§ 7-242 — Definitions

Sec. 7-242. - Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Commercial, when referring to the content of a sign, means a sign related solely to the economic interests of the permittee and his/her audience or such other definition as may be given the word, from time to time, by the courts. Interstate system of highways means that portion of the national system of interstate and defense highways located within this state, as officially designated, or as may hereafter be so designated, by the state highway commission, and approved by the United States Secretary of Commerce, pursuant to the provisions of Title 23, United States Code, "Highways." Lot means a parcel of land occupied or to be occupied by one (1) or more structures and the accessory uses customarily incident thereto, including such open spaces as are required under these or other regulations or ordinances and having its principal frontage upon a public street, approved private street, road or highway. A lot, as used in this article, may consist of one (1) or more platted lots, or tract or tracts. Noncommercial, when referring to the content of a sign, means a sign not related solely to the economic interests of the permittee and his/her audience or such other definition as may be given the word, from time to time, by the courts. Primary system of highways means Highways 19, 45, 39, 145, 11, 80 and 11/80 not including alternate of business routes as determined by the building official. Sign means any words, numerals, figures, devices, designs, trademarks or logos, which are painted on or attached to a frame, pole or brackets or building facade and mounted or painted on or affixed to a building or the ground, by which information is made known to the public outside a building and including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Attention attracting device means any rotating or moving action by mechanical or natural means, or any moving or flashing lights. Exceptions include temporary event attention attracting devices described in section 7-247, Temporary event signs, and electronic message signs described in section 7-249, Qualified exceptions. (2) Detached sign means a portable sign or any sign permanently located on the ground or on a structure located on the ground and not attached to a building. (3) Directly illuminated sign means any sign where the source of illumination of the sign is exposed to the human eye, such as, but not limited to, neon tube, incandescent bulb or fluorescent tube. (4) Indirectly illuminated sign means any sign which is partially or completely illuminated at any time by a light source which is so shielded as not to be visible at eye level. (5) Marquee sign means any sign attached flat against or under the marquee or permanent sidewalk canopy of a building, but not on the upper surface of such structures. (6) Monument sign means a low profile detached sign where the width of the support base is usually as wide or wider than the width of the sign's face, and the sign's face is higher than two (2) feet above the average grade of the ground. (7) Nonconforming sign means any sign that does not comply with the standards and procedures established in this article. (8) Nonconforming sign support means the supporting members of the sign such as the frame, poles, brackets or other structure, by which the sign is mounted on or fixed to a building or the ground, which do not comply with the standards established in this article. (9) Portable sign means a sign whose principal supporting structure is intended, by design and construction to be used by resting upon the ground for support and may be easily moved or relocated for reuse. Portable signs shall include, but are not limited to, signs mounted upon a trailer, bench, wheeled carrier or other nonmotorized mobile structure with or without wheels. (10) Poster panel or billboard means a sign generally known as outdoor advertising, mounted on a semipermanent or permanent structure and depicting information not directly related to the property upon which it is placed. (11) Projecting sign means any sign extending more than one (1) foot from the face of the building to which it is attached. A time and temperature instrument mounted on the face of a building shall be included in this definition. (12) Semiilluminated sign means any sign located on a building face which is uniformly illuminated over its entire area, including the area of the sign, by use of electricity or other artificial light. Semiilluminated signs shall be permitted in any location where illuminated signs are permitted. (13) Snipe sign means any sign of a material, such as, but not limited to, cardboard, paper, pressed wood, plastic or metal which is attached to a fence, window, tree, utility pole or temporary structure, or any sign which is not securely fastened to or painted on a building or firmly anchored to the ground. (14) Temporary event sign means a sign related to temporary events such as any public, charitable, educational or religious event or function, special sale or promotion. A temporary event sign may be a portable sign as defined herein. (15) Time and/or temperature instrument means a sign displaying only time and/or temperature information. (16) Wall sign means any sign attached to and erected parallel to and within one (1) foot of the face or wall of a building, including signs painted on the walls of buildings. Sign alteration means the replacement, enlargement, reduction, or reshaping of a sign or sign support. Sign maintenance means the normal care and minor repair that is necessary to retain a safe, and finished structure, frame, pole, brackets or surface. Changing copy or logo shall be considered maintenance if the information, product or service depicted remains the same and if the sign is to serve the identical use as before the change. Sign refacing means changing or replacing the words, numerals or other surfaces of the sign to serve a different use or create a different visual effect but without altering, moving or replacing the frame, pole, bracket or other structure supporting the sign. Sign support means the supporting members of the sign such as frame poles, brackets or other structures, by which a sign is mounted on or affixed to a building or the ground. Zoning district shall have the meaning ascribed to this phrase by the zoning ordinance of the city and shall, among other things, denote those various separate areas of land described in such ordinance by a combination of capital letters and arabic numerals and further as set out on the official zoning map of the city.

(Ord. No. 3791, § 2, 10-20-87; Ord. No. 4036, § 2, 11-21-95: Ord. No. 4155, § 2, 3-21-2000)