11.08.020 Definitions

A. For the general purpose of this Chapter, certain abbreviations, terms, phrases and their derivatives shall be construed as specified herein. 1. Animated sign. The movement or the optical illusion of movement of any part of the sign structure, design or pictorial segment including the movement of any illumination or the flashing, flickering, or varying of light intensity. The automatic changing of all or any part of the facing of a sign or any sign or part of a sign set in motion by movement of the atmosphere shall be considered to be animation under this Chapter. 2. Banner. Any temporary sign of lightweight fabric or similar material intended to be hung either with or without frames, possessing characters, letters, illustrations, or ornamentations of any kind. National flags, flags of political subdivisions or other public entity shall not be considered banners for the purpose of this Chapter. Refer to definition of Flag. 3. Billboard. A sign, regardless of type or size, that has a changeable face or faces, illuminated, electronic or otherwise, and said face or faces are leased for advertising business, services, entertainment, and so forth which is conducted or sold elsewhere than on the premises on which the sign is located. 4. Building-mounted sign. A sign directly mounted to a building. Building-mounted signs shall include canopy, fascia, parapet, projecting and wall mounted signs. Roof mounted signs are not permitted. 5. Canopy Sign. A type of building-mounted sign mounted and supported by a permanent canopy, arcade or portal and the faces of which are near perpendicular to the nearest façade. 6. Center (Business, Commercial, or Industrial). A group of three or more businesses associated by common agreement or under common ownership which comprises a contiguous land parcel unit with common parking facilities. 7. Clear view triangle. The area at a driveway and/or street intersection where signs or other structures must be placed outside of. It is measured from the right-of-way intersection corner on the subject property, a distance of forty-five (45) feet in both directions, and then connected as a triangle. 8. Decorative Sign. A permanent sign and sign frame used to identify the residential address and name that are made of the following: a. Wood or simulated wood (carved, routed, and painted); b. Rock or stone. Boulders with engraved lettering or metal lettering: stones set in mortar, combined with wood or metal; c. Stucco; d. Metal – decorative (containing an element of wrought iron, brass, steel, copper or other painted metals); e. Architectural signs that make use of statuary, fountains, and old world/Swiss European architectural elements; f. Signs painted on the exterior of the building in a European fashion; or, g. A combination of the above. 9. Dedication Plaques. Non-illuminated names of buildings, dates of erection, monument citations, commemorative tables and the like when carved in stone, concrete, metal, or any other permanent type of construction and made an integral part of a permitted structure or made flush to the ground. 10. Development Entrance Sign. A permanent sign erected at the entrance(s) of a residential or commercial development. 11. Directional Sign. Any sign which is designed and erected solely for the purpose of traffic or pedestrian direction and placed on the property to which or on which the public is directed, and which contains no advertising copy. 12. Electronic Sign. A window, wall, or other sign that changes messages through a marquee, reader board, electronic center, or other replaceable copy area. 13. Flag. Any fabric, banner, or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns, or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision or other public entity. 14. Freestanding Sign. A sign which is erected on its own self-supporting permanent structure and detached from any supporting elements of a building. Signs on walls or fences which are not an integral part of a building are freestanding signs. 15. Governmental Sign. A sign required by law or sign of a duly constituted governmental body, such as traffic sign, warning sign or no trespassing sign. 16. Grand Opening Sign, Banner, and Display. Those signs, banners, or displays used to announce the opening of a new business. 17. Historic Sign. A sign that by its construction materials, age, prominent location, unique design, or craftsmanship, provides historic character, individuality, and a sense of place or orientation regarding clues to a building’s history. 18. Identification Sign. A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment or product related to uses on the site where the sign is located and which is not otherwise defined in this Chapter. 19. Illuminated Sign. A sign whose surface is lighted internally (backlit) or externally (front lit). 20. Incidental Sign. A sign, generally informational, that has a purpose secondary to the use of the 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 lot on which the sign is located shall be considered incidental. 21. Inflatable sign. A temporary sign consisting of a nonporous bag, balloon or other object inflated by any means and designed to draw attention to a commercial business. Inflatable signs are not permitted in any zone. 22. Maintenance. The repairing or repainting of a sign structure, changing of reader panels or directory signs, or renewing copy of which has been made unusable by ordinary wear or tear of weather or accident, which does not exceed 50 per cent of the total replacement value of the sign or sign structure as determined by the Zoning Administrator. “Maintenance” shall not include copy changes due to ownership changes or name changes. 23. Menu Board. A sign for drive-in and drive-thru businesses which list those items and services available at the premises. This does not include menu boards posted at a restaurant entrance door for review by a diner. 24. Monument or Ground Sign. A freestanding sign whose sign face is supported by a base or by uprights or braces placed upon the ground. 25. Non-conforming Sign. Signs which lawfully existed within the Interlaken Town prior to the effective date of this Chapter, but which do not comply with the requirements of this code Chapter, and which uninterruptedly continue to advertise the same business name and exist past the effective date of this Chapter in a state of non-compliance, shall be deemed non-conforming signs. 26. Off-premises Sign. A sign which directs attention to a business, commodity, service, entertainment or product not related to uses on the premises where the sign is located. 27. Open House Sign. A temporary on-site or off-premises sign to indicate that a particular property is open for viewing by the public. 28. 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. 29. Permanent Sign. A permitted sign that has been reviewed by the VAC and approved by the Zoning Administrator. The sign is permanently attached to a building or to the ground. 30. Political Sign. A temporary sign which supports the candidacy of any candidate for public office or urges action of any other matter on the ballot of primary, general or special elections. 31. Portable Sign. A sign designed to be movable from one location to another and is not permanently attached to the ground or any structure. This includes portable Aframe type signs. Approved styles for portable A-frame signs include weighted slot styles and hinged handle styles with spread bases. 32. Projecting Sign. A type of building-mounted sign, other than a wall or canopy sign, which projects more than twelve inches from and is supported by a wall of a building. 33. Public Utility Sign. Signs placed by a public utility for the safety, welfare, or convenience of the public, such as signs identifying high voltage, public telephone or underground cables. 34. Real Estate For Sale, Rent or Lease Sign. An on-site temporary For Sale, Rent or Lease sign placed on the property to which the sign refers. 35. Sign. Any identification, description, illustration, or device which is affixed directly or indirectly upon a building, structure or land which directs attention to a product, place, activity, service, person, institution, or business, and which is visible from any public street, alley or public place, but not to include menu boards or banners as defined in this Section. A vehicle- mounted sign on a vehicle that is habitually parked or stationed at the site of a business and serves to advertise or identify the business shall be construed as a sign for the purpose of this Chapter. National flags and flags of political subdivisions shall not be construed as signs. 36. Sign Area. The smallest rectangle which encompasses all the letters or symbols. 37. Sign Structure. The supports and framework of the sign. 38. Street Pole Banners. A banner that is temporarily installed on select Town light poles. 39. Temporary Development/Model Home Sign. A non-illuminated temporary sign allowed to be erected upon a parcel to designate future occupancy by a business, development or other concern designated thereon. 40. Temporary Event Sign. A sign, other than a commercial sign, posted to advertise a community event or series of events sponsored by a public agency, school, church, civic, fraternal organization, or similar noncommercial, notfor-profit organization. 41. Temporary Holiday Decorations. Those temporary decorations used to commemorate a recognized holiday. 42. Temporary detached sale promotion signs or banners. A professionally designed detached sign or banner that is temporarily displayed to identify or describe a promotional item or effort and is appropriately designed for primary exposure on Main Street. These are separate from the portable A-frame signs. 43. Vehicle Sign. Any identification, description, illustration, symbol, or device which is affixed directly or indirectly upon a truck, bus, car, boat, trailer or other vehicle which identifies or directs attention to a product, place, activity, service, person, institution or business. Signs upon a vehicle are exempt from permit requirements, provided that any such vehicle with a sign face of over two (2) square feet is not conspicuously parked so as to constitute a sign. Nothing herein contained shall prevent such a vehicle from being used for bona fide delivery or other vehicular purposes when all of the following conditions are adhered to: a. Primary purpose of such vehicle or equipment is not the display of signs. b. Such signs are magnetic, decals, or painted upon an integral part of the vehicle or equipment as originally designed by the manufacturer, and do not break the silhouette of the vehicle. c. Vehicle/equipment is in operating condition, currently registered and licensed to operate on public streets when applicable and actively used in the daily function of the business to which such signs relate. d. Vehicles and equipment are not used primarily as static displays, advertising an off-premises event, product or service, nor utilized as storage, shelter or distribution points for commercial products or services for the general public. e. During periods of activity exceeding forty-eight (48) hours such vehicles/equipment are not so parked or placed that the signs thereon are displayed to the public; and f. Vehicles and equipment engaged in construction projects, and the on-site storage of equipment and vehicles offered to the general public for sale, rent or lease, shall not be subjected to this condition. 44. Wall-mounted Sign: A sign mounted flat against a wall, projecting less than twelve inches, or painted on the wall of a building or structure with the exposed face of the sign in a plane parallel to the face of said wall. 45. 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 windowpanes of glass and is visible from the exterior of the window. Window signs are not regulated in this Chapter.