§ 138-3751. Definitions.

All words used in this section, except where specifically defined in this subsection, shall carry their customary meaning when not inconsistent with the context in which they are used. The following words set forth in this subsection shall have the meanings as defined in this subsection:

Area or surface area of signs means the square foot area enclosed by a rectangle, parallelogram, triangle, circle, semicircle or other geometric figures, or other architectural design, the sides of which make contact with the extreme points or edges of the sign, excluding the supporting structure which does not form part of the sign proper or of the display. The area of a sign composed of characters or words attached directly to a large, uniform building wall surface shall be the smallest rectangle, triangle, circle, parallelogram or other geometric figure, or other architectural design, which encloses the whole group of words or characters.

Artwork means drawings, pictures, symbols, paintings or sculptures which in no way identify a product or business and which are not displayed in conjunction with a commercial, for-profit or nonprofit enterprise.

Banners means any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that is mounted to a pole, a wall or a building at one or more edges. Flags shall not be considered banners.

Beacon means a stationary or revolving light which flashes or projects illumination, single color or multicolored, in any manner which is intended to attract or divert attention; except, however, this term is not intended to include any kind of lighting device which is required or necessary under the safety regulations described by the Federal Aviation Agency or similar agencies.

Building official means the local government official or his designee responsible for the administration, interpretation and enforcement of the building codes of the local government.

Bulletin board means a sign of permanent character, but with removable letters, words, numerals or symbols.

Business establishment means any individual person, nonprofit organization, partnership, corporation, other organization or legal entity holding a valid occupational license and occupying distinct and separate physical space.

Changeable message sign means a sign or portion of a sign on which message copy is changed manually or mechanically in the field through the utilization of attachable letters, numbers, symbols and other similar characteristics.

Double-faced sign means a sign which has two display surfaces backed against the same background, one face of which is designed to be seen from one direction and the other from the opposite direction, every point on each face being either in contact with the other face or in contact with the same background.

Dwell time is the minimum duration of a single display on a changeable or electronic changeable message sign. During the dwell time, the message display shall be static, and there shall not be any change of color, flash, fade, rotation, twinkle, twirl, alternate luminance, scroll, show of action or motion, or illusion of action or motion.

Electronic changeable message sign (also referred to as digital sign ) means an on-premises or off-premises sign or portion thereof that displays electronic static images, static graphics, static pictures, or non-pictorial text information in which each alphanumeric character, graphic, or symbol is defined by a small number of matrix elements using different combinations of light emitting diodes, fiber optics, light bulbs, liquid crystal or any other emerging illumination technology within the display area. Electronic changeable messages include computer programmable, microprocessor-controlled electronic displays. Electronic changeable messages include images or messages with these characteristics projected onto buildings or other objects. Electronic changeable message sign shall not include any sign that does not maintain a static image for a minimum dwell time of 60 seconds or such other minimum dwell time that is expressly permitted under this Code.

Erect means to build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix, and shall also include the painting of signs.

Federal-aid primary (FAP) is a system of highways or portions thereof, which shall include the National Highway System designated as the federal-aid primary highway system by the Florida Department of Transportation and shall also include the federal interstate highways.

Flag means any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinct colors, patterns or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision, corporation, business or other entity.

Flash means an entry or exit mode in an electronic changing message with any single frame that repeats two or more times consecutively without change. This does not include official warning signs to the motoring public.

Frontage means the length of the property line for a parcel which runs parallel to, and along, a road right-of-way or street, exclusive of alleyways. "Building frontage" means the single facade constituting the length of the building or that portion of a building occupied by a single office, business, or enterprise abutting a street, parking area, or other means of customer access such as an arcade, mall or walkway.

Ground level means the level of finished grade of a parcel of land, exclusive of any filling, berming, mounding or excavating, solely for the purpose of locating a sign. Ground level on marina docks or floating structures shall be the finish grade of the landward portion of the adjoining parcel.

Height means the vertical distance measured from the ground level nearest the base of the sign to the highest point of the sign.

Illuminance means the amount of light coming from a light fixture that lands on a surface.

Legally existing, for the purpose of describing a sign or sign structure, means that the sign or sign structure was lawfully erected in conformance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, has been lawfully maintained and is lawfully operated in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws (including any legal nonconforming signs), or that the sign or sign structure is lawfully operating in accordance with a settlement agreement to which Pinellas County is a party.

Local government means the county government and the municipalities within the county.

Luminance means the amount of light reflected off a surface in a particular direction.

Maintenance means the replacing, repairing or repainting of a portion of a sign structure, periodically changing changeable copy, or renewing copy which has been made unusable by ordinary wear, weather or accident.

Message sequencing means dividing a single thought or message into two or more successive sign displays on a single electronic changeable message sign or multi-vision sign. For example, it shall be considered message sequencing if the second display answers a textual question posed in the first display, continues or completes a sentence started on the first display, or continues or completes a story line started on the prior display.

Multitenant building means a building where more than one business is serviced by a common entrance, and where such businesses may be located above the first story or otherwise be without frontage on a public right-of-way.

Multi-vision sign , also known as a tri-vision sign , means an on-premises or off-premises sign composed in whole or in part of a series of vertical or horizontal slats or cylinders that are capable of being rotated at intervals so that partial rotation of the group of slats or cylinders produces a different image and when properly functioning allows on a single sign structure the display at any given time one of two or more images.

Pennant means any series of small flaglike or streamerlike pieces of cloth, plastic or paper, or similar material attached in a row to any staff, cord, building, or at only one or two edges, the remainder hanging loosely.

Person means any individual, corporation, association, firm, partnership, and the like, singular or plural.

Physically removed means, for the purposes of this section, that an off-premises sign shall be deemed removed if the off-premises sign structure is permanently removed to a depth of 12 inches below grade.

Property means the overall area represented by the outside boundaries of a parcel of land or development.

Sign means any device, fixture, placard or structure that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, architectural style or design or writing to advertise, attract attention, announce the purpose of, or identify the purpose of a person or entity, or to communicate information of any kind to the public. "Sign" includes sign structure.

(1)

A-frame or sandwich sign means a portable sign which is ordinarily in the shape of an "A" or some variation thereof.

(2)

Abandoned signs means signs on which is advertised a business that is no longer licensed, no longer has a certificate of occupancy, or is no longer doing business at that location and such circumstances have continued for a period of more than 90 consecutive days.

(3)

Animated sign means any sign composed of moving parts or lights or lighting devices that change color, flash, fade, rotate, twinkle, twirl, alternate luminance, scroll, show action or motion, create the optical illusion of action or motion or otherwise change the appearance of the sign. Animated signs do not include electronic (digital) changeable message sign or multi-vision sign as defined in this section.

(4)

Attached signs means any sign attached to, on, or supported by any part of a building (e.g., walls, integral roof, awning, windows, or canopy) which encloses or covers usable space.

(5)

Bench signs/bus shelter signs means a bench or bus shelter upon which a sign is drawn, painted, printed, or otherwise affixed, and, where authorized by action of the board of county commissioners, shall be exempt from the provision of this section as per F.S. § 337.407(2).

(6)

Canopy (awning) sign means 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)

Exempt signs means all signs for which permits are not required, but which must, nonetheless, conform to the other terms and conditions of this section.

(8)

Freestanding sign means any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on or anchored in the ground and that are independent of any building or other structure.

(9)

Nonconforming sign means any sign that does not conform to the requirements of this section.

(10)

Off-premises sign means any sign identifying or advertising a product, business, person, activity, condition, or service not located or available on the same zone lot where the sign is installed and maintained.

(11)

On-premises sign means any sign which identifies a use or business or advertises a product for sale or service to be rendered on the zone lot where the sign is located.

(12)

Portable sign means any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, or a sign designed to be transported, including, but not limited to, signs designed to be transported by means of wheels; signs converted from A-frames; menu and sandwich board signs; balloons and other inflatables; and umbrellas used for advertising.

(13)

Projecting sign means any sign affixed perpendicularly 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.

(14)

Roof sign means any sign erected and constructed wholly on and over the roof of a building, supported by the roof structure. "Integral roof sign" means any sign erected or constructed as an integral or essentially integral part of a normal roof structure of any design, such that no part of the sign extends vertically above the highest portion of the roof and such that no part of the sign is separated from the rest of the roof by a space of more than six inches. Any integral portion of the roof shall not extend more than five feet above the structural roof.

(15)

Snipe sign means a sign which is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued, or otherwise attached to trees, poles, stakes, fences, or to other objects with the message appearing thereon not applicable to the present use of the premises or structure upon which the sign is located.

(16)

Temporary sign shall mean any sign that is not a permanent sign, and shall include a sign formerly or commonly associated with a temporary use or structure, a temporary election sign, a temporary political sign, a temporary free expression sign, a temporary real estate sign, a temporary directional sign, a temporary construction sign, a temporary grand opening sign, or any other temporary sign unless otherwise provided herein. The term "temporary sign" shall not include any substitution of message on an existing lawful sign or sign structure.

(17)

Vehicle sign means a sign attached to or placed on a vehicle, including automobiles, trucks, boats, campers, and trailers, that is parked on or otherwise utilizing a public right-of-way, public property or on private property so as to be intended to be viewed from a vehicular right-of-way for the basic purpose of providing advertisement of products or services or of directing people to a business or activity. This definition is not to be construed to include those signs that identify a firm or its principal products on a vehicle or such advertising devices as may be attached to and within the normal unaltered lines of the vehicle of a licensed transit carrier, when and during that period of time such vehicle is regularly and customarily used to traverse the public highways during the normal course of business.

(18)

Wall sign means a sign which is painted on, fastened to, or erected against the wall of a building with its face in a parallel plane to the plane of the building facade or wall.

(19)

Warning sign means a sign located on property posting such property for warning or prohibitions on parking, trespassing, hunting, fishing, swimming, or other activity, provided such signs do not carry any commercial message or identification.

(20)

Window sign means a sign located on a window or within a building or other enclosed structure, which is visible from the exterior through a window or other opening.

Sign face means the part of the sign that is or can be used to identify, display, advertise, communicate information, or for visual representation which attracts or intends to attract the attention of the public for any purpose.

Sign structure means any structure which is designed specifically for the purpose of supporting a sign, has supported or is capable of supporting a sign. This definition shall include any decorative covers, braces, wires, supports, or components attached to or placed around the sign structure.

Street means a public right-of-way intended for the use of vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Traditional off-premises sign means any off-premises sign that is not defined as an electronic changeable message sign.

Zone lot means a parcel of land that is of sufficient size to meet minimum zoning requirements for area, coverage, and use, and that can provide such setbacks and other open spaces as are required by the applicable local government zoning regulations. For the purpose of this definition, a shopping center, mall, or other lot or parcel of land which contains a single unit or an integrated group of commercial establishments and is developed, operated, managed and/or owned as a unit shall be considered as a zone lot.

(Ord. No. 18-36 , § 3(Att. B), 10-23-18)