826.03 DEFINITIONS.
(a) For the purpose of this chapter, certain words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them below:
(1) “Average wall height” means the sum of the various different wall heights of the building in question, divided by the number of different wall heights.
(2) “Building” means any improvement to real estate having a roof and requiring a foundation.
(3) “Building frontal width” means the total width of all sides of an enclosed, conditioned building which faces a public right-of-way, measured by lines perpendicular to, or on the radius of, the public right-of-way.
When the building is located on a parcel not abutting a public right-of-way, building frontal width shall be determined with reference to abutting private drives which are intended for use by patrons of the business.
(4) “Face” means any surface of a sign having communicative content in the form of words, numbers, graphics or symbols, whether or not divided into multiple sections identifying or advertising different tenants, vendors or products.
(5) “Frontage or street frontage” means:
A. The yard between a building and a public street; or
B. The length of the lot line of a particular parcel which is contiguous to the right-of-way of a particular public street.
(6) “Hardship” means a situation in which the strict application of this chapter upon a specific property would result in a restriction on the use of such property which is inconsistent with the intent of this chapter, is likely to substantially and unjustifiably diminish the utility of the subject property, and was not caused or permitted by either the current property owner or the person currently in possession.
(7) “Logo, company” means any standardized graphic element which in words, numbers, pictures or abstractions symbolizes a business enterprise, and which is utilized uniformly, including the use of color, on all stationary, calling cards, brochures and other publications of the business.
(8) “Message area” means the total area of a face of a sign bearing a message, either in words or graphics. Message area includes the sign frame or other support structure only to the extent that the frame or structure divides the message area into multiple areas or sections. When a sign is created by the attachment or painting of lettering or graphics on a wall or other structure, and there is no distinct border separating the message area surface from the surface of the wall or other structure, the message area shall be the smallest rectangle which could be drawn to enclose the message, including any area of background color specially related to the message. Only one side of a double-faced sign shall be considered message area.
(9) “Message area, allowable” means the maximum total message area permitted for ail advertising signs on a parcel.
(10) “Message area, total” means the sum of the message areas of all advertising signs on a parcel.
(11) “Nameplate” means a sign less than two square feet in message area, identifying only the name of a resident living on the premises.
(12) “Parcel” means a single legal lot or multiple contiguous legal lots under the same legal ownership or possession, and under the same use.
(13) “Principal building” means the building on the parcel having the greatest square footage of enclosed, conditioned space.
(14) “Setback” means the minimum linear distance between a sign, building or structure and (1) the right-of-way line of a public street or (2) the side lot line of an adjacent parcel.
(15) “Sign” means the surface, frame and support structure upon which there is any visible representation by words, numbers, graphics or symbols which identify, advertise or promote an establishment, products, goods, services, concepts, or otherwise induce thought or action, and which is open to the outdoor public view.
(16) “Sign, advertising” means any sign which promotes or identifies a product, service, concept, opinion, enterprise or entity.
(Ord. 96-38. Passed 7-11-96.)
(17) “Sign, animated” means any sign which by mechanical action or by flashing or alternating illumination or projection or by other means moves or appears to move. Animated signs include, but are not limited to, balloons, flags, with or without message area. Animated signs do not include electronic message signs (see “electronic message sign” (57) below).
(Ord. 0-11-2. Passed 1-6-11.)
(18) “Sign, business hours” means a hand-carried sign with a supporting base, not exceeding twenty-four inches in width and forty-eight inches in height, placed in front of a business during business hours only.
(19) “Sign, construction” means a sign of a temporary nature which announces, describes or promotes the development of the site on which it is located, or provides information about its owners, lessees, architects, engineers or contractors.
(20) “Sign, corporate limit” means a sign designating the boundaries of the Municipality authorized by the City Council or City Manager.
(21) “Sign, direction/information” means an on-premise sign giving vehicular or pedestrian directions, instructions or facility information, which does not contain promotional, marketing or advertising copy (e.g., "In, " "Enter, " "Parking, " "Out, " "Exit, " "Employees Only, " "Use Side Door," etc.).
(22) “Sign, domestic advertising” means a sign advertising the sale of household goods previously used by an individual or their family (e.g. garage or yard sale signs).
(23) “Sign, double-faced” means a sign with two faces.
(24) “Sign, governmental” means any sign lawfully established by the federal or state government, or by an agency or political subdivision thereof.
(25) “Sign, ground” means any sign attached to or resting upon the ground, regardless of whether it is also connected to or supported by a building or structure (also referred to as "Freestanding").
(26) “Sign, hazardous” means any sign which by its location, design or construction creates or contributes to a health or safety hazard, even though such sign may be in conformance with this chapter in all other respects. Any sign not conforming to the requirements of the Ohio Basic Building Code (OBBC) and the National Electrical Code (NFPA-70) or any other applicable structural or safety regulations is per se hazardous. Failure of the applicant to provide a certification of compliance from an Ohio registered engineer or architect upon request will result in a determination that a sign is hazardous.
(Ord. 96-38. Passed 7-11-96.)
(27) “Sign, home occupation” means a sign attached flat against the wall of the principal building, which states only the name and occupation of the person engaged in a business activity therein which is legally conducted under the zoning regulations of the City. Home occupation signs shall be no larger than two (2) square feet in message area, except those identifying a bed-and-breakfast, which shall be no larger than four (4) square feet in message area.
(Ord. 01-37. Passed 9-6-01.)
(28) “Sign, identification” means a sign located at or near an entrance to or within an industrial, office or residential development which is necessary for the safety or convenience of motorists and which is therefor erected primarily in the public interest. An identification sign shall consist only of the name of the development and/or a graphic symbol identifying the development.
(29) “Sign, interstate highway” means any sign directing interstate highway motorists to highway-oriented businesses in the City which is not permitted as an advertising sign.
(30) “Sign, mobile” means a sign painted on or affixed to motor vehicles, or to open or enclosed trailers designed and licensed for transportation of cargo on the public streets.
(31) “Sign, multi-faced” means a sign with three or more faces.
(32) “Sign, new business” means a wall sign displayed for thirty days or less which is affixed to the principal building, and which meets all district requirements for an advertising sign.
(33) “Sign, obsolete” means a sign which meets any one of the following criteria:
A. Advertises a business, lessor, lessee, owner, service, product or other activity no longer actively offered, conducted or available on the premises.
B. Is in poor structural or aesthetic condition due to damage, deterioration or lack of proper maintenance.
C. Remains in place after a temporary sign permit has expired.
(34) “Sign, permanent” means any sign for which a permit is required, which is permitted to remain in place for an unlimited period of time.
(Ord. 96-38. Passed 7-11-96.)
(35) “Sign, political” means any sign which promotes, identifies, announces, opposes or otherwise offers for public consideration any candidate for public office or any bond issue, tax levy, charter revision, constitutional amendment or other issue which has been lawfully placed on the ballot, or any other sign bearing only a noncommercial message.
(Ord. 02-49. Passed 9-19-02.)
(36) “Sign, portable” means a sign larger than a business hours sign in either dimension, designed to be moved from place-to-place, with changeable message area, typically supported by wheels or skids.
(37) “Sign, projecting” means a sign attached to the vertical wall of a building or structure which is not parallel to that wall, or if parallel, extends more than six inches from such wall or surface.
(38) “Sign, real estate” means a sign advertising for sale, lease, or rent the parcel of real estate on which the sign is located. Signs indicating that a property has been sold, leased or rented are not real estate signs.
(39) “Sign, real estate open house” means a sign providing directions to a showing of real property located in the City of Springboro which is for sale, lease or rent, displayed during the hours in which the property is actively being shown.
(40) “Sign, roof” means a sign erected on, attached to, or supported by the roof of a building.
(41) “Sign, soffit” means a sign suspended from the soffit of a roof or building overhang.
(42) “Sign, telephone” means any sign less than two square feet in message area designating the availability of a public telephone on premises.
(43) “Sign, temporary” means any sign permitted by these regulations for only a limited period of time, regardless of its functional use or sign classification.
(44) “Sign, vending machine” means a sign integrated into a vending machine, gasoline pump, automatic teller machine, drive-thru menu board or similar standardized, pre-manufactured device or fixture.
(45) “Sign, wall” means any sign attached to:
A. The wall of a building; or
B. The fascia of a roof over a building or unenclosed area;
C. The nontransparent window of a building; or
D. Permanently affixed to a transparent window of a building, including but not limited to painted signs and adhered signs which do not readily peel off by hand without being damaged.
(46) “Sign, window” means any sign temporarily affixed to the transparent window of a building. (See "Sign, Wall" for signs permanently affixed)
(47) “Sign district” means any of the several geographic districts as designated and located by the sign district map incorporated into this chapter by reference, as amended from time to time.
(48) “Sign height” means the lesser of these two vertical measurements:
A. The top of the sign to the average grade of the soil beneath the sign.
B. The top of the sign to the top of the curb or edge of pavement of the nearest public street.
(49) “Street numbers” means Arabic numbers indicating the street address of the parcel on which they are displayed, which conform in size and location to applicable fire codes and other regulations.
(50) “Structure” means any permanent improvement to real estate which is not a building and which is designed or used for any purpose other than, or in addition to, supporting a sign.
(51) “Undeveloped property” means a parcel upon which no building has been erected which would require a building permit if erected on the date of the sign permit application.
(52) “Use” means the specific purpose or purposes for which the development of a parcel was designed or is operated or maintained. A single use may include several different but related activities, but does not encompass two or more freestanding business activities identified to the public as separate enterprises. A multiple occupancy building is a single use.
(Ord. 96-38. Passed 7-11-96.)
(53) "Sign, community event" means a temporary ground sign that promotes a community event (such as a fair, festival, book sale or sale of other goods, performing arts show or recital, etc.), sponsored by or benefiting a religious institution; public or private school; civic or fraternal organization; government agency; or 501(c)(3) tax-exempt not-for-profit organization.
(54) "Sign, special event" means a temporary ground on-premise sign that advertises a special event (such as a sale, etc.) sponsored by or benefiting a legally operating and licensed business within the City of Springboro with the exception of sexually-oriented businesses as defined and regulated in Chapter 840 of the Codified Ordinances.
(Ord. 02-2. Passed 1-3-02.)
(55) “Banner” means a sign affixed to the wall of a building, the fascia of a roof over a building or enclosed area, or the nontransparent window of a building, to announce promotions or sales for a limited period of time.
(Ord. 07-6. Passed 2-15-07.)
(56) “Nit” means a unit of measurement of luminance equivalent to one (1) candela per square meter.
(57) “Sign, electronic message” means a type of “ground sign” (see ( 25) above) or a portion of a ground sign that uses changing lights to form a sign message or messages in text and graphic form wherein the sequence of messages and the rate of change is electronically programmed and can be modified by electronic processes. See also “animated sign,” (17) above.
(58) “Fade” means a mode of changing a message on the display area of an electronic message sign where the first message gradually appears to dissipate with the gradual appearance of the next message.
(59) “Dissolve” means a mode of changing a message on the display area of an electronic message sign where the first message gradually reduces intensity and the next message gradually increases intensity.
(Ord. 0-11-2. Passed 1-6-11.)
GENERAL REGULATIONS