§ 270-2. Word usage; definitions.

A. 

Customary meaning. Except where specifically defined herein, all words used in this chapter shall carry their customary meanings. Words used in the present tense include the future, the plural includes the singular and the singular includes the plural. The word "shall" is intended to be mandatory.

B. 

Defined phrases. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ANIMATED SIGN

Any sign which is designated and constructed to give its message through blinking or flashing lights or a sequence of progressive changes of parts or lights or degrees of lighting, excluding time and temperature signs.

ATTACHED SIGN

Any sign which is supported primarily by a building or structure, other than by a sign structure which is supported wholly by the ground.

AWNING (FIXED)

Any nonrigid material such as fabric or flexible plastic that is supported by a frame that is permanently affixed to an exterior wall. Includes canopies and marquees.

AWNING (MOVABLE)

Any nonrigid material such as fabric or flexible plastic that can be rolled back or retracted and is supported by a frame that is attached to an exterior wall.

AWNING SIGN

Any visual message on an awning.

BANNER

A Temporary Sign constructed of cloth or other flat, flexible material.

BILLBOARD

A sign for a business, profession, activity (commercial or noncommercial), commodity or service not on the premises where the sign is located.

BILLBOARD, EXISTING

Billboard which as of March 20, 2001, has text or graphics (or a combination of the two) bearing a visible message (other than information which relates merely to the availability of the billboard or the place or manner in which the owner or lessee of the billboard, or their representative, may be contacted for the purpose of placing a message on the face thereof).

[Added 3-20-2001 by Ord. No. 58-2001]

CAMPAIGN SIGN

A sign for the purpose of advertising an event, campaign or person(s) running for political or public office.

[Amended 7-18-2006 by Ord. No. 186-2006]

CANOPIES

A cloth covering hung or held up over a metal framing system.

[Added 3-28-2017 by Ord. No. 58-2017]

DETACHED SIGN

Any sign not attached to or part of any building but permanently affixed by any other means to the ground.

DEVELOPMENT SIGN

A sign listing the architect, landscape architect, engineer, planner, contractor or other person or firm participating in the development or construction or financing of the project on the premises on which the sign is located.

DIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN

A sign designed to give forth artificial light directly or through transparent or translucent material from a source of light within the sign which is visible from the street or from abutting property, including but not limited to exposed neon signs. A "directly illuminated sign" shall illuminate the letters of a sign to a greater degree than it does the background of a sign.

ERECT

Build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend or affix a sign, and shall also include the painting of wall signs.

FEATHER SIGN

A wind sign in the shape of a feather, typically attached or affixed to the ground with a metal rod.

[Added 1-20-2015 by Ord. No. 19-2015]

FRONTAGE

The length of a building along a street or other principal public thoroughfare, but not including such length along an alley, watercourse or railroad. For calculating frontage: the frontage shall include only the tenant space occupied.

[Amended 3-28-2017 by Ord. No. 58-2017]

FURNISHING ZONE

The Furnishing Zone establishes an area for the placement of parking fee meters, street signage, streetlighting, bike racks, refuse receptacles, street trees and bioretention areas, planters, approved structures and transit stop waiting and enclosure areas.

[Added 3-28-2017 by Ord. No. 58-2017; amended 7-18-2017 by Ord. No. 151-2017; 4-17-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-70]

HEIGHT OF SIGN

The vertical distance from the uppermost point used in measuring the area of sign to the ground immediately below such point.

IDENTIFICATION SIGN

A sign which serves to tell only the name, address and lawful uses of the premises upon which the sign is located.

ILLUMINATED SIGN

Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outline illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as a part of the sign proper.

INCOMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL

Any material which will not ignite at or below a temperature of 1,200º F.

INDIRECTLY ILLUMINATED SIGN

A sign whose illumination is reflected from the sign display surface to the viewer's eye from a source of light not within the sign. Such light sources shall be shielded to reflect on the sign only.

LOGO

A symbol, design or insignia used to represent a company, corporation or person for the purpose of advertising the interests of any person, business or company.

[Added 9-16-1997 by Ord. No. 191-97; amended 3-20-2001 by Ord. No. 58-2001]

MARQUEES

A roof-like projection over the entrance to a building.

[Added 3-28-2017 by Ord. No. 58-2017]

MONUMENT SIGN

A freestanding sign either with a base affixed to the ground or mounted on short poles no greater than two feet high.

MUNICIPAL ART COMMISSION

A commission created, appointed, and empowered under Sections 181 and 182 of the City Charter and this Chapter 270, Signs.

[Added 4-13-2009 by Ord. No. 61-2009]

OFFICIAL

The Building Official of the City of New Rochelle.

PEDESTRIAN CLEARWAY

An area within the sidewalk that must remain clear of obstructions to allow public passage.

[Added 3-28-2017 by Ord. No. 58-2017]

PERSON

Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.

PORTABLE SIGN

Freestanding sign not affixed to the ground.

PROJECTING SIGN

A sign attached to a building, wall or structure that projects horizontally or at a right angle more than 12 inches from the face of the wall.

REAL ESTATE SIGN

Any sign advertising property for sale, lease or rent, which may or may not include the name of the seller, broker or lessor.

ROOFLINE

The upper edge of any building wall or parapet, exclusive of any sign tower for any flat roof structure, or a line halfway between the eaves and the ridge line of the roof, exclusive of any sign tower, for any gable roof structure.

ROOF SIGN

A sign erected on a roof or extending in height above the roofline of the building on which the sign is erected.

SIGN

Any material, structure or device, or part thereof, composed of lettered or pictorial matter displaying an advertisement, announcement, notice or name, and including any declaration, demonstration, display, representation, illustration or logo used to advertise or promote the interests of any person or business or cause when such is placed in view of the general public.

[Amended 9-16-1997 by Ord. No. 191-97; 3-20-2001 by Ord. No. 58-2001]

SIGN AREA

Includes all faces of a sign measured as follows:

(1) 

When any sign is framed or outlined, all of the areas of the frame or outline shall be included.

(2) 

Sign measurement shall be based upon the entire area of the sign with a single continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the actual sign surface, not including structural supports if they are not used for advertising purposes.

STRUCTURAL TRIM

The molding, battens, capping, nailing strips, latticing and platforms which are attached to the sign structure.

TEMPORARY SIGN

Any sign or advertising device that is displayed only for a specified period of time and is not permanently mounted.

WALL SIGN

Any sign which is attached to the wall of a building or structure.

WINDOW COVERING

An artistic or graphical advertising, visible from a sidewalk, street or other public place, affixed or painted on glass or other window material and as approved by the Municipal Art Commission.

[Added 11-20-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-238]

WIND SIGN

Any sign in the nature of a series of two or more banners, flags, pennants, balloons, ribbons, streamers or other subjects, fastened in such a manner as to move upon being subjected to pressure by wind or breeze. Wind signs shall be permitted as temporary signs only in conjunction with the opening of a new business or the relocation of an existing business to a new location.

[Amended 2-16-1999 by Ord. No. 45-1999]

Editor’s Note: The former definition of “window sign,” which immediately followed this definition, was repealed 11-20-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-238.

Added 7-18-2006 by Ord. No. 186-2006