Div. 3, Ch. 7, Art. 1 DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this Chapter are defined in this Article. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.01 ABANDONED SIGN

"Abandoned sign" shall mean a sign which no longer directs, advertises or identifies a legal business establishment, product or activity on the premises where such sign is displayed. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.02 ADVERTISING MESSAGE

"Advertising message", "copy" shall mean any written, graphic or pictorial form on a sign describing products or services being offered. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.03 ANIMATED SIGNS

"Animated sign" shall mean any sign which is designed and constructed to give a message through a sequence of progressive changes of parts or lights or degree of lighting. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.04 ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTION

"Architectural projection" shall mean a marquee, porch, canopy or other similar projection. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.05 AREA OF A SIGN

"Area of a sign" shall mean the entire area within a single continuous perimeter composed of squares or rectangles which enclosed the extreme limits of the advertising message, announcement declaration, demonstration, display, illustration, insignia, surface or space, together with any frame or other materials, color or condition which forms an integral part of the display and is used to differentiate such sign from the wall or background against which it is placed; excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which such sign is placed. Where a sign has two (2) or more faces, the area of one face and one-half (1/2) of the second face shall be included in determining the area of the sign.

Where a sign consists only of individual letters, numerals, symbols or other similar components and is painted on or attached flat against the wall of a building and where such individual components are not within a circumscribed frame area, the total area of the sign shall be the sum of the areas of the square or rectangles surrounding each individual sign component. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 806, §1, adopted 1983; Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.06 AREA IDENTIFICATION SIGN

"Area identification sign" shall mean a permanent sign used to identify a neighborhood, subdivision, shopping district, industrial district, agricultural district or any special community area. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.07 ATTACHED SIGN

"Attached sign" shall mean any sign which is fastened, attached, connected or supported in whole or in part by a building or structure other than a sign structure which is supported wholly by the ground (see graphic illustration section). (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.08 AWNING

"Awning" shall mean a temporary shelter supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building and composed of nonrigid materials except for the supporting framework. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.09 DETACHED SIGN

"Detached sign" shall mean any sign not supported in whole or in part by a building or structure other than by a sign structure which is supported wholly by the ground (see graphic illustration section). (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.10 BACKGROUND AREA

"Background area" shall mean the entire area of a sign on which copy could be placed, as opposed to the copy area. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.11 BANNER SIGN

"Banner sign" shall mean a temporary sign composed of lightweight material either 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. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.12 BUILDING FACE

"Building face" shall mean all window and wall area of a building in one plane or elevation. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.13 BUILDING FRONTAGE

"Building frontage" shall mean the linear length of a building facing the public right of way. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.14 BUILDING INSPECTOR

"Building Inspector" shall mean the chief building official or his duly authorized representative. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.15 BUSINESS FRONTAGE

"Business frontage" shall mean that primary frontage within a parcel of land which the user considers his place of business. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.16 CANOPY OR MARQUEE

"Canopy or marquee" shall mean a permanent roof-like shelter extending from part or all of a building face over a public right of way and constructed of some durable material such as metal, glass, plastic or wood. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.17 CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN

"Changeable copy sign" shall mean a sign on which copy is changed manually or electrically but not limited to time, temperature and date. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.18 CONSTRUCTION SIGN

"Construction sign" shall mean a temporary sign identifying the persons, firms or business directly connected with a construction project. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.19 DEVELOPMENT PROJECT SIGN

"Development project sign" shall mean a temporary sign identifying a proposed development project, or one under construction. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.20 DIRECTIONAL SIGN

"Directional sign" shall mean any sign which serves solely to designate the location or direction of any place of business or area. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.21 DIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN

"Directly illuminated sign" shall mean any sign designed to provide artificial light directly or through transparent or translucent material from a source of light within or on such sign, including, but not limited to, neon and incandescent lamp signs. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.22 EXEMPT SIGN

"Exempt sign" shall mean a sign exempt from normal permit requirements. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.23 FACELIFT

"Facelift" shall mean the remodeling of a building’s frontage which is visible from a public right of way, so that the building material, door frames, window frames and signs are designed in harmony with each other. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.24 FACE OF SIGN

"Face of sign" shall mean the entire face of a sign on which copy could be placed. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.25 FLASHING SIGN

"Flashing sign" shall mean an illuminated sign which exhibits changing light or color effect by blinking or any other such means so as to provide a nonconstant illumination. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.26 FREE STANDING SIGN

"Free standing sign" shall also be referred to as "ground sign", "detached sign", "pole sign" and "monument sign". A sign erected to a free standing frame or support, mast or pole and not attached to anything. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.27 FRONT FOOTAGE OF BUILDING OCCUPANCY

"Front footage of building occupancy" shall mean a single lineal dimension measured horizontally along the front of a building which defines the limits of a particular occupancy at that location (see graphic illustration section). (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.28 HEIGHT OF SIGN

"Height of sign" shall mean the vertical distance measured from the adjacent street grade or upper surface of the nearest curb of a street other than an elevated roadway, whichever permits the greatest height, to the highest point of said sign (see graphic illustration section). (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.29 INCIDENTAL SIGN

"Incidental sign" shall mean a small sign pertaining to goods, products, services or facilities which are available on the premises where the sign occurs and intended primarily for the convenience of the public. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.30 IDENTIFICATION SIGN

"Identification sign" shall mean a sign which serves to tell only the name, address and lawful use of the premises upon which it is located. A bulletin board of a public, charitable or religious institution used to display announcements relative to meetings to be held on the premises is an identification sign. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.31 INDIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN

"Indirectly illuminated sign" shall mean a sign whose illumination is derived entirely from an external artificial source which is arranged so that no direct rays of light are projected from such artificial source into residences or streets. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.32 INDIVIDUAL LETTER SIGN

"Individual letter sign" shall mean any sign made of self-contained letters that are mounted on the building. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.33 MODULAR SIGN

"Modular sign" shall mean a sign with more than two (2) faces identifying the same product or use. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.34 MOVING SIGN

"Moving sign" shall mean any sign or device which has any visible moving part, visible revolving part, or visible mechanical movement of any description, or other apparent visible movement achieved by electrical, electronic or kinetic means, including intermittent pulsations. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.35 MURAL

"Mural" shall mean a painting on a wall or ceiling. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.36 NAMEPLATE

"Nameplate" means a sign which designates the name and address of a person or persons occupying the premises upon which it is located. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.37 NONCONFORMING SIGN

"Nonconforming sign" shall mean a legally existing sign at the time of the effective date of an ordinance which does not conform to the provisions of said code. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.38 OCCUPANT

"Occupant" shall mean one who occupies a group of buildings, a building or each substantially separate physical division of a building devoted to a single enterprise and does not refer to individual tenants that may share said division of a building. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.39 OFF-SITE SIGN

"Off-site sign", also known as off-premise and billboard, shall mean any sign not located on the premises of the business or entity indicated or advertising by said sign. This definition shall include poster panels, painted bulletins and other similar advertising displays. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.40 ON-SITE SIGN

"On-site sign", also known as on-premise and business sign, shall mean any sign directing attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered upon the same premises as those upon which the sign is maintained. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.41 PARCEL OF PROPERTY

"Parcel of property" shall mean a parcel of land shown on a subdivision map, record of survey map, parcel map or a parcel described by metes and bounds which constitutes one development site whether composed of a single unit of land or contiguous units under common ownership. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.42 PARAPET OR PARAPET WALL

"Parapet or parapet wall" shall mean that portion of a building wall that rises above the roof level. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.43 PLANNING DIRECTOR

"Planning director" shall mean the Planning Director of the City or his designated representative. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.44 POLITICAL SIGN

"Political sign" shall mean a sign designed for the purpose of soliciting support of, or opposition to, a candidate or proposition at a public election. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.45 PORTABLE SIGN

"Portable sign" shall mean any sign not permanently affixed to the ground or a structure on the premises it is intended to occupy (see graphic illustration section). (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.46 PREMISE OR PREMISES

"Premise or premises" shall mean a parcel of property. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.47 PROJECTING SIGN

"Projecting sign" shall mean a sign which is attached to and projects from the structure or building face. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.48 PUBLIC SERVICE INFORMATION SIGN

"Public service information sign" shall mean any sign intended primarily to promote items of general interest to the community, such as time, temperature, date, atmospheric conditions, news or traffic control, etc. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.49 READER BOARD

"Reader board" shall mean any sign which would allow changing of individual letters for different messages. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.50 REAL ESTATE OR PROPERTY SIGN

"Real estate or property sign" shall mean any sign pertaining to the sale, lease or rental of land or buildings. Usually a temporary sign. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.51 ROOF LINE

"Roof line" shall mean the top edge of the roof or top of the parapet, whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.52 ROOF SIGN

"Roof sign" shall mean any sign erected upon, against or directly above a roof or top of or above the parapet of a building (see graphic illustration section). (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.53 ROTATING SIGN

"Rotating sign" shall mean any sign or portion thereof which physically revolves about an axis. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.54 SHOPPING CENTER

"Shopping center" shall mean a unified commercial development on a minimum site of two (2) acres occupied by a group of five (5) or more separate businesses occupying substantially separate divisions of a building or buildings fronting on a privately owned common mall or parking lot, rather than on a public street. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.55 SIGN

"Sign" shall mean a visual communications device used to convey a message to its viewers. A sign shall mean and include every advertising message, announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration, insignia, surface or space erected or maintained in view of the observer thereof for identification, advertisement or promotion of the interests of any person, entity, product or service. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.56 SIGN, IN-WINDOW

"In-window sign" shall mean any sign painted on the inside or outside of a window or any sign erected or hung on the inside of a window, the purpose of said sign to be seen by persons outside of the building. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.57 SIGN PROGRAM

"Sign program" shall mean an integrated system of signs proposed for one or more businesses, usually for a shopping center or group of uses on a single parcel. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.58 SIGN STRUCTURE

"Sign structure" shall mean the supports, uprights, braces and framework of the sign. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.59 SPECIAL EVENTS SIGN

"Special events sign" shall mean a sign advertising or pertaining to any civic, patriotic or special event of general public interest taking place within the City. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.60 STREET OR PARCEL FRONTAGE

"Street or parcel frontage" shall mean the length of a lot or parcel of land along or fronting on a street or other principal thoroughfare but not including such length along an alley, watercourse, railroad right of way or limited access roadway or freeway (see graphic illustration section). (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.61 STRUCTURE

"Structure" shall mean that which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed or parts joined together in some definite manner. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.62 TEMPORARY SIGN

"Temporary sign" shall mean a sign which is not permanently affixed. Any other device constructed of lightweight material used for the purpose of conveying a message. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.63 TEMPORARY WINDOW SIGN

"Temporary window sign" shall mean a sign painted on the window or constructed of paper, cloth or other like material and attached to the interior or exterior side of a window or glass area. Does not include display merchandise. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.64 TOTAL AGGREGATE SIGN AREA

"Total aggregate sign area" shall mean the combined total display area of each sign located on the premises. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.65 UNLAWFUL SIGN

"Unlawful sign" shall mean a sign which contravenes this guideline or which a public official may declare unlawful if it becomes dangerous or a traffic hazard to public safety, or a nonconforming sign for which a permit required under a previous ordinance was not obtained. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)

§3200.66 WALL SIGN (FASCIA SIGN)

"Wall sign (fascia sign)" shall mean a sign attached to or erected against a wall of a building. Any sign affixed in such a way that its exposed face is parallel to the plane of the building. (Ord. 756, §2, adopted 1981; amd. by Ord. 822, §1, adopted 1983)