9655.2. - Definitions.

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9120 et seq. of this article, for the purposes of this part, the following words and phrases are defined as follows:

A.

Area, sign means the area in square feet determined by drawing a line around the outer perimeter of the writing, representation, emblem, or any figure of similar character, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the display or used to differentiate such sign from the background against which it is placed. If the sign consists of more than one (1) section or module, all of the area, including the area between the sections or modules, shall be included in the computation of sign area. Supporting framework or bracing that is clearly incidental to the display itself shall not be computed as sign area. Only one (1) face of a double-faced sign with parallel opposing faces, and bearing identical copy shall be used in computing the area of a sign.

B.

Awning sign means any sign or graphic attached to, painted on or applied to an awning or awning canopy.

C.

Banner means a strip of cloth, thin plastic or other flexible material on which a sign is painted, printed, or otherwise displayed.

D.

BUG rating means the type and amount of light spillage from the fixture's source. The B in BUG represents the backlight. Backlight is the amount of stray light behind the light source. The U represents uplight, which is the amount of light that passes vertically beyond a horizontal plane of the light source, and G stands for glare, which is the light cast within a person's field of view where glare is produced.

E.

Candelas (cd) means the System of Units (SI) used to measure the brightness of a source of light (its luminous intensity).

F.

Candela per meter[2] (cd/m[2] ) means the units of luminous intensity in the International System of Units (SI), defined as the luminous intensity per unit area.

G.

Changeable copy sign means a sign or portion of a sign where it is possible to change the copy on a frequent basis.

H.

Commercial or business park complex means a group of two (2) or more tenants which are situated as an integral unit, on either a single parcel of land or separate parcels of land, where such businesses utilize common off-street parking or access.

I.

Director means the director of planning and community development or such director's designee.

J.

Externally lighted sign means a sign whose immediate source of illumination is not enclosed by the surface of the sign structure.

K.

Flag means a piece of fabric, usually rectangular in shape, that is usually displayed hanging free from a staff or pole, to which it is attached by edge so that it will float, play, or shake in an air current.

L.

Frontage, building means the exterior building wall facing or oriented towards a public or private right-ofway. The amount of frontage shall be measured continuously along such building wall for the entire length of the subject business or use.

M.

Frontage, primary means the frontage, which provides the subject building with its main or principal orientation to a public or private right-of-way, whether or not such frontage has a public entrance to the building. In shopping centers or multiple tenant buildings, the primary frontage shall be established as part of a sign program.

N.

Frontage, secondary means any frontage, other than the primary frontage, that has a public entrance to the subject building.

O.

Fully shielded (light fixture) means a light fixture constructed in such a manner that all light emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or a diffusing element, or indirectly by reflection or refraction from any part of the fixture, is projected below the horizontal. Any structural part of the light fixture providing this shielding must be permanently affixed, and part of the fixture, not part of any surrounding building or architectural elements.

P.

Halo illumination means a form of internal illumination where channel lettering is used and the light source is hidden behind and glows around the edges of letters or symbols giving the effect of a light halo.

Q.

Illuminance means the amount of light falling onto a unit area of the surface (luminous flux per unit area) - measured in foot candles.

R.

Inflatable sign means an object made of an airtight material, generally greater than eighteen (18) inches in diameter at its widest point, filled with air or gas to form a three (3) dimensional shape and used as a sign.

S.

Internally illuminated means illumination produced by a light source contained within a sign and not directly visible to the eye.

T.

Legal nonconforming sign means a sign that was originally erected or installed in compliance with all structural, locational, design, building, and electrical regulations at the time of its erection or installation, but which no longer conforms to the provisions of this division.

U.

Logo means an individual sign, separated from the business letters, consisting of any name, symbol, trademark, letter style, words, figures, or decorative motifs.

V.

Lumen means the unit of luminous flux; used to measure the amount of light emitted by lamps.

W.

Luminance means the intensity of light reflected or emitted from a unit area of surface, such as a sign face - measured in cd/m[2 ] .

X.

Monument sign means a sign that is a ground-mounted sign, completely self-supporting, with a solid base separating the sign copy from the grade. A monument sign can be single-sided or double-sided and only back-to-back faces shall constitute one (1) monument sign.

Y.

Neon sign means an illuminated sign affected by a colorless, odorless light source consisting of a neon or gas tube, which is bent to form letters, symbols or other shapes.

Z.

Outdoor advertising display, structure or sign means a commercial sign placed for the purpose of advertising products or advertising services that are not produced, stored, or sold on the property upon which the sign is located. This shall also mean a billboard.

AA.

Pole sign means a freestanding sign that is supported by one (1) or more poles or uprights on the ground.

BB.

Portable sign means any sign that is not permanently attached to the ground or any structure and is capable of being moved, including but not limited to "A-frame," "H-frame" or "sandwich board" type signs. A portable sign is not a temporary window sign as provided in section 9655.10.A.

CC.

Projecting sign means a sign other than a wall sign suspended from or supported by a building or structure and projecting outward more than twelve (12) inches therefrom and perpendicular to the building.

DD.

Revolving sign means a sign that turns around or rotates, as on an axis.

EE.

Roof sign means a sign that is mounted on the roof of a building, or which is dependent upon a building for support, and which projects above the highest point of a building with a flat roof, the eave line of a building with a gambrel, gable, or hip roof, or the deck line of a building with a mansard roof. Signs placed on flat surface integrated into the mansard roof design shall not be considered roof signs.

FF.

Sign means any name, figure, painting, character, outline, spectacle, display, delineation, announcement, advertising, billboard, signboard, device, appliance or any other thing of similar nature to attract attention outdoors or on the face, wall or window of any building, and shall include all parts, portions, units and materials composing the same, together with the frame, background, support and anchorage therefor which is visible from outside the property. For the purpose of this part, a sign is not a sign if it is inside a building, located more than three (3) feet behind a window, and not facing a window in such a way as to be viewed from an outside public area.

GG.

Sign face means the surface or that portion of a sign that is visible from a single point as a flat surface or a plane and considered as such together with the frame and the background.

HH.

Single tenant building means a building used by one (1) occupant for an individual business.

II.

Temporary sign means any sign addressed in section 9655.10 and capable of being viewed from any public right-of-way, parking area, or neighboring property. A temporary sign is any sign consisting of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, poster board, paint or other dispensable materials, with or without frames, and mounted or painted, if on a window, in a nonpermanent manner.

JJ.

Under canopy sign means a sign attached to or suspended from the underside of a projecting canopy protruding over a public or private sidewalk or right-of-way.

KK.

Wall sign means a sign attached to or erected on the exterior wall of the building or structure with the exposed face of the sign in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of the exterior wall.

LL.

Window sign means a temporary or permanent sign painted or attached to or within three (3) feet of the inside of the window upon the premises where the sign is displayed.

MM.

Yard sign means a temporary sign placed in the ground or attached to posts, or poles and is not attached to any building. A yard sign is not a portable sign as defined in section 9655.2.BB.

(Ord. No. 19-444, § 3, 10-23-2019; Ord. No. 23-472, § 4, 5-22-2024)