§ 41-2. Definitions.
In addition to the definitions in this chapter and in article 1 of the building code, the definitions in the Aurora zoning ordinance, as now or hereafter amended, are incorporated into this chapter by reference; however, unless otherwise provided, where a term is specifically defined in this subsection, the definition herein shall control, otherwise the definition in article 1 of the building code, if any, shall control.
Area: The area of a sign shall be as follows:
(1)
The area of a ground sign is the entire area within a rectangle, circle or triangle enclosing the extreme limits of all letters, symbols and shapes contained in the sign, together with any box, cabinet or backing upon which it is mounted.
(2)
The area of a wall sign composed of individual figures is the entire area within a rectangle, circle or triangle enclosing the extreme limits of each letter, symbol and shape contained in the sign.
(3)
The area of a wall sign with a box, cabinet or backing is the area of the box, cabinet or backing.
(4)
On a multisided sign only one (1) face (the largest, if they are unequal) is counted.
(5)
The area of a flag is the area of one (1) side of the flag when fully extended.
(6)
The area of a monument sign or a sign on a landscape wall or fence is the entire area of the lettering and symbols, not the entire slab, wall or fence.
(7)
The area of a canopy sign is the area as viewed horizontally, regardless of the pitch of the canopy.
(8)
The area of a painted window sign is the area of any product symbols and lettering only.
Arterial street: A street listed as such on the City of Aurora comprehensive plan.
Attention-getting device: Any pennant, valance, banner, searchlight, balloon, bare bulb-lighting, or similar device or ornamentation designed to attract attention.
Barber pole: A pole with spiral stripes of red and white, used as a symbol of the barber's trade.
Commercial flags: Flags displayed by commercial uses; not including flags of governmental entities.
Downtown core: The area described as the downtown care of the Aurora zoning ordinance as amended.
Erect: To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend, affix or paint.
Facade (or building facade): The exterior wall of a building, from the ground to the roofline. For the purposes of this ordinance, a roof varying no more than forty-five (45) degrees from the vertical plane shall be considered part of the facade.
Frontage: The length of the property line of one (1) use along each public or private right-of-way or along the Fox River.
Height: The vertical distance between the highest part of the sign and the finished grade at the sign base, or the edge of pavement level of the relevant primary highway right-of-way, if applicable.
Lintel: A horizontal crosspiece carrying the weight of the structure above it.
Mechanical movement: Animation, color changes, projected images, revolution, movement up and down, movement sideways, rotation, swinging, undulation or the impression of movement via electronically controlled copy changes, polarized light or other means.
Nameplates, cornerstones and plaques (commercial): Signs of metal or stone identifying the present or past businesses or uses, which are attached to or inlaid into the building.
Nameplates, residential: Signs identifying the name or address of the occupants of a residential building.
Orient: To aim a sign at a pedestrian or vehicular traffic stream of intended viewers.
Outlot: A separate lot adjacent to but not part of the premises of a shopping center.
Primary highway: Any road designated by the governor and the United States and Illinois Department of Transportation as part of the Federal-aid Primary System.
Projecting bank clock: A clock and/or temperature reporting device, together with its structure, accessory to a bank or savings and loan association, and projecting over a public way.
Readerboard: A sign upon which letters or characters are placed manually or electronically to provide a message or picture.
Readerboard, athletic: A readerboard accessory to an athletic facility.
Roof line: The boundary line between the roof and the wall directly above the wall surface to which the sign is attached. Any surface forty-five (45) degrees or less from vertical is considered a wall; any surface greater than forty-five (45) degrees from vertical is considered a roof.
Setback: The distance between the property line and the nearest projecting point of a sign.
Shopping center: A commercial development which has five (5) or more stores or commercial users, common parking, common access, unified control of its development, is managed as a total entity, and elects to have common signage identifying it as such. Outlots shall not be considered to be part of such developments.
Sign: Any object, device, display, wall or structure, or part thereof, other than a bus bench or flag of a governmental entity used to announce, declare, demonstrate, display or otherwise present a message and attract the attention of the public, including all poles, guys, braces, supports and other accessory apparatus in relation thereto.
Signage: All signs pertaining to one (1) business or use.
Sign, awning: A sign on a temporary retractable shelter that is supported entirely by the exterior wall of a building.
Sign, business: Any on-premises, political, temporary real estate or public service sign, or any off-premises commercial sign in the B2, B3, M1 or M2 districts which otherwise meets the size, height, setback, placement and other restrictions imposed upon such signs by this chapter.
Sign, canopy: A sign on or attached to a permanent overhanging shelter that projects from the face of the building and is supported only partially by the building.
Sign, under-canopy or under-marquee: A sign hung from or attached under a canopy or marquee.
Sign, corner: A sign visible from and oriented to two (2) frontages.
Sign, flashing: An illuminated sign on which the artificial light is not maintained constant or stationary in intensity or color at all times when such sign is in use, but not including time and temperature devices or message boards.
Sign, government: A signed owned or maintained by a governmental entity, including agencies and subdivisions thereof.
Sign, ground: A sign supported by one (1) or more uprights, poles or braces placed in or upon the ground; or a sign supported by any structure erected primarily for the purpose of displaying and supporting the sign.
Sign, legal nonconforming: A sign lawfully approved, erected and maintained prior to the adoption of this chapter, which does not conform to the provisions of this chapter. Nonconforming flashing signs, attention-getting devices, portable ground signs, sidewalk signs and temporary signs may not be considered legal nonconforming signs hereunder.
Sign, marquee: A sign on or attached to a permanent hood projecting from the wall of a building but not supported by the ground or sidewalk, for the purpose of providing shelter and protection from the weather.
Sign, memorial or building identification: A wall sign naming the building upon which it is carved or inlaid in such a way that it is an architectural feature.
Sign, monument: A solid horizontal or vertical slab of decorative concrete, brick, metal or wood, but not of plastic or glass, providing the direct backing for and containing signage.
Sign, multifamily dwelling: An identification business sign of a building containing six (6) or more residential units. Such signs shall be ground signs.
Sign, mural: A sign which is applied to and made integral with a wall.
Sign, obsolete: An on-premises sign which no longer identifies the use, if any, of the property upon which it is located.
Sign, off-premises: A sign which does not identify a business located, activity conducted or product or service sold on the same premises, but including political, public service and temporary real estate signs.
Sign, off-premises commercial: An off-premises sign except political, public service and temporary real estate signs.
Sign, oversize off-premises commercial: An off-premises commercial sign too large to be permitted under the standards imposed upon business signs.
Sign, on-premises: A sign which identifies a business located, activity conducted or product or service sold on the same premises.
Sign, pedestrian projecting: A sign attached directly to a building wall, extending more than ten (10) inches from the face of the wall, and being twelve (12) square feet or smaller in area.
Sign, political or personal expression: A sign identifying, supporting or opposing a candidate or issue or other personal expression.
Sign, portable ground: A sign placed upon the ground, designed to be portable.
Sign, private informational: A sign on private property for vehicular control or necessary public information, but containing no product or business identification or advertising.
Sign, projecting: A sign attached directly to a building wall, extending more than ten (10) inches from the face of the wall, and including government signs which project over the public right-of-way more than ten (10) inches.
Sign, public service: A sign expressing a not-for-profit message, and which may list sponsorship of a not-for-profit organization, but not commercial sponsorship or advertising.
Sign, roof: A sign on a roof, or attached to a wall and projecting above the roof line.
Sign, sidewalk: A small portable ground sign oriented only to pedestrians.
Sign, temporary construction: A sign identifying the parties involved in construction to occur or occurring on the premises on which the sign is temporarily placed.
Sign, temporary real estate: A temporarily placed sign advertising the sale, rent or lease of premises in the city.
Sign, vehicular: A sign painted directly on a vehicle.
Sign, wall: A sign painted on, attached to or pinned away from a wall, but not projecting from the wall by more than ten (10) inches.
Subdivision, industrial (or industrial park): An industrial park or industrial planned unit development at time of development with more than one (1) user, which elects to have common signage identifying it as such.
Subdivision, residential: A residential development meeting the criteria of the subdivision control ordinance, which elects to have common signage identifying it.
Time and temperature devices: Devices which indicate the time and/or temperature for the public convenience.
Tollway or expressway: A limited-access roadway built to interstate highway design.
Wall: A building surface varying no more than forty-five (45) degrees from the vertical.
Wall or fence, landscape: A solid, horizontal structure of decorative concrete, brick, metal or wood, but not of plastic or glass and regulated by the Aurora zoning ordinance, but not a monument sign as defined herein.
Window: That portion of a building facade originally providing visual access to or from the building, made of glass or a glass-like material. A painted window shall be considered a window, but a window covered or replaced by brick, wood, metal, etc., shall be considered part of the wall.
(Ord. No. O03-159, § 1, 12-9-03)