§ 17.5-3. Definitions and interpretation.

Words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the meanings set forth in this section. Words and phrases not defined in this section, but defined in the zoning ordinance of the City of Black Jack, shall be given the meanings set forth in such ordinance. Principles for computing sign area and sign height are contained in section 17.5-13. All other words and phrases shall be given their common, ordinary meaning, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Section headings or captions are for reference purposes only and shall not be used in the interpretation of this chapter.

Attraction display means a string of pennants, a flag, a search light, a banner or inflatable used in connection with a temporary outdoor attraction including a grand opening, a special event or the sale of merchandise on a commercially zoned property as permitted under section 17.5-12(7) of this chapter.

Banner means any temporary sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is mounted on a building.

Beacon means any light with one (1) or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one (1) or more points not on the same zoned lot as the light source; also, any light with one (1) or more beams that rotate or move.

Billboard means any sign which (i) is located on a lot not containing a building, (ii) is visible from any point of the traveled ways of an interstate highway, and (iii) is not a roof sign, post or standard sign, monument sign or a projecting sign.

Building marker means any sign indicating the name of a building and street address, which sign is cut into a masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.

Building sign means any sign attached to any part of a building, as contrasted to a freestanding sign.

Canopy means a roof-like structure extending from a building entry that provides pedestrians protection from the weather. Not intended to be driven under.

Canopy sign means any sign that is a part of or attached to an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy. The building number is not to be included in the total signage for the location.

Commercial message means any sign wording, or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises or calls attention to a business, product, service or other commercial activity.

Commercial property means any property located in a "C" Commercial District, "MXD" Mixed Use Development District or any future zoning districts commercial in nature.

Director means the director of public works of the city or his or her designee.

Directory sign means a permanent on-premises sign for a collection of shops or other businesses located on a single parcel of land in the C-2 Shopping Zone. A directory sign shall not be a post sign.

Electronic changing image message sign (ECIMS) means any surface that contains writing, video projection, illumination, pictorial representation, illustration, decoration, emblem, symbol, design, trademark, banner, flag, pennant, or any other figure or character that through the use of moving structural elements, flashing or sequential lights, lights in a dot matrix or LED configuration, which may be changed intermittently, or other automated method results in movement, the appearance of movement, or change of sign image, message, or display.

Erect means to build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix and shall also include the painting of wall signs.

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

Freestanding sign means any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure.

Ground sign means any sign not attached to a building which is supported by uprights, posts, braces or a solid base not attached to any part of a building, but not including a post sign. If the support is not a solid base, then the bottom of the sign shall be no more than twenty-four (24) inches from the ground. This is not a post sign.

Identification sign means a sign with only name and address of occupant.

Incidental sign means a sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary to the use of the zoned lot on which it is located, such as "no parking," "entrance," "loading only," "telephone," and other similar directives.

Illuminated sign means any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outlines illuminated by electric light or luminous tubes as part of the sign proper.

Living sign means a sign held by, under the control of, or attached to a human or animal, located outdoors. A person or animal dressed in a costume excluding temporary signage used in a parade or an amusement activity for which a permit has been issued by the city in accordance with other existing city ordinances.

Lot means any piece or parcel of land or a portion of a subdivision, the boundaries of which have been established by some legal instrument of record, that is recognized and intended as a unit for the purpose of transfer of ownership.

Marquee means any permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of the building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.

Marquee sign means any sign attached to in any manner, or made a part of, a marquee.

Nonconforming sign means any sign that does not conform to the requirements of this chapter.

Off-premises outdoor advertising sign means a sign, including a billboard, that falsely advertises that an activity, business, product, commodity, service, entertainment or attraction is conducted, sold, offered or existing on the premises upon which such sign is located and thereby misdirects traffic.

Pennant means any lightweight plastic, fabric, or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire, or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind.

Person means any association, company, corporation, firm, organization or partnership, singular or plural, of any kind.

Portable sign means any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted to A- or T-frames; menu and sandwich board signs; balloons used as signs; umbrellas used for advertising; and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business.

Post sign means any sign not attached to a building or structure and supported by one (1) or more stationary poles, posts or standards. No such poles, posts or standards shall have a cross section greater than one hundred (100) square inches.

Principal building means the building in which is conducted the principal use of the zoned lot on which it is located. Zoned lots with multiple principal uses may have multiple principal buildings, but storage buildings, garages and other clearly accessory uses shall not be considered principal buildings.

Projecting sign means any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than twelve (12) inches beyond the surface of such building or wall.

Residential sign means any sign located in a district zoned for residential uses.

Roof sign means any sign erected and constructed wholly or partially on and/or over the roof of a building, supported by the roof structure, and extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof.

Sign means any device, fixture, placard or structure that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity, or to communicate information of any kind to the public.

Signage plan means a narrative and graphic depiction of the proposed or existing signs on each zoned lot.

Snipe sign means a temporary sign or poster affixed to a utility pole, tree, fence or similar object not designed for the purpose of supporting a sign.

Street means a strip of land or way subject to vehicular traffic (as well as pedestrian traffic) that provides direct or indirect access to property, including, but not limited to, alleys, avenues, boulevards, courts, drives, highways, lanes, places, roads, terraces, trails, or other thoroughfares.

Street frontage means the distance for which a lot line of a zoned lot adjoins a public street, from one (1) lot line intersecting said street to the furthest distant lot line intersecting the same street.

Structural trim means the molding, battens, cappings, nailing strips, latticing and platforms which are attached to the sign structure.

Temporary sign means any sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently mounted. Any sign displayed for a period greater than four (4) weeks is to be considered a permanent sign.

Wall sign means any sign attached parallel to, but within twelve (12) inches of, a wall, painted on the wall surface of, or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure which is supported by such wall or building, and which displays only one sign surface.

Window sign means any sign, picture, symbol, or combination thereof that is placed inside a window or upon the window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.

Zoned lot means a parcel of land in single ownership that is of sufficient size to meet minimum zoning requirements for area, coverage, and use, and that can provide such yards and other open spaces as required by the zoning regulations.

Zoning district means a zoning district as described in the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Black Jack.

( Ord. No. 1085 , § 1, 11-17-15)