Any name, nameplate, billboard, poster, panel, display, illustration, structure or device used for visual communication which is affixed, painted or represented directly or indirectly upon a building or other outdoor surface for the purpose of bringing the subject thereof to the attention of the public or advertising a business, commodity, service or product or for identifying a business structure or use of land.
(1) SIGN, ADVERTISING -- A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service or entertainment conducted, sold or offered elsewhere than upon the property on which the sign is located. An advertising sign shall include a commercial billboard.
(2) SIGN, BUSINESS -- A sign which directs attention to a business, profession, industry or similar activity conducted upon the property on which the sign is located.
(3) ANIMATED SIGN -- A sign or any device designed to attract attention by visual means through the movement or semblance of movement by mechanical, electrical or natural means.
(4) BANNER -- A sign which has its letter or design applied to cloth, canvas or other flexible material which is durable and weather-resistant.
(5) CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN -- A sign on which message copy can be changed through use of attachable letters, numerals or graphics or by switching of lamps. A changeable copy sign shall not be considered to be an animated sign.
(6) DIRECTIONAL SIGNS -- An informational sign containing no advertising, indicating only direction, entry or exit, loading or service area, fire lanes, parking, no trespassing or similar information incidental to the primary use and which is located on the lot to which the information pertains.
(7) ERECTION OF A SIGN -- The installation, construction, placement, relocation, enlargement, alteration, attachment, suspension, painting, posting or displaying of a sign, including the replacement or substitution of face panels on or within a permanent frame or a change in the copy of a sign (except for a change in the letters of an approved changeable copy sign). Normal maintenance of existing conforming signs is not included in this definition.
(8) FACADE AREA -- The area of that side of a building or portion of a building upon which a sign is to be affixed. Area shall be measured vertically from grade to the top of the parapet wall or eaves and horizontally across the entire width of the building elevation, provided that in no calculation shall the vertical dimension of the ground floor be considered to exceed 10 feet. A building shall be considered to front on a street if its face is parallel to the street or at an angle thereto not exceeding 45º.
(9) FREESTANDING SIGN -- A sign which is self-supporting upon the ground or which is supported by means of poles, pylons or standards in the ground. A freestanding sign is not attached to a building, except by secondary supports such as guy wires.
(10) ILLUMINATED SIGN, DIRECT -- A sign which is designed to give forth artificial light directly or through transparent or translucent material from a source of light within or upon said sign.
(11) ILLUMINATED SIGN, INDIRECT -- A sign which is designed to be illuminated by artificial light from a source adjacent to or outside of the sign in such a manner that the source of the light is not directly visible from the street or any other intended vantage point of the sign.
(12) MARQUEE SIGN -- Any sign attached to or constructed in a marquee or other roofed structure attached to a building, which sign may include a changeable copy sign.
(13) NAMEPLATE SIGN -- A sign indicating only the name, occupation and/or address of persons or person residing on or legally occupying the premises.
(14) OFFICIAL SIGN -- A sign erected by the state, county, Township or other legally constituted governmental body.
(15) PERMANENT SIGN -- A sign which is constructed of durable weather-resistant material and which is intended to be displayed for a long period of time, normally at least one year in duration.
(16) POLITICAL SIGN -- A sign which indicates the name, cause or affiliation of a person seeking public office or on which reference is made to an issue for which a public election or referendum is scheduled to be held.
(17) PROJECTING SIGN -- A sign mounted to a wall or other vertical building surface, other than a wall sign, which projects more than 12 inches from the wall or surface to which it is mounted; included are signs on canopies and marquees.
(18) ROOF SIGN -- A sign erected on, above or projecting above the eaves, roof or parapet of any building.
(19) SIGN, AREA OF -- The face of a sign, including all lettering, wording, designs and symbols, together with background, whether open or enclosed, on which they are displayed, including the frame, but not including any supporting framework and bracing. Where a sign consists of individual letters, numbers, characters or symbols attached to a building wall, window or door, the area of the signs shall be considered that of the smallest rectangle or other regular geometric shape which encompasses all of the letters and symbols. When a double-faced sign is erected in such a manner that both sides are not visible from the same vantage point, then only one face shall be used to compute the sign area. In the case of three-or-more-faced signs, only one side shall be excluded from the calculation of the sign area. In the case of a cylindrical sign, 1/2 of the total surface area shall be used to compute the area.
(20) SIDEWALK, SANDWICH BOARD OR "A" FRAME SIGN -- A movable sign which is not secured or attached permanently to the ground.
(21) SUPER GRAPHIC -- The application of paint, acrylic or other material directly onto a permanent wall in such a manner as to create a mural or an aesthetic design which will enhance the urban landscape. A super graphic shall not contain any advertising, but may include the names of the artist and the donor in an area not to exceed 1/2 of 1% of its total area.
(22) TEMPORARY SIGN -- A sign constructed of paper, cloth, canvas or other lightweight material intended to be displayed for a short period of time, normally less than 30 days.
(23) TIME AND TEMPERATURE SIGNS -- A sign or portion of a sign whose sole purpose is to indicate the time and/or temperature.
(24) VEHICLE SIGN -- A sign affixed or painted on a vehicle, trailer or similar device. Any such sign located on a premises for a period of three or more days in any six-month period shall be considered a permanent sign.
(25) WALL SIGN -- A sign posted on, painted on, suspended from or otherwise affixed to a wall or vertical surface of a building which does not project more than 12 inches from the wall or vertical surface to which it is attached.
(26) WINDOW SIGN -- A temporary sign attached or affixed to a window or door or a sign which is readily visible and can be read from the exterior through a window or door from a distance of 20 feet therefrom.