As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
A specific type of portable sign which is typically constructed or shaped in the form of the letter "A." Also known as a "sidewalk sign" or "sandwich board" sign.
Any sign which advertises, identities or pertains to a business or activity no longer in existence. A sign which is not correctly directed at any person or advertising a bona fide business, lessor, owner, product or activity conducted or product available on the premises where such sign is displayed. This provision does not apply to seasonal activities during the regular periods in which they are closed.
[Amended 2-5-2018 by L.L. No. 2-2018]
That copy on a sign describing products or services being offered to the public.
Any sign which includes action or motion or whose copy is changeable by other than direct manual intervention.
The entire area within a single continuous perimeter composed of squares, rectangles, circles, ovals or any other geometric shape which enclose the extreme limits of the message, announcement or decoration on a facade, wall or freestanding sign.
The area of the largest single face of the sign within a perimeter which forms the outside shape, including any frame, or forms an integral part of the display but excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which the sign may be placed. If the sign consists of more than one section or module, all areas will be totaled.
A roof-like covering consisting of any pliable material attached to a rigid frame.
Any sign painted on or attached to or supported by an awning.
A temporary sign composed of a lightweight material enclosed or not enclosed in a rigid frame, secured or mounted so as to allow movement of the sign caused by movement of the atmosphere.
The Village Building Inspector.
A structure of canvas on a framework sheltering an area or forming a sheltered walk to the entrance of a building.
A sign or portion thereof on which the copy or symbols change manually through placement of letters or symbols on a panel mounted in or on a track system.
Any business whose primary purpose is retail or wholesale trade or any nonprofessional customer service (e.g., shoe repair, tailoring, laundry, photography or hairstyling).
Any building or buildings, structure or structures or premises used by three or more enterprises for any purpose other than a one- or two-family dwelling.
A sign identifying a complex but which does not include identification of any individual business within the complex.
See "electronic message signs."
Any sign commonly associated with and limited to information and directions necessary and convenient for persons coming on the property, including signs marking entrances, parking areas, one-way drives, rest rooms, pickup and delivery areas and the like.
Any sign containing a list of the names of business establishments located within a shopping center or building.
Any two-faced sign utilizing both faces or surfaces for display purposes.
The number of seconds between changes in the appearance of an electronic message sign.
An electronic message center (EMC), typically comprising a liquid crystal diode (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED), plasma, light bulbs, or other digital illuminated display that contains one or more messages. An electronic message center is different from an illuminated sign in that the illumination of the display creates the message, rather than an internal or external light source illuminating the message. Also known as "electronic sign" or "digital sign."
To build, construct, alter, repair, display, relocate, attach, hang, place, suspend, affix or maintain any sign; such term shall also include the painting of exterior wall signs.
A facility from which agricultural or nursery products produced on the premises where the facility is located are offered for retail sale.
A vertical portable sign that contains a harpoon-style pole or staff driven into the ground for support or supported by means of an individual stand.
A measurement of the amount of light reaching an object. A footcandle is the measurement of the intensity of one lumen of light falling on one square foot of surface area one foot away from the source.
Any sign not affixed to a building.
A permanent sign that is self-supporting in a fixed location and not attached to a building. It includes ground signs and pole signs, which are mounted on a pole(s) or other support(s) that is placed on and anchored in the ground or on a base and that is independent from any building or other structure. Flag poles are not within this definition.
Any open, unoccupied space on the same lot with the building or structure, extending the full width of the lot and situated between the street line and the front lines of the building.
The total length of the property line of a parcel bounded by or abutting a public highway right-of-way.
A sign erected and maintained pursuant to and in discharge of any governmental function or required by any law or ordinance or governmental regulation.
A temporary sign permitted for 30 days only to announce the opening of a completely new enterprise or the opening of an enterprise under new management.
The average ground elevation within 10 feet measured horizontally of the sign base.
A sign erected on a freestanding base or structure (such as, but not limited to: concrete, masonry, wood, or stone) approximately the same dimensions as the sign face, and not attached to any building. See also "freestanding sign" and "pole sign."
The vertical distance between the ground level under a sign and the highest point of the sign structure.
A sign which is limited to the name, address and number of a building, institution, complex or person.
Any sign for which a valid Village sign permit has not been obtained and which is not exempt from the provisions of this article.
Any sign for which an artificial source of light is used in order to make readable the sign's message, including internally and externally lighted signs and reflectorized, glowing or radiating signs. An illuminated sign shall not be considered an electronic message sign.
Property lines other than those fronting on a street, road or highway.
A light source that is concealed or contained within the sign and becomes visible during darkness through a translucent surface.
A symbol, graphic, trademark or emblem commonly associated with or representing a specific entity, product or concept.
Any parcel of real property recorded in deed form filed in the Albany County Clerk's office.
Wording or copy on a sign.
Also known as "twirl time." The amount of time to transition between two successive messages on an electronic display sign.
A wall sign identifying the tenants or occupants of a building, placed at the entrance to the tenant's place of business, not exceeding one square foot in area per tenant.
Any sign (including, but not limited to, political signs, statements of opinion, no-trespassing signs, and similar) designed for the purpose of any noncommercial expression not related to the advertisement of any product, item for sale, or service or the identification of any business.
Any sign which was lawfully erected and maintained prior to the effective date of this chapter or any amendments thereto.
Any sign advertising or calling attention to any business or activity not located on the same continuous parcel of real estate as the sign, or any sign advertising or calling attention to any commodity or service not sold or offered upon the same continuous parcel of real estate as the sign.
A person recorded as such on official records including, but not limited to, a duly authorized agent, purchaser, devisee or any person having a vested or contingent interest in the property in question.
A piece of real property which is defined on an approved subdivision map or on a survey map certified by a licensed land surveyor or engineer.
A sign for which a permit has been issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
A sign that is mounted on a freestanding pole or similar supports, with air space between the ground and the sign face. See also "freestanding sign" and "ground sign."
A sign designed or constructed in such a manner that it can be moved or relocated without involving any structural or support changes.
Complex identification sign located on a parcel's primary frontage.
Where a parcel has more than one public highway right-of-way abutting it, one frontage shall be designated by the applicant as the "primary frontage" of the parcel and the other frontage(s) for said parcel shall be known as the "secondary frontage(s)." Where frontage along the highway is discontinuous, one continuous segment of the frontage shall be designated as the "primary frontage." The remaining segments shall be known as "secondary frontages."
A temporary sign advertising the sale of personal property at house sales, garage sales, rummage sales and the like.
A sign denoting the developer, architect, engineer, contractor or subcontractors on the premises where construction, repair, renovation is in progress or will occur in the near future.
A sign that is wholly or partly dependent upon a building for support and which projects from a building.
A sign pertaining to the sale or lease of the premises or a portion of the premises on which the sign is located.
The outside top covering of a building.
Any sign erected upon, against or directly above a roof or on top of or above the parapet of a building.
The top edge of the roof or top of the parapet, whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette.
Any sign or portion of a sign which moves in a revolving or similar manner.
Any identification, description, illustration or device, illuminated or nonilluminated, which is visible from any public place or is located on private property and exposed to the public and which directs attention to a product, service, place, activity, person, institution, business or solicitation, including any permanently installed or situated merchandise, or any logo, painting, banner, pennant, placard or temporary sign designated to advertise, identify or convey information, with the exception of window displays and national flags. "Signs" shall also include all sign structures.
Any structure which supports, has supported or is capable of supporting a sign, including the decorative cover.
Any building or buildings, structure or structures located on a single parcel and used by one enterprise.
In a single-tenant building, the linear distance of a building facing a street or right-of-way and which contains the main entrance to the building. In a complex, the linear distance of that wall which has the primary access to the out-of-doors.
A public highway, road or thoroughfare which affords the principal means of access to adjacent lots, measured from property line to property line.
A sign identifying the number and/or name of the street where a specific building is located.
Any sign permitted pursuant to the provisions of this article other than a permanent sign.
An electronic changeable message sign using instantaneous transitions and giving the illusion of motion, with no meaningful dwell time between changes in the display.
The Village of Menands.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Menands.
Any building surface whose slope is two vertical to one horizontal or steeper.
A sign that is in any manner affixed to any exterior wall of a building or structure which does not project more than 18 inches from such building or structure.
Any sign viewable through and/or affixed in any manner to a window or exterior glass door.
The area of a single window includes all of the window panes in an area that is separated by mullions, muntins, or other dividers which are less than three inches wide.
