§ 9-1002. Definitions.

A-frame sign\ means a two-faced sign with supports that are connected at the top and separated at the base, forming an "A" shape not more than four (4) feet high. These are also referred to as "sandwich board" signs. They are included in the term "portable sign."

Advertising\ means any words, symbol, color or design used to call attention to a commercial product, service, or activity.

Animated sign\ means a sign or part of a sign that is designed to rotate, move or appear to rotate or move. Such a sign is sometimes referred to as a "moving sign."

Awning sign\ means a sign placed directly on the surface of an awning.

Banner\ means a temporary sign of flexible material affixed to a framework or flat surface.

Building frontage\ means the length of the main wall of a building which physically encloses usable interior space and which is the architecturally designed wall that contains the main entrance for use by the general public. Said frontage shall be measured at a height of ten (10) feet above grade.

Business sign\ means a sign which directs attention to a product, service or commercial activity available on the premises.

Canopy sign\ means a sign attached to a canopy.

Chalk-board sign\ means a single-faced, framed slate or chalk-board that can be written on with chalk or similar markers.

Changeable copy sign\ means a sign or part of a sign that is designed so that characters, letters or illuminations can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or surface of the sign.

Comprehensive sign plan\ means a plan for the signage of a property that includes single or multiple tenants or owners with shared parking or other facilities.

Feather sign\ means a lightweight, portable sign mounted along one (1) edge of a single, vertical, flexible pole the physical structure of which may resemble a sail, bow, or teardrop.

Flag\ means a piece of cloth or similar material, typically oblong or square, attachable by one (1) edge to a pole or rope and used as a symbol or decoration; this includes pennants.

Flashing sign\ means a sign that includes lights that flash, blink, or turn on and off intermittently.

Freestanding sign\ means any non-portable sign supported by a fence, retaining wall, or by upright structural members or braces on or in the ground and not attached to a building.

Grand opening\ means an event, often publicized, which signifies the official public opening of a facility such as a commercial business.

Ground-mounted\ sign means a sign that is supported by structures or supports in or upon the ground and independent of any support from any building or wall.

Height\ means the maximum vertical distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign. Normal grade shall be construed to be the lower of:

(1)

Existing grade prior to construction; or

(2)

The newly established grade after construction, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating primarily for the purpose of mounting or elevating the sign.

Holiday displays\ means displays erected on a seasonal basis in observation of religious, national, or state holidays which are not intended to be permanent in nature and which contain no advertising material.

Illegal sign\ means any sign erected without a required permit or which otherwise does not comply with any provision of this article.

Illuminated sign\ means a sign that is backlit, internally lit, or indirectly lit, but does not include a neon sign.

Marquee\ means a permanent structure projecting beyond a building wall at an entrance to a building or extending along and projecting beyond the building's wall and generally designed and constructed to provide protection against the weather.

Marquee sign\ means a sign attached to and made a part of a marquee or any similar projections from a building, with changeable, fixed or both types of lettering in use.

Monument sign\ means a sign affixed to a structure built on grade in which the sign and the structure are an integral part of one another; not a pole sign.

Neon sign\ means a sign containing exposed tubes filled with light-emitting gas.

Nonconforming sign\ means any sign which was lawfully erected in compliance with applicable regulations of the county and maintained prior to the effective date of this article and which fails to conform to current standards and restrictions as set forth herein.

Off-premises sign\ means a sign that directs attention to a business, product, service or activity conducted, sold or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is erected.

Pole sign\ means a sign that is mounted on one (1) or more freestanding poles.

Portable sign\ means any temporary sign not affixed to a building, structure, vehicle or the ground. It does not include a flag or banner.

Projecting sign\ means any sign, other than a wall, awning or marquee sign, affixed to a building and supported only by the wall on which it is mounted.

Public area\ means any public place, public right-of-way, any parking area or right-of-way open to use by the general public, or any navigable body of water.

Public art\ means items expressing creative skill or imagination in a visual form, such as painting or sculpture, which are intended to beautify or provide aesthetic influences to public areas which are visible from the public realm that does not direct attention to a business, product, service or activity.

Roof sign\ means a sign erected or constructed, in whole or in part, upon or above the highest point of a building with a flat roof, or the peak of a roof for any building with a pitched roof.

Sign\ means any device (writing, letter work or numeral, pictorial presentation, illustration or decoration, emblem, device, symbol or trademark, flag, banner or pennant or any other device, figure or character) visible to and designed to communicate information to a person in a public area. However, the term "sign" does not include public art, holiday displays, or architectural features, except those that identify products or services or advertise a business use. The term "sign" shall not include the display of merchandise for sale on the site of the display.

Sign face\ means the portion of a sign structure bearing the message.

Sign structure\ means any structure bearing a sign face.

Temporary sign\ means any sign constructed of cloth, canvas, vinyl, paper, wood, fabric, or other lightweight material not well suited to provide a durable substrate or, if made of some other material, is neither permanently installed on the ground nor permanently affixed to a building or structure which is permanently installed in the ground.

Vehicle or trailer sign\ means any sign attached to or displayed on a vehicle, if the vehicle or trailer is used for the primary purpose of advertising a business establishment, product, service or activity. Any such vehicle or trailer shall, without limitation, be considered to be used for the primary purpose of advertising if it fails to display current license plates and inspection sticker, if it is inoperable, if evidence of paid-to-date local taxes cannot be made available, or if the sign alters the standard design of such vehicle or trailer.

Wall sign\ means any sign attached to a wall or painted on or against a flat vertical surface of a structure.

Window sign\ means any sign visible outside the window and attached to or within eighteen (18) inches in front of or behind the surface of a window or door. (3-14-18.)