Chapter 14.15
DEFINITIONS – CONSTRUAL OF PROVISIONS – WORD USAGE
Sections:
14.15.010 Construal of provisions – Word usage.
The words and terms used, defined, interpreted or further described in this title shall be construed as follows:
(a) The particular controls the general.
(b) The present tense include the future tense.
(c) Words used in the singular number include the plural, and words used in the plural number include the singular, unless the context clearly indicates the contrary.
(d) The phrase “used for” includes “arranged for,” “designed for,” “intended for,” “maintained for,” and “occupied for.”
(e) The word “shall” is mandatory.
(f) The word “may” is permissive. [Code 1999 § 19-4-1].
14.15.020 Definitions.
As used in this title, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
“Abandoned sign” means a sign which no longer identifies or advertises a bona fide business, lessor, service, owner, product, or activity or for which no legal owner can be found.
“Accessory use” means a use naturally and normally incidental to, subordinate to and devoted exclusively to the main use of the premises.
“Access point” means that point on the street at which or from which the public is afforded an entrance to the property or the establishment of the sign owner. Some properties or establishments have more than one access point.
“Administrator” means that person appointed by the trustees to administer the provisions of this title. Unless and until changed by the trustees, the administrator shall be the town clerk.
“Animated sign” means signs which use movement or change of lighting to depict action or create a special effect or scene.
“Attached signs” means signs attached to the building to which they pertain and not otherwise supported.
“Banner sign” means a sign made of fabric or any nonrigid material with no enclosing framework.
“Barber pole” means a cylindrical sign traditionally used to identify a barbershop.
“Billboard” means a sign other than a sandwich board sign, which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located.
“Building fascia” means the general outer surface of any main exterior wall or foundation wall of the building, including windows and storefronts.
“Building identification sign” means a sign giving the name, logo or address, or any combination of the name, logo and address, of a building on the premises where it is located.
“Cabinet” means the generally hollow portion of a sign to which, or in which, is attached the means of illumination of such and to which the face of translucent materials are attached or on which advertising copy is painted.
“Civil sign” means a sign of or relating to a civic event or public affair.
“Commemorative sign” means a sign, tablet or plaque memorializing a person, event, structure or site.
“Commercial/industrial district” means any areas of Granby zoned for other than single- or multifamily residential uses.
“Construction sign” means a temporary sign identifying any architect, financier, contractor, subcontractor and/or material supplier participating in construction on the property on which the sign is located.
“Copy” means the wording on a sign surface in either permanent or removable letter form.
“Cornerstone” means a stone or block ceremoniously laid into the foundation of a building under construction which unites two walls at the corner of the building.
Detached Sign. See “Freestanding sign.”
“Directional/informational sign” means an on-premises sign giving directions, instructions or facility-related information, such as parking or exit and entrance signs placed at each access point onto the property, and which may contain the name or logo of an establishment but no other advertising copy.
“Double-faced sign” means a sign with two faces if not parallel then with an interior angle of not greater than 90 degrees.
“Electrical sign” means a sign or sign structure in which electrical wiring, connections or fixtures are used.
“Facade” means the entire building front including the parapet. See “Building fascia.”
“Face of a sign” means the area of a sign on which the copy is placed.
“Festoons” means a string of ribbons, tinsel, small flags or pinwheels.
“Freestanding sign” means a sign supported upon the ground by poles or braces and not attached to any building and not closer at any point than five feet from the building to which it pertains.
“Frontage” means the length of the property line of any one premises along a public right-of-way on which it borders. On a corner lot, only one street line shall be considered as a front line.
“Frontage, building” means the length of the longest outside building wall on a public right-of-way.
“Government sign” means any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained by the town, county, state, or federal government for traffic direction or for designation of or direction to any school, hospital, historical site or public service or facility or for other public purposes.
“Ground sign” means a type of freestanding sign which is erected on the ground and which contains no free air space between the ground and the top of the sign.
“Height (of a sign)” means the vertical distance measured from the highest point of the sign, excluding decorative embellishment, to the grade of the street which provides access to the business.
“Identification sign” means a sign whose copy is limited to the name and address of a building, institution or person and/or to the activity or occupation being identified.
“Illuminated sign” means a sign with an artificial light source incorporated internally or externally for the purpose of illuminating the sign.
“Incidental sign” means a small sign, emblem or decal informing the public of goods, facilities or services available on the premises, such as a credit card sign or a sign indicating hours of business.
“Lot” means a parcel of land legally defined on a subdivision map recorded with the county clerk and recorder of Grand County, or a parcel of land defined by a legal record or survey map.
“Main use” means the principal or primary activity for which land or buildings are designed, arranged or intended, or for which land or buildings are occupied or maintained.
“Maintenance” means, for the purposes of this title, the cleaning, painting, repair or replacement of defective parts of a sign in a manner that does not alter the basic copy, design or structure of the sign.
“Mansard” means a sloped roof or roof-like facade architecturally comparable to a building wall.
“Marquee” means a permanent roof-like structure or canopy of rigid materials supported by, and extending from, the facade of a building.
“Marquee sign” means any sign attached to or supported by a marquee structure.
“Multi-faced” means any sign having two or more faces. This includes double-faced signs.
“Nameplate” means a nonelectric on-premises identification sign giving only the name, address, and/or occupation of an occupant or group of occupants.
“Nonconforming sign” means a sign which was erected legally but which does not comply with this title.
“Occupancy” means the portion of a building or premises owned, leased, rented or otherwise occupied for given uses.
“On-premises sign” means a sign which pertains to the use of the premises on which it is located.
“Owner” means a person recorded as such on official records. For the purposes of this title, the owner of the property on which a sign is located is presumed to be the owner of the sign unless facts to the contrary are officially recorded or otherwise brought to the attention of the town manager, such as a sign leased from a sign company.
“Painted wall sign” means any sign which is applied with paint or similar substance on the face of a wall.
“Parapet” means the extension of a false front or wall above a roofline.
“Permanent sign” means any sign which is permanently affixed or attached to the ground or to any structure.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, association, firm, partnership, trust or similarly defined interest.
Plaque. See “Commemorative sign.”
“Political sign” means a sign used in connection with a local, state or national political issue, election or referendum.
“Portable sign” means any sign designed to be moved easily and not permanently affixed to the ground or to a structure or building.
“Premises” means a parcel of land with its appurtenances and buildings which, because of its unity of use, may be regarded as the smallest conveyable unit of real estate.
“Private warning signs” means an owner-erected sign designed to warn others of specific dangers or prohibitions.
“Project development sign” means a temporary sign identifying a proposed development project.
“Projecting sign” means a sign, other than a wall sign, which is attached to and projects from a building wall a distance of 12 inches or more or is attached to any other structure in like manner, which structure was not designed for the sole support of the sign.
“Public right-of-way” means any dedicated or accepted street, alley or other right-of-way, including sidewalks.
“Public service informational sign” means any sign intended primarily to promote items of general interest to the community, such as time, temperature, date, atmospheric conditions, news or traffic control.
“Property management sign” means a sign identifying the manager of the property.
“Real estate sign” means a temporary sign advertising the real estate upon which the sign is located as being for rent, lease, sale, or trade.
“Rear entrance sign” means a sign affixed to the wall above or adjacent to a rear entrance identifying the business for services to the business.
“Residential district” means any areas of Granby not in the commercial/industrial district.
“Roof line” means the top edge of a roof or building parapet, whichever is higher, excluding any cupola, pylons, chimneys or minor projections.
“Roof sign” means any sign which is erected to extend over or on the roof line of a building.
“Rotating sign” means a sign in which the sign itself, or any portion of the sign, moves in a revolving manner. Such motion does not refer to methods of changing copy.
“Sandwich board sign” means a sign with two faces attached at the top and open at the bottom so that the structure forms a wedge and is self-supporting. It is generally a temporary sign used to advertise merchandise, service or price specials.
“Sign” means any device, structure, fixture or placard using, intended to use or which ever did use graphics, symbols and/or written copy designed specifically for the purpose of advertising or identifying any establishment, product, goods or services.
“Sign plan” means a comprehensive site plan of any building, lot, parcel, collection of parcels or other premises, showing the number, size, description, color, copy and location of all signs thereon.
“Sign structure” means any structure, excluding buildings, which supports, has supported or is capable of supporting a sign.
“Snipe sign” means a temporary sign or poster affixed to a tree, fence, or any other roadside object.
“Special events sign” means a temporary sign advertising or pertaining to any civic, patriotic or special event of general public interest taking place within the town.
“Subdivision identification sign” means a freestanding or wall sign identifying a recognized subdivision, condominium complex, apartment complex or residential development.
“Temporary sign” means a sign or advertising display not intended to be and not actually used for more than 30 days.
“Under-canopy sign” means a sign suspended beneath a canopy, ceiling, roof or marquee.
“Use” means the purpose for which a building, lot, sign or structure is intended, designed, occupied or maintained.
“Vacancy/no vacancy sign” means a sign displayed where rooms or dwelling units are offered for rent to the public which informs the public if space is or is not available for lease.
“Vehicular sign” means a sign which is affixed to a vehicle or trailer in such a manner that the carrying of such sign or signs is no longer incident to the vehicle’s primary purpose but becomes a primary purpose in itself. This definition does not apply to signs on vehicles when in motion, nor does it apply to van-type trailers used on construction sites for contractor’s storage when at the construction site or in a place of storage but not stored in such a way as to purport to advertise while in storage.
“Vending machine sign” means a sign that is incorporated into and designed as a part of the vending machine.
“Wall sign” means a sign attached parallel to and extending not more than 12 inches from the wall of a building on which all lettering is also parallel to said wall. This definition includes painted, individual letter and cabinet signs, and signs on a mansard roof, marquee or canopy.
“Wind-driven signs” means a sign consisting of one or a series of two or more banners, flags, pennants, ribbons, spinners, streamers, captive balloons or other objects or material fastened in such a manner as to move, upon being subjected to pressure by wind or breeze.
“Window” means an opening in the wall or door(s) of a building to let in light along with the frame and panes of glass that fill it.
“Window sign” means a sign installed on the inside or outside of a window and intended to be viewed from the outside. [Amended during 2011 recodification; Ord. 579 § 3, 2003; Ord. 518 § 3, 2001; Code 1999 § 19-16-1].