nonporous bag.
BANNER SIGN
A fabric, plastic, or other sign made of nonrigid material
without an enclosing structural framework.
BILLBOARD
A sign which advertises an establishment, project, service,
space or activity not located on the lot on which the sign is located;
an off-premises sign.
CANDELA
A measure of directional light or intensity from a point
source.
CANOPY SIGN
A sign affixed to or integral with the surface of a retractable
or fixed shelter constructed of nonfabric materials on a supporting
framework that project from the exterior wall of a building.
COMMUNITY SIGN
Any permanent sign that identifies any community, subdivision
or facility.
COMPLEX
A center or campus comprised of retail, wholesale, shopping
center, business, commercial, institutional or mixed-use center with
two or more principal structures located on one or more contiguous
properties, under common management and operation.
CONSTRUCTION SIGN
A sign which identifies the owners, financiers, contractors,
architects, engineers or tenants of a project under construction.
DIRECTIONAL SIGN
A sign displaying only the name, nature and location of establishments
located in the Town offering accommodations, merchandise, and/or services
or real estate developments, industries, churches, schools, parks
or other features or institutions of note located in the City.
FLAG
A fabric or similar material that is mounted onto a pole
on one edge.
FLAG, COMMERCIAL
A flag conveying information relevant to the operation of
a business or projects for sale.
FLASHING SIGN
An illuminated sign on which the artificial or reflected
light is not maintained stationary and constant in intensity and color.
Any sign which revolves or moves, whether illuminated or not, shall
be considered a "flashing sign."
FREESTANDING SIGN
A permanent sign which is not attached to a building. Freestanding
signs include pylon, post, ground or monument signs.
[Amended 2-7-2022]
GOVERNMENT SIGN
A temporary or permanent sign erected by the Town of Millsboro,
Sussex County, or the state or federal government, including temporary
signs as necessary in conjunction with the improvement of public infrastructure.
GRADE
Shall be determined by height from center of road and shall
be adjusted to consider exceptional topography.
GROUND SIGN
A detached sign which shall include any sign supported by
uprights or braces placed upon or in or supported by the ground and
not attached to any building. Ground signs do not include monument
signs.
[Amended 2-7-2022]
INDIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN
A sign whose illumination is derived from an external artificial
source, which source is so arranged that no direct rays of light are
projected into residential districts or public streets.
INSTRUCTIONAL SIGN
A sign conveying instructions with respect to the premises
on which it is maintained, such as "entrance," "exit," "no trespassing,"
"danger," "no parking," "loading only," and similar signs, the total
sign area not to exceed eight square feet.
MARQUEE SIGN
A sign attached to or hung from a marquee. For the purpose
of this section, a "marquee" is a covered structure projecting from
and supported by the building with independent roof and drainage provisions
and which is erected over a doorway or doorways as protection against
the weather.
MONUMENT SIGN
A freestanding sign permanently mounted on or affixed to
the ground with a decorative base made of wood, masonry, or other
similar material. Monument signs may have posts comprised of wood,
masonry, or metal so long as the posts are completely surrounded by
the decorative base.
[Amended 2-7-2022]
MURAL
A design or representation painted or drawn on a wall which
does not contain promotional or commercial advertising; any wall decoration
without lettering.
NONCOMMERCIAL SPEECH SIGN
Any sign containing a political, philosophical, religious
or other public-interest message not used for commercial purposes
and not made in furtherance or promotion of a commercial project,
service or enterprise.
PERMANENT SIGN
A sign which has a permanent location on the ground or which
is attached to a structure having a permanent location and which meets
the structural requirements for signs as established in the Building
Code. When individual letters are mounted directly on a building,
square footage shall be determined by the space from the left-hand
side of the first letter and ending on the right-hand side of the
last letter multiplied by the height of the largest letter.
PLACARD
A sign which provides notices of a public nature, such as
"No Trespassing" or "No Hunting" signs.
POLITICAL SIGN
A temporary sign used in connection with an official Town
of Millsboro, school district, county, state or federal election or
referendum.
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, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels;
signs converted to A or T frames; 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
and is not parked at the location of the business for over 24 hours
consecutively.
POST OR PYLON SIGN
A freestanding sign that is permanently supported in a fixed
location by a structure of one or more poles, posts, uprights, or
braces from the ground and not supported by a building or base structure.
[Amended 2-7-2022]
PRODUCT SIGN
Any sign which advertises or displays a product or service
or other information other than the name of the entity displaying
the sign.
PROJECTING OR BLADE SIGN
Includes any sign which is attached to a unit or building
and extends beyond the wall of the building to which it is attached
or within the setback required for a building, either parallel or
perpendicular to the unit or building.
PROMOTE
To contribute to growth, enhancement or prosperity of; to
forward; to further; to encourage; to advance.
READER BOARD
A sign of permanent character, but with movable or printed
letters, words or numerals, indicating the names of persons associated
with or events conducted upon or projects or services offered upon
the premises upon which such a sign is maintained; the movable or
printed letters, words or numerals may be changed by hand or by computer
(electronic). Such sign shall be part of any other sign to which it
is attached and be calculated in the size and location of such sign.
REAL ESTATE SIGN
A sign advertising the real estate upon which the sign is
located as being for sale, rent, or lease.
ROOFLINE
The eaveline of a roof or building parapet, whichever is
higher, but excluding any cupolas, chimneys, or other minor projections.
ROOF SIGN
A sign erected on a roof which extends above the roofline
of the building.
SETBACK
An open space on the same premises with a sign or signs,
which open space lies between the nearest edge of the sign or signs
and the nearest street line or property line.
SIGN
A structure, display or device, including but not limited
to a flag, windblown display, or balloon, that is arranged, intended,
designed or used as an advertisement, announcement, identification,
description or direction.
SIGN AREA
The total "area" of a sign shall include all side or area
of display of a single- or multifaced sign, together with all moldings,
battens, cappings, nailing strips and latticing which are attached
and are part of the sign proper and/or incidental to its decoration.
Structural elements, such as aprons or skirting, which serve to shade,
deflect or block light generated by a sign and which do not display
advertising on their surfaces shall not be included in the total "area"
of a sign. For the purpose of this section, signs which are composed
of letters, words or representations only and which follow no square
or rectangular pattern shall be considered to include in "sign area"
a square or rectangle as drawn at the outer limits of the letters,
words or representations.
STREET LINE
A dividing line between a lot, premises or tract of land
and/or a street, road, highway, court, place, square, lane or way
set aside and/or used as a right-of-way for common street or ingress
or egress purposes. For the purposes of this section, street frontage
shall be measured along the "street line."
STRUCTURAL CHANGE
Any change or repair to an existing sign which modifies the
physical supports, framing, electrical wiring in excess of a general
repair, internal lighting or illumination in excess of current wattage,
or the sign base. A structural change does not include painting, refacing
of a sign, and/or changing the message content of a sign.
TEMPORARY SIGN
A sign which is erected for a time limit not to exceed two
weeks.
UNIT
A single space within a structure for residential, commercial,
institutional or industrial use.
WALL SIGN
A single-faced sign painted or attached directly to and parallel
to the exterior wall or window of a building, and shall not project
more than 12 inches from the wall.
WINDBLOWN DISPLAYS
Any banner, flag, pennant, spinner, streamer, balloon or
commercial flag, whether or not conveying a message through the use
of works, letters and/or symbols. In the case of a string of pennants,
flags, etc., each string shall be treated as one "windblown display,"
and the total area of all such pennants or flags on the string shall
not exceed 15 square feet.
WINDOW SIGN
A sign upon the inside or outside of a window and intended
to be viewed from the outside; a window sign shall include posters,
stickers or similar attachable signs.