Yreka Municipal Code Ch. 13.04 Definitions

As used in this Title, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this chapter. Explanatory diagrams of some of the sign definitions set forth herein are provided at the end of this chapter.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Advertising surface (facing)" means the entire surface on which any type of letter, figure, emblem, trademark, picture, or other advertising material is placed, or may be placed.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004).

"Alley" means a public way permanently reserved as a secondary means of access to abutting property.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Approved combustible materials" means wood, or materials no more combustible than wood.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Approved combustible plastics" means those plastics which, when tested in accordance with ASIM standard method of test for flammability of plastics over 0.050 inches in thickness (D635-44), burn no faster than two and one-half inches per minute in sheets of 0.060 inches in thickness.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Appurtenant sign" means a sign pertaining to the business or activity carried on at the premises upon which the sign is located, constructed or erected.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Awning" or "canopy" includes any structure made of cloth, metal or other suitable material with a metal frame attached to a building and projecting over a public or private pedestrian walk and supported by the ground or building sidewall.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004: Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Awning/canopy sign" means any advertising of any nature, which is painted, printed, sewed or otherwise attached to an awning or canopy.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004: Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part) 1969).

"Building" means any structure having a roof supported by columns or by walls and designed for the shelter and housing of any person, animal or chattel, including any underground shelter, swimming pool, or any commercial or industrial structure designed for the sale, storage, or manufacture of anything of value.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

A "commercial center" is a complex of three (3) or more businesses occupying separate enclosed spaces on one parcel of property.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004).

"Curb line" means the line at the face of the curb nearest to the street or roadway. In the absence of a curb, the curb line shall be established by the Director of Public Works.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Electrical Code" means the electrical code of the City of Yreka.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Electrical Sign" means any sign which is wired to provide current employed in illuminating or animating any part of the sign, except flood lighting.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Embellishments" means that portion of any sign structure or sign which contains no moving parts, is not animated, nor illuminated, and which contains no advertising copy, nor conveys any portion or all of any advertising message, and is generally located above the message portion of any sign and is constructed for aesthetic purposes as part of the decorative trim of design of the overall sign structure.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Erect" means to build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix to or upon any surface.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Face of building" means the general outer surface of a structure or wall of a building facing a street.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004: Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Facing or surface" means the surface of the sign upon, against, or through which the copy or message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Hanging sign" means a sign that is hanging from a permanent building canopy or marquee existing over a pedestrian walkway and is sized and located in a manner to service pedestrians using the walkway, advising them of the adjacent use.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004).

"Marquee" means a permanent roofed structure, attached to and supported wholly by the building and projecting over a pedestrian walkway.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004: Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Monument sign" is a freestanding ground mounted sign not exceeding eight feet (8') above ground level.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004).

"Non-commercial sign" means any sign not advertising or promoting a business entity, commercial activity or product for sale and sets forth the ideas or beliefs of the owner or occupant of the property upon which such sign is placed regarding political, sociological, religious, or economic subjects of public interest or general concern.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004).

"Pole sign" or "post sign" means any advertising of any nature which is wholly supported by one or more pole or posts set in or attached to the ground and appurtenant to the use of the property on which it is located.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Portable sign" means any sign or sign device which is designed to be set on the ground without any substantial attachment thereto. Sandwich sign boards are considered portable signs.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004).

"Projecting sign" means any sign other than a wall sign, which is suspended from or supported by any building, pole, post, or structure, which projects outward therefrom.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Real estate sign" means any sign advertising for sale or lease of the lot or parcel of land upon which it is erected or maintained.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Roof sign" means any sign of any nature, together with all its parts and supports, which is erected, constructed, or maintained on or above the roof or parapet of any building including wall signs which extend above the roof or parapet of any building.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Sign" means any medium including its structure and component parts, which is erected out of doors and which is used or intended to be used to attract the attention of the general public to the subject matter for advertising purposes, together with window signs as defined in Section 13.04.390.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Sign business" means the business of selling, offering for sale, leasing or renting, electric and non-electric signs and includes the business of painting, construction, erection, maintenance or repair of signs upon buildings, fences, windows, posts, structures and surfaces.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Sniping" means advertising by the pasting, posting, sticking, tacking, hanging, affixing or placing of cloth, paper or cardboard bills, cards or posters, or metal signs, to or upon fences, posts, trees, buildings, structures or surfaces other than outdoor advertising structures. This definition does not include any sign or notice issued by any court or public office or posted by any public officer in performance of a public duty or by a private person in giving a legal notice, or any cloth, paper or cardboard sign advertising for sale or lease the property upon which it stands, or any type of sign permitted elsewhere in this title.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Street" means a public or private thoroughfare which affords the principal means of access to abutting property, including an avenue, place, way, drive, lane, boulevard, highway, road or any other thoroughfare, except an alley as defined herein.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Street clock" means a timepiece erected to be viewed from the public right of way.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004: Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Structure" means anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on the ground or attachment to something having location on the ground or underground.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Structural trim" means the molding, battens, capings, nailing strips, latticing, platforms and letters, figures, characters or representations in cut out or irregular form which are attached to the sign structure.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004; Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Temporary signs" as regulated by this title includes any sign, banner, pennant, valance or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wall board, or other light materials, with or without frames, intended to be displayed for a short period of time only.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004: Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Use Permits" or "Conditional Use Permits" are Conditional Use Permits as provided in Chapter 16.44 of Title 16 of the Zoning Ordinance, and shall comply with all procedures and requirements as provided therein.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004).

"Wall" means any exterior surface of a building or any part thereof excluding the roof.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004: Ord. 427 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Wall sign" means any sign of any nature which is attached to or supported by a wall of a building, or painted directly on the wall and shall include all parts and supports of such sign. Signs hanging from a porch or canopy and parallel to the face of the building shall be considered wall signs.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004: Ord. 437 § 1-20 (part), 1969).

"Window sign" shall mean a sign that is applied or attached to a window or located within two and a half feet of the inside of a window and intended for view by the pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

(Ord. 775 (part), 2004).