§ 4.5. Definitions and interpretation.

Words and phrases used in this article 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 shall be given the meanings set forth in such ordinance. 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 article.

(1)

Animated sign. Any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or create a special effect or scene.

(2)

Banner. Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is permanently mounted to a pole or a building by a permanent frame at one or more edges. National flags, state or municipal flags, or the official flag of any institution or business shall not be considered banners.

(3)

Beacon. Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same zone as the light source, including but not limited to, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.

(4)

Building marker. Any sign indicating the name of a building and a date and incidental information about its construction, which sign is cut into masonry surface or made of bronze or other permanent material.

(5)

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

(6)

Canopy sign. 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.

(7)

Changeable copy sign. A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters, or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign. A sign on which the message changes more than eight times per day shall be considered an animated sign and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this ordinance. A sign on which the only copy that changes is an electronic or mechanical indication of time or temperature shall be considered a "time and temperature" portion of a sign and not a changeable copy sign for purposes of this ordinance.

(8)

City. The City of Neoga.

(9)

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

(10)

Flag. Any fabric, banner, or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols, used as a symbol of government, political subdivision, or other entity.

(11)

Freestanding sign. 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.

(12)

Incidental sign. A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary to the use of the zone lot on which it is located, such as "no parking", "entrance", "loading only", "telephone," and other similar directives. No sign with a commercial message legible from a position off the zone lot on which the sign is located shall be considered incidental.

(13)

Lot. A designated parcel, tract, or area of land established by plat, subdivision, or as otherwise permitted by law, to be separately owned, used, developed, or built upon.

(14)

Marquee. 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.

(15)

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

(16)

Nonconforming sign. Any sign that does not conform to the requirements of this ordinance.

(17)

Pennant. 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.

(18)

Person. An individual, trustee, executor, other fiduciary, corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization, or other entity acting as a unit.

(19)

Portable sign. Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported.

(20)

Principal building. The primary building on a lot or a building that houses a principal use.

(21)

Projecting sign. Any sign affixed to a building or wall in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than six inches beyond the surface of such building or wall.

(22)

Residential sign. Any sign located in a district zoned for residential uses that contain no commercial message except advertising for goods or services legally offered on the premises where the sign is located, if offering such service at such location conforms with all the requirements of the zoning ordinance of the city.

(23)

Roof sign. Any sign erected and constructed wholly on and over the roof of a building, supported by the roof structure, and extending vertically above the highest portion of the roof.

(24)

Setback. The distance from the property line to the nearest part of the applicable building, structure, or sign, measured perpendicularly to the property line.

(25)

Sign. 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.

(26)

Street. Any vehicular way that: (a) is an existing state, county, or municipal roadway; (b) is shown upon a plat approved pursuant to law; or (c) is approved by other official action.

(27)

Street frontage. The distance for which a lot line of a zone lot adjoins a public street, from one lot line intersecting said street to the furthest distance lot line intersecting the same street.

(28)

Suspended sign. A sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.

(29)

Temporary sign. Any sign that is used only temporarily and is not permanently mounted.

(30)

Wall sign. Any sign attached parallel to, but within six 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.

(31)

Window sign. Any sign, picture, symbol, or combination thereof, designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale, or service, that is placed inside a window or upon the window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.

(32)

Zone lot. 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 of the city.

(Ord. No. 739-02-2004, § 5, 2-16-04)