§ 12.12.030. Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

1.

"Banner" means a temporary sign of flexible material on which a sign is painted or printed.

2.

"Billboard" means a sign which directs attention to a business, activity, commodity, service, entertainment or communication which is not conducted, sold or offered at the premises on which the sign is located, or which does not pertain to the premises upon which the sign is located.

3.

"Building code" means the Uniform Building Code promulgated by the International Conference of Building Officials, as adopted by this jurisdiction and such other codes adopted by ordinance.

4.

"Building inspector/building official" means the officer or other designated authority charged with administration and enforcement of this code or his duly authorized representative.

5.

"Building mounted sign" means a sign entirely supported by or through a building including a canopy sign, marquee sign, projecting sign, roof sign and wall sign.

6.

"Combination sign" means any sign incorporating any combination of the features of pole, projecting and roof signs.

7.

"Community service sign" means any sign which solicits support for or advertises a non-profit community use, public use or social institution.

8.

"Construction sign" means a sign erected on the premises on which construction is taking place, during the period of such construction, indicating the names of the architects, engineers, landscape architects, contractors, or similar artisans, and the owners, financial supporters, sponsors and similar individuals or firms having a role or interest with respect to the structure or project.

9.

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

10.

"Directional sign" means a sign limited to directional messages, principally for pedestrians or vehicular traffic excluding signs erected by governmental entities.

11.

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

12.

"Electric sign" means any sign containing electrical wiring, excluding signs illuminated by an exterior light source.

13.

"Freestanding sign" means any sign not affixed to a building or structure.

14.

"Ground sign" means a sign, including its supporting structure, six feet or less in height measured from the curb, which is placed upon, or supported by the ground independent of a principal building.

15.

"Height of sign" means the vertical distance from the top of the curb to the highest point of the sign.

16.

"Illegal sign" means any sign not meeting the requirements of this chapter.

17.

"Illuminated sign" means any sign which is directly lighted by any on-premise electrical light source, internal or external, except light sources specifically and clearly operated for the purpose of lighting the general area in which the sign is located rather than upon the sign itself.

18.

"Lease" means any agreement whether oral or written by which one party gives to another party the right to erect or maintain an outdoor advertising device on the property of the party owning or controlling said property.

19.

"Marquee" means a permanent roofed structure attached to and supported by the building and projecting over public property.

20.

"Nonconforming sign" means a sign which violates one or more provisions of this chapter or any other requirement contained in, or adopted by reference within, the Code of Ordinances of the city.

21.

"Official signs and notices" means signs and notices erected and maintained by public officers or public agencies within their territorial or zoning jurisdiction and pursuant to and in accordance with direction or authorization contained in federal, state or local law for the purposes of carrying out an official duty or responsibility.

22.

"Off-premises sign" means a sign, the content of which does not refer to a business or merchant doing business on the premises where the sign is displayed.

23.

"On-premises sign" means a sign which advertises or directs attention to a business, product, service or activity which is available on the premises where the sign is located.

24.

"Permanent sign" means a sign which is designated and intended to be anchored to the ground, building or other structure for the duration of the use of the premises.

25.

"Pole sign" means a sign, including its supporting structure and flags not otherwise exempted, which is mounted on one or more free-standing poles or other support independent of a building and having its lowest edge eight feet or more above the elevation of the curb of the nearest roadway.

26.

"Political sign" means a temporary sign pertaining to any national, state or local election or cause which is displayed for a limited period of time prior to the primary or general election to which it pertains and which must be removed within ten days after the election or termination of candidacy, whichever occurs first.

27.

"Portable sign" means a sign that is designed to be transported and attached temporarily to the ground, a structure or another sign.

28.

"Projecting sign" means a sign other than a wall sign, which projects from and is supported by a wall of a building or structure.

29.

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

30.

"Public utility signs" means warning sign, informational sign, notice or markers which are customarily erected and maintained by publicly or privately owned public utilities, as essential to their operations but is not advertising a product.

31.

"Real estate sign" means a sign intended to be displayed for a limited period of time which advertises the financing, development, sale, transfer, lease, exchange or rent of real property or properties.

32.

"Roof sign" means a sign erected upon or above a roof or parapet of a building or structure.

33.

"Sign" means any medium, including its structure and component parts, which is used or intended to be used to attract attention to the subject matter for advertising purposes other than paint on the surface of a building.

34.

"Sign copy" means the letters, numbers, symbols, or geometric shapes, either in permanent or changeable form on a sign face.

35.

"Sign structure" means any structure which supports or is capable of supporting any sign as defined in this chapter.

36.

"Temporary sign" means any sign made of any material intended to be displayed for a limited period of time.

37.

"UBC standards" means the Uniform Building Code Standards, promulgated by the International Conference of Building Officials as adopted by this jurisdiction.

38.

"Wall sign" means any sign 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 said wall.

(Ord. 1848-2006 § 2(part), 2006; Ord. 1340-88 § 2(part), 1988).