Wheatland Municipal Code Ch. 19.15 Definitions and Abbreviations

For the purposes of this title, certain abbreviations, terms, phrases and words shall have the meanings specified in this chapter.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Abandoned sign"

means a sign located on property which becomes vacant or unoccupied for three months or more or which is obsolete because it pertains to an occupant, service, product, activity or land use that no longer exists on the site.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Area of a sign"

means the area enclosed within the outer dimensions of a sign. In the case of a double-faced sign, only one face shall be considered in the sign area calculation. Where a sign is painted without any border on a wall of a building, and with the background of the sign the same color as the wall of the building, the area of the sign shall be computed by enclosing the letters and images of the sign within sets of parallel lines and taking the area thus enclosed.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Building frontage"

means the elevation of the building or individual tenant space (whichever is applicable) where there is a public entrance and which faces either a public street or other public open place, such as a parking lot or plaza.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Construction sign"

means a temporary onsite freestanding sign that is designed and constructed to identify a residential or commercial project while it is under construction.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Display surface"

means the area made available by the sign structure for the purpose of displaying the advertising message.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Electric sign"

means any sign containing electrical wiring, but not including signs illuminated by an exterior light source. Reference Section 19.20.070.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Erect"

means to build, construct, attach, hand place, suspend or affix.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"External illumination"

means illumination from a light source not an integral part of the sign itself, as in a lamp or spotlight mounted on a wall beside and/or adjacent to a sign.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Freestanding sign"

means a sign supported by one or more uprights, poles or braces in or upon the ground or a sign permanently affixed upon a base, pedestal, or other supporting structure other than a building.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Incombustible material"

means any material which will not ignite at, or below, a temperature of one thousand two hundred degrees Fahrenheit during an exposure of five minutes, and which will not continue to burn or glow at that temperature. Tests shall be made as specified and adopted by the city.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Internal illumination"

means a method of sign illumination where a sign houses an internal electrical system of lighting. This type of sign includes halolit and individually illuminated letters. Example:

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Legal setback line"

means a line, established by ordinance, behind which no sign or sign structure may be built. A legal setback line may be a property line.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Marquee"

means a permanent roof-like structure often bearing a sign, attached to, and supported by, the building and projecting over the entrance, as for a theater or hotel. Example:

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Nonstructural trim"

means the holding, battens, copings, nailing strips, latticing, cutout or letters and walkways which are attached to the sign structure.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Off-site sign"

means a sign that designates, identifies, indicates or advertises a business, service, product, person, event, or goods that are not located, conducted, produced, sold, or available for sale upon the premises where the sign is located.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"On-site sign"

means a sign that designates, identifies or indicates the name or business of the owner or occupant of the premises upon which the sign is located or advertises the business conducted, services available or rendered, or the goods produced, sold, or available for sale, upon the premises where the sign is located.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Permanent sign"

means and includes every sign except temporary signs as defined in this title.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Person"

means and includes any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Projecting sign"

means a sign other than a wall sign which projects from and is supported by a wall of a building or structure. Example:

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Projection"

means the distance by which a sign extends over public property or beyond the building line.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Public right-of-way"

means the public street, highway, alley, sidewalk, curb and gutter areas. Public right-of-way shall include all improvements within the right-of-way (including, but not limited to, utility poles, traffic signals, benches, hydrants and wires) and all plants and landscaping within the right-of-way. The precise location and width of the public right-of-way shall be subject to verification by the city engineer.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Real estate sign"

means an unlighted, temporary sign pertaining to the sale, lease or hire of any single property or building. Example:

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Roof sign"

means a sign created upon or above a roof or parapet of a building or structure. Example:

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Sign"

means and includes every announcement, declaration, demonstration, display, illustration, insignia, surface or space when erected or maintained out of doors in view of the general public for identification, message, advertisement or promotion of the interest of any person.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Sign height"

means the dimension determined by measuring the distance between the highest point of the actual sign face and the finished grade directly below it.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Sign structure"

means any structure which supports or is capable of supporting any sign as defined in this title. A sign structure may be a single pole and may or may not be an integral part of the building.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Street frontage"

means the length of the property line that is also the right-of-way of a public street. In the case where a lot faces more than one street, the longest such frontage of the lot shall be the street frontage.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Subdivision sign"

means an on-site subdivision sign that conforms with the provisions of Chapter 19.60 of this title. These signs are temporary signs that advertise to the public residential subdivisions that have lots for sale. Example:

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Temporary sign"

means and includes any sign, banner, flag, balloon, pennant, balance or display including logos, graphics, advertising, information or message, constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, card-board, wallboard, paper or other non-permanent materials, with or without frames, typically portable in nature (including A-frame signs), and intended to be displayed for a short period of time only.

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Wall sign"

means any sign painted or attached to or erected against the wall of a building or structure with the exposed face of the sign in a place parallel to the plane of the wall. Example:

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)

"Window sign"

means a permanent sign erected on a building window or a sign located indoors and within three feet of a window or building opening which is clearly visible and readable from a public right-of-way or other public place. Example:

(Ord. 405 § 4 (Exh. A), 2007)