18.14.400 Definitions

As used in this chapter, the following terms are defined in this section. The images are intended to illustrate some of the sign types that are defined in this section. “A-Frame sign” means a sign made of wood, plastic or other lightweight and rigid material having the capability to stand on its own support(s) and being portable and movable. "Animated sign" means a sign with action or motion, whether by flashing lights, color changes, wind, rotation, movement of any parts of the sign or letters or parts of the sign structure, or other motion. "Awning" means a shelter supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building and composed of a collapsible frame covered completely with nonrigid material. "Banner" means any flexible material, such as cloth, plastic, vinyl, paper, cardboard or thin metal, with or without a "message", attached outdoors to a building, structure or mounting device, or attached indoors to a building, structure or mounting device so as to be visible from the exterior of a building, or structure. This definition includes a pennant, flag, or bunting. "Business premises" means a specific business occupancy within a building or upon a parcel of land, typically having a specific address and discrete entrance(s) and exit(s) to maintain a specific business identity and location. "Changeable copy" refers to the display of a message that can change by means of moveable letters, slats, lights, light emitting diodes, or moveable background material. "Erect" means and includes erect, construct, place, relocate, enlarge, substantially alter, attach, suspend, paint, post, maintain and display. "Externally illuminated sign" means a sign which has light cast on its surface from an artificial exterior source installed for the purpose of illuminating the sign. “Feather banner” means a banner that is taller than it is wide and is attached to the ground by a single pole. "Freestanding sign" means a sign which is permanently supported on the ground by one or more uprights, braces, poles, or other similar structural components that are not attached to any building. This category includes both monument and pole signs. "Frontage, building" means the distance between the two most distant corners of a building measured in a straight line along the building face. "Frontage, street" means the distance between the two most distant corners of a site along a single street measured in a line along the street curb, including drive approaches, but excluding curb returns at street intersections. "Height" means the distance measured vertically from grade to the highest point or portion of the object to be measured. "Internally illuminated sign" means any sign whose illumination

eet" means the distance between the two most distant corners of a site along a single street measured in a line along the street curb, including drive approaches, but excluding curb returns at street intersections. "Height" means the distance measured vertically from grade to the highest point or portion of the object to be measured. "Internally illuminated sign" means any sign whose illumination

originates from within the structure of the sign and the source of which is not visible from the exterior of the sign. "Message" means any form of visual communication presented on any type of media. It is not material whether the communication has any logical, practical, literary, or artistic significance or not. It includes any form or combination of letters, graphics, symbols or designs. The term is not intended to include mono-color paint applied to the exterior, trim, fascia, or other architectural elements of a building for protection against the elements. "Mural" means a sign painted on the exterior wall of a building consisting of graphics or images, either alone or in combination with letters. "Outdoors" means a location on undeveloped property or to the exterior of a building or structure. "Outdoor advertising" refers to the placement of a message on signs or banners located outdoors or located indoors in a manner such that the message is visible from the exterior of a building or structure. "Outdoor advertising structure" means a structure erected or maintained for the main purpose displaying commercial outdoor advertising and located on a site other than the site on which the advertised commercial use is located or on which the advertised commercial product is produced. “Painted Sign” refers to a sign that comprises only paint applied on a building or structure. "Parapet wall" means an exterior wall which extends vertically above the roof line. "Parcels" or "property" or similar references or descriptions shall refer to parcels defined or delineated by assessor parcel numbers maintained by the County tax assessor or as defined in the Glossary of this Code. "Pedestrian access" means a doorway which has been designed for the primary use of the patrons or customers of that particular use. "Permanent sign" means a sign that is solidly attached to a building, structure, or the ground by means of mounting brackets, bolts, welds, or other combination of attachment methods, thereby rendering the sign non-moveable or difficult to reposition without the use of machinery, cutting devices, or mechanical devices. See also "temporary sign." "Placed" includes constructing, erecting, posting, painting, printing, tacking, nailing, gluing, sticking, carving or otherwise fastening, affixing, or making visible in any manner whatsoever. "Pole sign" means a permanently mounted, freestanding sign which is supported above the ground by one or more uprights, braces, poles, or other similar structural components. "Roof line" means the highest point of a parapet wall or the main roof structure or a highest point of a parapet wall other than such architectural features as cupolas, pylons, projections or raised portions of the roof. “Rooftop or roof-mounted sign” means a sign that extends above the ridgeline of the roof of a building or a sign attached to any portion of the roof of a building. Rooftop or roof-mounted signs are not allowed. "Shopping center" means a primarily retail commercial site with three or more separate businesses sharing common pedestrian and parking areas. "Sign" means any letter or symbol made of cloth, metal, paint, paper, wood or other material of any kind whatsoever placed for advertising, identification or other similar purposes on the ground or on any wall, post, fence, building, structure, vehicle or on any place whatsoever. "Sign area" means the geometric area of a sign including all elements such as board or frames, perforated or a solid background, ornamental embellishments, arrows or other sign media. For the purposes of a freestanding sign the structural elements necessary to support the sign are included in the sign area. "Sign copy" means any words, letters, numbers, figures, designs, or other symbolic representations incorporated into a sign face and/or its structure with the purpose of attracting attention to the subject matter. "Sign face" means the panel surface of a sign which carries the advertising, information, or identification message. "Sign structure" means any structure which supports or is capable of supporting any sign. A sign structure may or may not be an integral part of a building. For the purpose of a freestanding sign, the sign structure shall include the aggregate area of the sign including the sign copy and all structural elements of the sign. "Temporary sign" means a sign that is easily moveable, and which is not attached to a building, structure, or the ground in such a manner as to be rendered a permanent sign. (Ord. 579, 2019)