159.186 Definitions

For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

A-FRAME SIGN . A sign with 2 or more pieces of any rigid material, joined at the top so as to form an "A" when viewed in profile, which is not permanently affixed to the ground or a building, and which is otherwise consistent with the definition of a sign.

ABANDONED SIGN . A sign that advertises or otherwise identifies a business or activity which has been discontinued on the premises for a period of 60 days or more.

ANIMATED SIGN . A sign employing actual motion or the illusion of motion. Animated signs include the following:

1. Electrically activated . Animated signs producing the illusion of movement by means of electronic, electrical or electro-mechanical input and/or illumination capable of simulating movement through employment of the characteristics of 1 or both of the classifications noted below:

   1. Flashing . Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by a repetitive cycle in which the period of illumination is either the same as or less than the period of non-illumination.

   2. Patterned illusionary movement . Animated signs or animated portions of signs whose illumination is characterized by simulated movement through alternate or sequential activation of various illuminated elements for the purpose of producing repetitive light patterns designed to appear in some form of constant motion.

2. Environmentally activated . Animated signs or devices motivated by wind, thermal changes or other natural environmental input. Includes spinners, pinwheels, pennant strings, and/or other devices or displays that respond to naturally occurring external motivation.

3. Mechanically activated . Animated signs characterized by repetitive motion and/or rotation activated by a mechanical system powered by electric motors or other mechanically induced means.

AWNING . Any movable or fixed structure attached to a building and projecting over a thoroughfare or sidewalk.

AWNING SIGN . A sign displayed on or attached flat against the surface or surfaces of an awning.

BALLOON . A bag that is filled with heated air or a gas lighter than air so as to rise and float in the atmosphere.

BANNER . A temporary sign constructed of a strip of cloth, paper, plastic, or other flexible material upon which copy is written and which is supported between poles or sticks or fastened to buildings or other structures.

BILLBOARD . A permanent sign in a fixed location which meets any one or more of the following criteria:

1. An off-site outdoor advertising sign on which space is leased or rented.

2. It is used, in whole or in part, for the display of off-site commercial messages.

3. It constitutes principal, separate or secondary use, as opposed to an accessory, ancillary or appurtenant use, of the parcel on which it is located.

4. An outdoor sign used as advertising for hire or general advertising, which display space is made available to parties other than the owner of the sign or the property on which it is placed.

BUILDING COMPLEX . A development of 2 or more commercial buildings, tenants, or uses, intended to function in a joint manner, regardless of sequence of build-out. Characteristics of a building complex may include, but are not limited to, shared parking facilities, reciprocal access, and common building design. A building complex may include multiple tenants or owners, freestanding pad buildings, and may be situated on 1 or more lots or parcels.

BUILDING FRONTAGE . The building façade that abuts a public street, private street, parking lot driveway or parking spaces in which main public access is provided to the establishment.

BUILDING OFFICIAL . The City of Auburn Building Official.

BUILDING WALL . The vertical face of the building.

CABINET SIGN . A permanent sign that is mounted on the face of a building that is roughly rectangular in shape and provides for internal illumination and changing the message of the sign by replacing a single transparent or translucent material such as a Plexiglas/lexan face. Also known as a can sign or boxed cabinet sign.

CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE . The latest edition of the California Building Code.

CANOPY . An ornamental roof-like structure.

CAN SIGN . See Cabinet Sign.

CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN . A sign with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign. A sign on which the message changes more than once per day shall be considered an animated sign and not a changeable copy sign for the purposes of this subchapter.

CITY COUNCIL . The City Council of the City of Auburn.

CLEAR VISION TRIANGLE . The required clear cross-visibility area unobstructed by any sign structure between 36 inches and 7 feet above the surface of the public sidewalk as follows:

1. At any corner formed by the intersection of a driveway/alley, the cross-visibility area shall be a triangle having 2 sides 15 feet long and running along the driveway/alley edge and curb line of street, said length beginning at their intersection and the third side formed by a line connecting the 2 ends.

2. At any corner formed by the intersecting streets, the cross-visibility area shall be a triangle having 2 sides 35-feet long and running along each curb line, said length beginning at their intersection and the third side formed by a line connecting the 2 ends.

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COMMERCIAL MESSAGE . Any sign wording, logo or other representation that names or advertises a business, product, service or other commercial activity.

COMMISSION . The City of Auburn Planning Commission or City of Auburn Historic Design Review Commission as the reference may dictate.

COMMUNITY DIRECTIONAL SIGN . An off-site sign on private property informing of the location of a community service organization, public facility or church.

DEPARTMENT . See Community Development Department above.

DIRECTIONAL SIGN . An on-site sign designed to guide vehicular or pedestrian traffic that does not promote or advertise a business, property or product.

DIRECTOR . The Planning Director or designee.

DIRECTORY SIGN . A sign which provides sign area for more than 1 occupant and which may be freestanding or attached to a building wall.

DISPLAY SURFACE . The surface of the sign upon or against which the message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.

DOUBLE-FACED SIGN . A sign designed to be viewed from 2 directions, and the faces are either parallel or at an angle not to exceed 45 degrees. Signs greater than 45 degrees shall be considered separate signs.

FLAG . The term "sign" shall not include the flag of the United States of America or the state, nor any support frame or standard which is used exclusively for the display of any such flag.

FLASHING SIGN . An illuminated sign in which the artificial light is not maintained in a stationary or constant intensity and which is visible from the outside.

FREESTANDING SIGN . A sign which is supported by 1 or more uprights, poles or braces or attached to a fence, planter, wall, retaining wall or other structure not an integral part of any building upon the premises.

FREEWAY . A highway to which the owners of abutting lands have no right of easement or access or to which owners have only limited or restricted rights of easement or access and which is declared to be in compliance with the Streets and Highways Code of the state.

GRAPHIC . A representation of an object drawn upon a 2-dimensional surface.

HISTORIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION . The approving authority for projects located within the Historic Design Review District.

HOME OCCUPATION SIGN . A sign located at a residence advertising a business, profession, or occupation conducted in the residence or by persons residing in the residence.

ILLUMINATED SIGN . A sign characterized by the use of artificial light, either projecting through its surface(s) (internally illuminated); or reflecting off its surface(s) (externally illuminated).

MANSARD SIGN . A sign which is attached to a mansard style roof with the face parallel to the structure to which it is attached. A mansard sign shall be considered a wall sign.

MENU BOARD . A free-standing sign oriented to the drive-through lane for a restaurant that advertises the menu items available from the drive-through window, and which has not more than 20% of the total area for such a sign utilized for business identification.

MONUMENT SIGN . A freestanding sign with a solid or decorative base.

MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL SIGNS . Signs intended to identify a multi-family residential development (e.g., apartments).

MURAL . A scene painted or otherwise affixed on and made an integral part of a wall surface.

NEON SIGN . A sign using neon gas for illumination and composed of numerous letters or parts.

NONCOMMERCIAL MESSAGE . A message which is not commercial in nature. Such messages typically relate to debatable matters of public concern, such as, by way of example and not limitation, advocacy on politics, religion, arts, science, philosophy, commentary on governmental policy, etc.

OFF-PREMISE SIGN . Any sign which advertises goods sold, manufactured or produced or services or uses rendered not at the location where the sign is placed.

ON-PREMISE SIGN . Any sign which advertises goods sold, manufactured or produced or services or uses rendered at the location where the sign is placed.

PENNANT . Any lightweight plastic, fabric or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, attached to a rope, wire or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind and attract attention.

PLANNED SIGN PROGRAM . Coordinated sign criteria established for a building complex.

PLANNING COMMISSION . The Planning Commission of the city.

PLANNING DEPARTMENT . City of Auburn Planning Department, which for the purposes of this subchapter shall be synonymous with the Director as defined below.

PORTABLE SIGN . Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or to a building or building surface.

PROGRAMMABLE WINDOW SIGN . An electronic visual display, such as a computer monitor, television screen, or digital photo frame, which displays a static image or message for at least 30 seconds without changing, located within 24 inches of the surface of a window with the message intended to be visible to and readable from the public way or from adjoining property. A programmable window sign with a message more than once every 30 seconds shall be considered an "animated sign".

PROJECTING SIGN . A sign other than a wall sign which projects from and is supported by a wall or roof of a building, structure or sign structure.

RACEWAY . A channel box that holds sign letters in place and houses the electrical wiring of a sign.

REAL ESTATE SIGN . A sign placed upon real property to advertise that the property upon which the sign is placed, or any piece or parcel thereof, or any interest therein, is for sale, exchange, lease or rent.

ROOF SIGN . A sign and/or structure erected upon a roof, canopy or parapet of a building or structure.

SANDWICH SIGN . See "A-Frame" sign.

SEASONAL SIGN . Signs which are displayed on-site in conjunction with an approval of a seasonal event such as pumpkin patches, Christmas tree lots and firework displays.

SIGN . Every sign, billboard, freestanding sign, portable freestanding sign, wall sign, roof sign, illuminated sign, painted sign, mural, projecting sign, temporary sign and street clock and shall include any announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration or insignia used to advertise or promote the interest of any person when the same is placed so that it is clearly visible to the general public from an out-of-doors position.

SIGN AREA . The area of a sign determined by circumscribing the exterior limits of the perimeter of 1 side of the sign.

SIGN COPY . The particular lettering or graphics used to identify the business.

SIGN STRUCTURE . The supports, uprights, braces and framework of a sign.

STREET . Any street, alleyway, place or thoroughfare.

STRUCTURE . That which is built or constructed, any edifice or building or any kind or any piece of work artificially built up or composed or parts joined together with some definite manner.

TEMPORARY SIGN . A sign intended to display either commercial or noncommercial messages of a transitory or temporary nature. Portable signs or any sign not permanently embedded in the ground, or not permanently affixed to a building sign structure that is permanently embedded in the ground, are considered temporary.

TENANT INFORMATION SIGN . A sign used to identify the occupant's name and address.

TRADE CONSTRUCTION SIGN . A sign adverting various construction trades on any construction site. The sign shall not be installed prior to construction and shall be removed before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

UNDER CANOPY SIGN . A sign attached to the underside of a canopy or marquee.

USE . A purpose or activity for which the land or building is designed, arranged or intended or for which is occupied or maintained to function as a separate unit.

VEHICLE/TRAILER MOUNTED SIGN . A sign mounted on a vehicle or trailer that is used for general advertising or advertising for hire. A vehicle which advertises the company of its primary use is not considered a vehicle mounted sign.

WALL SIGN . A sign that is in any manner affixed to any exterior wall of a building or structure and that projects not more than one foot from the building or structure wall, including signs affixed to architectural projections from a building.

WINDOW SIGN . A sign or device affixed or applied to, or located within 24 inches of, the surface of a window with its message intended to be visible to and readable from the public way or from adjoining property.

(Ord. 12-05, eff. 12-19-2012)

HISTORY

Amended by Ord. 25-05 on 10/27/2025