§ 24-2. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Advertising bench means any bench providing seating to the general public without charge, which may bear advertising.

Animated or moving sign means any sign, or part of a sign, which changes physical position or appearance by any movement or rotation or which gives the visual impression of such movement or rotation.

Awning, canopy or marquee sign means a sign that is mounted, painted on, or attached to, an awning, canopy, or marquee that is otherwise permitted by this chapter.

Back-to-back sign means a structure containing two parallel signs whose faces are oriented in opposite directions and are spaced no more than ten feet apart.

Bandit signs shall mean any sign erected without the written permission of the land owner which is tacked, nailed, posted, pasted, glued or otherwise attached to trees, utility poles, street signs, street furniture, stakes or fences or other objects, and any temporary sign which is attached to another sign. No sign owned or placed by the City, the State, or a public utility shall be considered a bandit sign. A bandit sign is considered trash and may be discarded in accordance with section 24-13.

Billboard means any outdoor sign, display, device, figure, painting, drawing, message, placed, poster, structure or thing that is designed, intended, or used to advertise or inform.

Billboard operator means any person who installs, erects, services, maintains, alters, repairs or demolishes billboards.

Bill posters means advertising poster or handbill.

Chief of Police means the City's duly appointed Chief of Police.

City means the City of Shavano Park, Texas.

City Code Compliance Officer means one or more individuals duly appointed by the City to enforce City Code violations.

Early voting period means that period as prescribed by Tex. Elections Code § 85.001, as amended.

Electric sign means:

(1)

Any sign on which letters, figures, designs, or messages are formed or outlined by electric illumination, or by a transparent or translucent medium which is electrically illuminated, whether the illuminating device is contained within or on the sign, including digital signs illuminated by LCD, LED, plasma displays, projected images or any other illumination format;

(2)

Any outside building outlining;

(3)

Any interim decorative displays; and

(4)

Any gas tube window outlining.

Any portable sign that has electrical components attached, connected to, or part of the sign, or support, whether electrified or not, shall be considered an electric sign and all provisions of this chapter pertaining to electric signs shall apply to such signs.

Embellishments means any feature such as a cutout, neon, or plastic letters, clock, electric device, or space extension, which is added to an outdoor advertising structure. All embellishments shall be included when measuring the sign area.

Fireproof structure means a sign constructed entirely of steel members including structural support for the sign face. The sign face and its support members shall be constructed of metal panels, and all electric signs on commercial property shall have a fireproof structure.

Flashing sign means any directly or indirectly illuminated sign that exhibits changing natural or artificial light or color effects by any means whatsoever.

Loop 1604 frontage means and shall include all Loop 1604 frontage and access roads.

Monument sign means any sign that is a ground-mounted structure of masonry, rock, brick, stone or stucco. Monument signs shall be made of at least 90 percent masonry materials such as rock, brick, stone or stucco.

Neighborhood means a distinct segment of the community, usually consisting of essentially similar housing stock, whose boundaries are defined by physical barriers such as major arterial streets and/or natural features such as creeks and rivers.

On-premise sign means a freestanding sign identifying or advertising a business, person, or activity, and installed and maintained on the same premises as the business, person, or activity.

On-site sign means a monument or pole/pylon sign that is located along the street frontage.

Park or municipal property means property classified as Park Area District, Municipal and Utility District and any other properties owned by the City. Except for signs permitted under subsection 24-4(3) and signs authorized in advance by the City Council, no signs of any kind may be posted in a park or municipal property.

Pole sign means any sign:

(1)

Supported by poles, uprights, or braces which are not concealed in an enclosed base but are permanently placed on or in the ground and wholly independent of any building for support, either single- or double-faced; or

(2)

Whose only structural support consists of exposed poles, posts, beams, or other devices mounted in the ground.

Political sign means any sign which is designated to influence the action of voters for the passage or defeat of a measure or candidate appearing on the ballot in connection with any national, state or local election.

Portable sign means any sign that is readily capable of being moved or removed, whether attached or affixed to the ground or any structure that is typically intended for temporary display. Portable signs include, but are not limited to:

(1)

Signs designed and constructed with a chassis or support with or without wheels;

(2)

Menu and "sandwich" board signs;

(3)

"A" and "T" frame signs;

(4)

Posters, flags or banners affixed to windows, fences, railings, overhangs, trees, hedges, or other structures or vegetation, except for pole-mounted community event banners;

(5)

Signs mounted upon vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, except signs identifying the related business when the vehicle is being used in the normal day-to-day operation of the business, and except for signs advertising for sale the vehicle upon which the sign is mounted;

(6)

Searchlights; and

(7)

Inflatables.

For the purposes of this definition, no sign owned or placed by the City, the State, or a public utility shall be considered a portable sign.

Private property means all property other than public property, as defined herein.

Prohibited neon means any use of neon lighting other than for lettering or logos. For the purposes of this chapter, all uses of neon lighting shall be considered a sign.

Public property means property owned by, or dedicated to the City, or owned by, or dedicated to other governmental entities. Signs located on public property shall be governed by a separate City policy.

Pylon sign means any freestanding sign with visible support structures or with a support structure with a pole cover or pylon cover.

Safety signs mean signs owned, placed, or required by any governmental entity.

Setback means the area from property lines back to buildings. Signs posted within building setbacks should not be an obstruction to traffic vision.

Sign means an outdoor structure, sign, display, light device, figure, painting, drawing, message, plaque, poster, billboard, or other thing that is designed, intended, or used to advertise or inform.

Sign area means the entire advertising area of a sign excluding the framing, trim, molding and supporting structure. Sign area shall be measured from the highest, lowest and widest points in a rectangular or square format.

Sign face means that portion of the sign dedicated to the message, logo, name, etc. and the sign face may be of a different material than the monument it is on. If mounted or located on a building structure, the sign face and its framing, trim molding and/or supporting structure shall not protrude above the premises and shall not be of such a character as to violate any other provisions of this chapter. Other than a monument sign, no sign face shall be deeper than two feet.

Site means a parcel of land developed for commercial use. A site may be a single platted lot, or may be a group of lots with a common or shared frontage.

Voting period means the period beginning with the early voting period and ending when the polls close or the last voter has voted, whichever is later. The voting period corresponds only with elections administered by Bexar County.

Wall sign shall mean any sign attached to or erected against the wall of a building or structure, with the exposed face of the sign parallel to the surface of the wall of the building.

( Ord. No. 0-2016-010 , § I, 10-24-2016)