§ 62-30. Definitions.
The following words, terms and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Abandoned sign means a sign structure that has ceased to be used and/or contains obsolete sign copy for a period greater than six months; or a sign structure on which the owner no longer intends to display sign copy.
Apartment name sign means a sign identifying an apartment building or complex of apartment buildings.
Awning sign means a sign that is part of, or attached to, an awning, canopy, or other fabric, plastic, or structural projection or cover over a door, window, storefront, or outdoor service area.
Building elevation means the entire side of a building, from the ground level to the roofline, as viewed perpendicular to the walls on that side of the building. For each commercial occupancy in shopping centers, planned industrial parks or other nonresidential multiple tenant occupancies (other than office buildings), the building elevation shall be calculated as that portion of the building wall that is adjacent to a street or on-site parking area leased by the individual commercial tenant.
Building line means a line established by zoning provision of the Farmers Branch Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, as amended, beyond which no part of a principal building or structure may be erected.
Building official means the officer or other persons within the city charged with administration and enforcement of the sign ordinance.
Changeable message sign means an on-premises sign that has changeable text by means of removal and replacement of individual letters or words or by electronic means with letters, words or graphics created by energizing luminaries or other devices. Electronic changeable message sign shall include, but is not limited to, light emitting diodes, incandescent luminaries and liquid quartz displays.
Commercial speech means any speech or expression that relates solely to economic or business interest of the speaker or its audience.
Construction sign means a temporary sign identifying the property owner, architect, contractor, engineer, landscape architect, decorator or mortgagee engaged in the design, construction or improvement of the premises on which the sign is located.
Development sign means a temporary sign related to the promotion of new developments and located on the premises involved in the development.
Erect means to build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend, or affix and shall also include the painting of signs on any exterior surface.
Fascia or surface means the surface of a sign upon, against, or through which the message is displayed or illustrated on the sign.
Freestanding sign means a permanent sign which is attached to, or a part of, a completely self-supporting structure which is set in or below the ground surface and is not attached to any building or any other structure.
Garage sale means a sale of used personal property conducted by a dwelling occupant on the property of the occupant such as used clothing, furniture, lawn care equipment and other items of personal property.
Garage sale sign means a temporary non-illuminated sign advertising a sale of personal property similar to a garage sale, estate sale, or yard sale, that states or indicates the address, location or direction of the sale.
Illuminated sign means a sign lighted by or exposed to artificial lighting either by lights on or in the sign or directed toward the sign.
Institutional sign means a sign located on the premises for the identity of a school, church, hospital or similar public or quasi-public institution.
Marquee means a permanent roofed structure attached to and supported by a building.
Marquee sign means a business sign (i) attached to, (ii) painted on, (iii) inscribed on, or (iv) partly or fully supported by and made an integral part of a marquee.
Monument sign means a low profile freestanding ground mounted sign that is constructed with base and structural materials that match the materials of the main building.
Noncommercial speech means any and all speech or expression that is not commercial speech.
Off-premise sign means any sign the content of which does not relate exclusively to the name, location, products, person, accommodations, services or activities of or on the premises on which the sign is located and includes, permits and allows both noncommercial and commercial speech.
On-premises sign means any sign the content of which relates to the premises on which it is located, referring exclusively to the name, location, products, and persons. Accommodations, services, or activities of or on those premises, and includes, permits and allows both noncommercial as well as commercial speech.
Person means any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company or business entity or organization of any kind.
Personal property sale sign means a temporary sign advertising personal property for sale on the premises on which the sign is located.
Political sign means a sign relating to (i) the election of a person to public office, (ii) a political party, or (iii) a proposition to be voted upon at an election called by a public body.
Portable sign means any sign not permanently attached to the ground or to a building or structure and shall include signs painted on or affixed to vehicles or other movable objects and placed or parked so as to draw attention to a product, location, business or service.
Projecting sign means a sign which projects perpendicular to the building facade, which has one end, attached to a building or other permanent structure.
Pylon sign means a freestanding sign which consists of a cabinet atop a single support element. The support element must be at least 33 percent as wide as the cabinet top. The support structure must be covered in materials matching the exterior of the primary building.
Real estate directional sign means a temporary sign directing the public to homes for sale within the city.
Real estate sign means a temporary sign pertaining to the sale or rental of property and advertising property only for use for which it is legally zoned.
Roof sign means a sign erected upon, over, or above a roof or building.
Sign means any letter, figure, character, mark, plane, point, marquee sign, design, poster, handbill, placard, pictorial, picture, stroke, stripe, line, trademark, reading matter or illuminated surface, which shall be so constructed, placed, attached, painted, erected, fastened or manufactured in any manner whatsoever, so that the same shall be used for the attraction of the public to any place, subject, person, firm, corporation, performance, event, article, machine or merchandise, whatsoever, which are displayed in any manner whatsoever.
Sign area means the area of the smallest rectangle that would encompass the graphics that makes up the sign. The area of any double-sided or V-shaped sign shall be the area of the largest single face only. The area of a sphere shall be computed as the area of a circle or portion thereof.
Sign face means the surface upon, against or through which the sign copy is displayed or illustrated, not including structural supports, architectural features of a building or sign structure, nonstructural or decorative trim or any area that are separated from the background surface upon which the sign copy is displayed by a distinct delineation, such as a reveal or border.
Site means a portion of land and/or building which houses a single activity and the contiguous grounds and parking areas which exclusively service that building, or, any number of activities housed by a single building or multiple buildings which share common egress or ingress from a public street or right-of-way.
Temporary outside sales means the placement of articles for sale by a business on a private sidewalk or in a private lot serving that business, which are representative of merchandise offered normally for sale inside the business, for temporary periods of time.
Temporary real estate open sign means a sign not exceeding three square feet in area on which appears only the word "OPEN," the name of the real estate company or homeowner, and a directional arrow.
Wall sign means a sign (i) attached to, (ii) painted on, or (iii) erected against a wall or parapet wall of a building or structure with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel or perpendicular to the plane of the wall. Neon tubing attached directly to a wall shall be considered a wall sign.
Window signs means any sign affixed to or on the inside of a building within five feet of a window and which is visible from the exterior of the building with a message intended to draw attention to a business, product or service provided at the premises.
( Ord. No. 3247, § 1, 11-19-2013 )