§ 501.190. Definitions.

As used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have these prescribed meanings:

ABANDONED SIGN

Any sign remaining in place which for a period of ninety (90) days or more no longer advertises or identifies an ongoing business, product, service, idea or commercial activity located on the site.

ADVERTISING

Any writing, painting, display, emblem, drawing, sign or other device designed, used or intended for display or any type of publicity for the purpose of making anything known or attracting attention to a place, product, goods, services, idea or statement.

ALTERATION

Any change of copy, sign face, color, size, shape, illumination, location, construction or supporting structure of any sign.

ANIMATED SIGN

A sign that uses movement, lighting or special materials to depict action or create a special effect to imitate movement.

ATTENTION-ATTRACTING DEVICE

Any streamer, pennant, propeller, inflatable sign, inflatable device, tethered balloon, bunting or artificial device, shape, color, sound, light, exhibit, costumed person or figure, whether live, animated or still, located outside the building of a use or business that is intended to attract attention to said use or business that is conducted on either the property where the use or business is located or elsewhere within the City of Blue Springs.

AWNING SIGN

A sign imposed or painted upon an awning.

AWNINGS and CANOPIES

Awnings and canopies are roof-like covers that are projected from the wall of a building for the purpose of shielding a doorway, walkway or window from the elements. Awnings are often made of fabric or flexible plastic supported by a rigid frame, and may be retracted into the face of the building. Canopies may also be freestanding, such as a covering over service station islands.

BANNER

A sign having the characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentation applied to cloth, paper, fabric or other lightweight material, with only such material for a backing.

BEACON or SEARCH BEACON

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

BILLBOARD

Any sign with a sign area in excess of three hundred fifty (350) square feet that identifies or communicates a commercial or non-commercial message related to an activity conducted, a service rendered or a commodity sold at a location other than where the sign is located. The term billboard includes an electronic billboard, but the term electronic billboard does not include a non-electronic billboard.

BILLBOARD, ELECTRONIC

A sign, with a sign area in excess of three hundred fifty (350) square feet, whose sign face is a display created by light emitting diodes, liquid crystal displays, plasma display panels, pixel or sub-pixel technology, or other similar technology that identifies or communicates a commercial or a non-commercial message related to an activity conducted, a service rendered, a commodity sold at a location other than where the sign is located.

BUILDING

Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.

BUILDING FRONTAGE

That building elevation that fronts on a public street.

BUILDING MARKER

Any sign indicating the name of a building, date or incidental information about its construction.

BUILDING SIGN

A sign that is fastened to, projected from, or is placed or painted upon the exterior wall, window, door or roof of a building in any manner. The term "building sign" includes, but is not limited to, awning signs, incidental signs, marquee signs, projecting signs, under canopy signs and wall signs.

BUSINESS/TENANT FRONTAGE

That portion of a building frontage occupied by a single tenant space having a public entrance within the building frontage. For businesses located on the interior of a building without building frontage, the building elevation providing customer access shall be considered the business frontage.

CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN

A sign or portion thereof with characters, letters or illustrations that can be changed or rearranged manually, and not electronically, without altering the face of the sign.

CHANNEL LETTERS

Three-dimensional individually cut letters or figures, illuminated or unilluminated, affixed to a structure.

COMMERCIAL MESSAGE

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

CONSTRUCTION SIGN

A sign erected on the lot on which construction is taking place or on a building undergoing tenant or occupant change that advises the public of pertinent information regarding the construction, management, leasing and future tenants of the building(s).

COPY

Words, letters, numbers, figures, designs or other symbolic representations incorporated into a sign.

DEVELOPMENT

Any subdivision of land; any consolidation or accumulation of tracts of land; any material change in the use or appearance of any lot of land; any activity that affects lot lines, easement locations, number of lots, setback, locations of structures, dedications of streets or utilities; or the act of building buildings, structures or improvements on, in, under or over land.

DIRECTIONAL

A sign that indicates the required or preferred direction of movement for vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The Director of Community Development or a City staff member assigned to act in their behalf.

DIRECTORY SIGN

A sign for listing the tenants, occupants, floor plan, addresses or suite numbers of a building, center or residential building complex.

DOUBLE-FACED SIGN

A sign constructed to display its message on the outer surfaces of two (2) identical and opposite planes at an angle of sixty degrees (60°) or less.

DRIVE-THROUGH FACILITY

An establishment that by design, physical facilities, service or by packaging procedures encourages or permits customers to receive services, obtain goods or be entertained while remaining in their motor vehicles.

ELECTRONIC READER BOARD

A sign or portion thereof with a fixed or changing display/message composed of a series of lights which can be electronically changed or electronically rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign. Electronic messaging centers shall by any definition be the same as electronic reader boards as defined in this Code. An electronic billboard is not an electronic reader board hand an electronic reader board is not an electronic billboard.

ELEVATION (BUILDING)

The view of any building or other structure from any one (1) of four (4) sides regardless of the configuration or orientation of a building. No building shall be treated as having more than four (4) building elevations. Each elevation will generally be identified as a north, south, east or west building elevation.

EXTERNAL ILLUMINATION

The lighting of an object from a light source located a distance from the object.

FACADE

See "elevation."

FLAG

Any fabric containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols used as a symbol of a Government, political subdivision or private entity.

FLASHING SIGN

A sign that contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source.

FREESTANDING SIGN

Any non-movable sign not affixed to a building.

FRONT FOOT

A measure of land width, being one (1) foot along the front lot line of a property.

FRONTAGE, ROAD

A roadway with an alignment adjacent to and generally parallel with an interstate or limited access highway whose purpose is to serve commercial, institutional, industrial or typically medium- to high-density residential use.

FRONTAGE, STREET

The length of a lot line that abuts public street right-of-way.

FUTURE TENANT SIGN

A temporary sign that identifies the names of future businesses that will occupy a site or structure.

GOVERNMENT SIGN

A sign placed by a governmental body, governmental agency or public authority, such as traffic signs, signals or regulatory devices or warning; official emblems, public notices or official instruments; signs of historical interest; signs designating areas of architectural or historic significance or gateways; or other similar signs or devices. Such signs are authorized within all rights-of-way or other properties controlled by such governmental body, agency or authority.

GRAND OPENING

A one-time promotional activity not exceeding thirty (30) calendar days used by newly established businesses within two (2) months after occupancy to inform the public of their location and service available to the community.

GROSS FLOOR AREA

The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of a building or structure from the exterior face of the exterior walls, or from the centerline of a wall separating two (2) buildings, but excluding any space where floor-to-ceiling height is less than six (6) feet.

HEIGHT OF SIGN

The vertical distance from the base of the sign at normal grade to the top of the highest attached component of the sign.

ILLUMINATED SIGN

A sign designed to give forth artificial light directly or through translucent material from a source of light within such sign or a sign illuminated by an external light directed primarily toward such sign.

INCIDENTAL SIGN

An announcement or display providing information about the occupancy or conduct of business on a premises, such as logos of credit cards accepted on the premises, hours of operation, a "closed" or "open" sign, emergency contact person name and telephone number, street address, "help wanted," "no loitering or solicitations," security system notices, notices required by law and similar information.

INFLATABLE DEVICE

An object that is inflated with air or gas.

INFORMATIONAL SIGN

A sign with a purpose secondary to the use of the lot on which it is located that provides directives and/or identifying messages.

INTERNAL ILLUMINATION

A source of illumination entirely within the sign which makes the sign content visible at night by means of the light being transmitted through a translucent material, but wherein the source of the illumination is not visible.

INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE

The current edition of the International Building Code adopted by the City of Blue Springs.

LOT

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.

LUMINAIRE

A complete unit for the purpose of generating usable and somewhat controllable light that comprises one (1) or more lamps, parts designed to distribute the light, parts used to position and protect the light source, and a means to connect the light source(s) to an electrical supply.

MAINTENANCE

The repair or replacement in kind of individual sign components including paper, fabric or plastic copy panels, electrical wiring and bulbs, or paint, stucco or other exterior finishes. This definition shall not include the replacement of metal or wood cabinets, structural faces, supporting structural members, primary uprights, posts and poles, or the sign in its entirety.

MARQUEE

A roof-like structure, often bearing a sign, projecting over an entrance, as to a theater.

MARQUEE SIGN

Any sign attached flat against the marquee or permanent sidewalk canopy of a building and not exceeding above the roof line.

MASTER SIGN PLAN

A plot plan and accompanying documentation that identifies all existing and proposed on-premises signage on a development or complex of buildings.

MONUMENT SIGN

A freestanding sign mounted on an enclosed, structural base which base length is at least one and one-half (1.5) times the length of the sign face and which base depth is not narrower than the structure containing the sign face or twelve (12) inches, whichever is greater.

MULTIPLE-TENANT BUILDING

A development consisting of two (2) or more separate uses or tenancies that share either the same lot or structure and use common access and/or parking facilities.

NON-CONFORMING SIGN

Any sign that conformed to existing sign regulations at the time it was erected but that would no longer be permitted by virtue of the adoption of this Sign Code or an amendment thereto.

OFF-PREMISES DIRECTORY SIGN

A sign that assists the general public in finding a route to a business. A directory sign shall list only the name and/or logo of each eligible use. Permitted only in the Central Business District.

OFF-PREMISES SIGN

Any sign advertising or announcing any place, product, goods, services, idea or statement whose subject is not available or located at or on the lot where the sign is erected or placed.

ON-PREMISES SIGN

Any sign advertising or announcing any place, products, goods, services, idea or statement whose subject is available or located at or on the lot where the sign is erected or placed.

PAINTED WALL SIGN

A non-projecting sign that is painted directly upon the exterior wall of a building. Permitted only in the Central Business District. Wall signs may not be painted directly on to any building surface except in the Central Business District as defined in Section 501.140(I)(2).

PARAPET WALL

The vertical extension of the exterior building wall above the plate line.

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 a series, designed to move in the wind.

PERMANENT SIGN

A sign constructed of durable materials and intended to exist for the duration of time that the use or occupant is located on the premises.

PERSON

Any association, company, corporation, firm, organization, manager or corporate officer, or partnership, singular or plural, of any kind.

PLATE LINE

The point at which any part of the roof structure first touches or bears upon an external wall.

POLE SIGN

A permanent, freestanding sign that is mounted on pole(s) or other support(s) that is placed on, and anchored in, the ground and that is independent from any building or other structure.

POLITICAL SIGN

A sign designed for the purpose of advertising support of or opposition to a candidate or proposition for a public election.

PORTABLE SIGN

A detached movable sign.

PRINCIPAL BUILDING

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

PROJECTING SIGN

A sign affixed to a wall of a building and extending more than one (1) foot from the surface of such wall, usually perpendicular to the wall surface. Any sign affixed to a building in such a manner that its leading edge extends more than twelve (12) inches beyond the surface of the building.

PROPERTY FRONTAGE

The side of a lot or development site abutting on a public street.

REAL ESTATE SIGN

Any on-premises sign placed upon a lot, subdivision or parcel of land or on a building advertising the lease, rent or sale of said building, lot or parcel of land.

RIDER

A small sign attached to a real estate sign that provides limited information about the property (e.g., number of bedrooms, agent's name, open house, etc.).

RIGHT-OF-WAY

The land opened, reserved or dedicated for a street, sewer, water line, walk, drainage course or other public purpose.

ROOF SIGN

Any sign erected or constructed as an integral or essentially integral part of a normal roof structure of any design.

SANDWICH SIGN

An "A-frame" sign which stands with self-supporting elements and is not permanently affixed to the ground. The purpose of a sandwich sign shall be to communicate a specific message or information (e.g., lunch menus, special sales, promotional events) that is not found in a business's permanent signage. A sandwich sign is permitted only in the Central Business District.

SETBACK

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

SIGN

1. 

Any device conveying either commercial or non-commercial messages or both commercial or non-commercial messages for visual communication that is used for the purpose of bringing the subject thereof to the attention of the public, but not including any lawful display of merchandise.

2. 

The term "sign" shall also mean and include any display of one (1) or more of the following:

a. 

Any letter, numeral, figure, emblem, picture, outline, character, spectacle delineation, announcement, trademark, logo;

b. 

Multiple colored bands, a stripe or stripes, patterns, outlines or delineations displayed for the purpose of commercial identification; or

c. 

Anything specified above in (1) or (2) in part or in combination by any means whereby the same are made visible from beyond the boundaries of the lot on which the same are displayed for the purpose of attracting attention outdoors to make anything known.

SIGN AREA

The entire face of a sign, including the extreme limits of writing, representation, emblem or other display, together with any material or color forming an integral part of the background of the display but not including any supporting framework.

SIGN FACE

The area or display surface used for the message.

SPECIAL EVENT SIGN

A sign that carries a message regarding a special event or function that is of general interest to the community and does not include for-profit business promotional activities that are strictly commercial in nature.

STRUCTURE

Anything constructed or erected on the ground or which is attached to something on the ground, including sign supports, uprights, braces and framework, whether installed on, above or below the surface of land or water.

SUSPENDED SIGN

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

THREE-DIMENSIONAL SIGNS

Signs that have a depth or relief on their surface.

TIME AND TEMPERATURE UNIT

A sign or portion of a sign displaying only current time and temperature in an electronic, digital fashion.

UMBRELLA SIGN

An umbrella that has a printed surface with advertising.

UNDER CANOPY SIGN

A display attached to the underside of a marquee or canopy and protruding over public or private sidewalks or rights-of-way. This type of sign is categorized as a suspended sign.

USE

Includes all purposes or activities for which the land or buildings are arranged, designed or intended, or for which land or buildings are occupied or maintained. A use may include multiple ownership, tenancy or affiliations and may include accessory, conditional and temporary uses.

VEHICLE SIGN

A sign mounted, painted or otherwise placed on a trailer, truck, automobile or other vehicle so parked or placed so that the sign thereon is visible from a public street or right-of-way and is so parked primarily for the purpose of displaying advertising signage.

WALL SIGN

A non-projecting sign that is attached parallel to a wall or building and extends from the surface of the wall no more than one (1) foot.

WINDOW

An opening constructed in a wall that functions to admit light or air inside a building, such that individuals within the building can look out upon the exterior landscape, and is often framed and spanned with glass or similar surface.

WINDOW SIGN

Any sign, pictures, symbol or combination thereof designed to attract off-premises attention and communicate information about an on-premises 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.

R.O. 1996 § 501.190; Ord. No. 3221 § 3, 7-17-2000; Ord. No. 3487 § 1, 7-15-2002; Ord. No. 3559 § 17, 4-7-2003; Ord. No. 4013 § 1, 12-18-2006; Ord. No. 4123 § 2, 12-17-2007; Ord. No. 4303 § 9, 7-7-2010; Ord. No. 4421 § 5, 12-17-2012