“Animated sign” is a sign which contains wind-, electronically, or mechanically operated moving parts or which flashes or simulates motion by the use of electric lights.

“Awning” or “canopy” means a covering structure projecting horizontally from and attached to a building, affording protection from the elements to persons or property thereunder.

“Awning/canopy sign” is a sign which is integrated into an awning/canopy and does not extend beyond the limits of the awning or canopy.

“Awning/canopy sign, under” is a sign which is suspended from an awning/canopy but does not extend beyond the horizontal limits of the awning/canopy.

“Banners” are temporary signs made of cloth, fabric, paper, nonrigid plastic or similar types of material and displayed from a building or structure.

“Bench sign” means any sign which is painted or affixed to any portion of a bench.

“Billboard” means a large fixed outdoor advertising sign with one or more structural supports. The approximate sizes of the billboard faces range from 12 to 14 feet in height and 24 to 48 feet in width.

“Campaign sign” is a temporary sign displaying a message relating to a candidate, political party, or public issue that is registered or certified for an upcoming election.

“Changeable copy sign” means a sign designed to allow the changing of copy through manual, mechanical, or electrical means including time and temperature.

“Commercial sign” means a sign displayed for the purpose of identifying a commercial use, or advertising any good, product, service, business or other enterprise that is regularly offered for trade or sale.

“Directional sign” is a sign, other than a commercial sign, that guides the public to a specific place or location.

“Externally illuminated sign” is a sign which is lighted by a source not concealed or contained within the sign. “Externally illuminated sign” means the same thing as “indirect illumination.”

“Fixed sign” is any sign attached or affixed to the ground or any structure in such a manner so as to provide for continuous display for an extended or indeterminable period of time. Fixed signs include, but are not limited to, freestanding signs and wall signs.

“Freestanding sign” means a sign which is supported by one or more uprights, braces, poles, or other structural components that is not attached to a building or buildings. Examples of freestanding signs include pole-mounted signs and monument signs.

“Front face of building” means the face of a building which is parallel to an abutting street or the length of the projection of the wall of a building facing obliquely toward an abutting street when such projection is made perpendicular to the centerline of the street.

“Governmental sign” is a sign posted and displayed by a governmental agency that is necessary to protect and regulate the public health and safety. Governmental signs include traffic signs, directional and informational signs for public health and safety facilities (such as hospitals, police stations, governmental offices, etc.) and public safety warning or hazard signs.

“Illegal sign” is a sign which was erected without first complying with all ordinances and regulations in effect at the time of its erection and use.

“Internally illuminated sign” is a sign with the light source concealed or contained within the sign. “Internally illuminated sign” means the same thing as “direct illumination.”

“Multiple building complex” is a group of structures housing at least one retail business, office, commercial venture, or independent and separate department of a business which shares the same lot, access and/or parking facilities or coordinated site plan.

“Multiple tenant building” is a single structure housing more than one retail, office, or commercial business.

“Mural” is a picture painted directly on a building or its appurtenances.

“Noncommercial sign” means a sign which is devoted to religious, charitable, cultural, political, artistic, governmental or educational messages and that is not primarily associated with a good, product, or service offered for sale or trade. Noncommercial signs include, but are not limited to, signs advertising incidental and temporary commercial activities conducted by governmental agencies, schools, churches, and nonprofit civic or service clubs, and residential property owners and tenants.

“Nonconforming sign” is a legally established sign which fails to conform to the requirements of this chapter.

“Off-premises sign” means any commercial or noncommercial sign which advertises or relates to a good, product, service, place, thing, event, or meeting that is offered, sold, traded, provided, located or conducted at a location other than that upon which the sign is posted or displayed. Off-premises signs include, but are not limited to, billboards and other outdoor advertising structures that are related to a particular location or premises other than that upon which the sign is posted or displayed.

“On-premises sign” means any commercial or noncommercial sign which advertises or relates to a good, product, service, place, thing, event, or meeting that is lawfully offered, sold, traded, provided, located, or conducted at the location or premises upon which the sign is posted or displayed. On-premises signs also include signs not related to any particular location or premises, such as signs displaying religious, charitable, cultural, governmental, informational, political, educational or artistic messages that are intentionally displayed by the owner of the property or premises upon which the sign is displayed.

“Permanent sign” is a fixed or portable sign intended for continuous use or intermittent display for periods exceeding 60 days in any calendar year.

“Political sign” is a sign which is devoted to political messages and that is not primarily associated with any good, product or service offered for sale or trade. Political signs are a subcategory of noncommercial signs. Political signs include, but are not limited to, campaign signs and other signs advertising incidental and temporary commercial activities conducted by governmental agencies, schools, churches, and nonprofit civic or service clubs, and residential property owners and tenants.

“Portable sign” means any sign which is readily capable of being moved or removed, whether attached or affixed to the ground or any structure, that is designed, constructed and typically intended for temporary display. Portable signs include, but are not limited to:

“Projecting sign” is any sign attached or affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than 12 inches beyond the surface of the building or wall.

“Real estate sign” is a portable sign which advertises particular real estate for rent, sale or lease, or provides a directional message with respect to particular real estate offered for rent, sale or lease.

“Sign” is a communication device, structure, or fixture which incorporates graphics, symbols, or written copy for the purpose of conveying a particular message to public observers.

“Sign area.” The following shall apply for the purpose of defining sign area for various types of signs:

“Sign height” is the vertical distance from the city-approved finish grade to the uppermost element of the entire sign structure including any base or foundation, as illustrated below.

“Temporary sign” is an allowed portable sign intended for short-term use, not to exceed 60 days in a calendar year.

“Wall sign” is a sign attached to a wall or facade with its face parallel to the wall and projecting no more than one foot.

“Window sign” is any copy that is applied or attached to a window. (Ord. 2282 § 6, 2019; Ord. 2101 § 2 (Exh. B), 2012; Ord. 1905 § 1, 2003; Ord. 1805 § 2, 2000).