§ 17.70.120. Definitions

A-frame Sign. A sign with two (2) sign faces which are not parallel, with a side profile in the shape of an “A”.

Abandoned Sign. A sign pertaining to, or located on, a property, building suite or premises which is vacant and unoccupied for a period of ninety (90) days, or a sign which is damaged, in disrepair, or vandalized and not repaired within ninety (90) days of the date of the damaging event.

Advertising Display. Shall refer to advertising structures and to signs placed for off-site outdoor advertising purposes on advertising structures.

Advertising Structure. Shall mean a structure of any kind or character erected, used, or maintained for off-site outdoor advertising purposes, upon which any poster, bill, printing, painting, digital, or other advertisement of any kind whatsoever may be placed.

Architectural Sign. A sign incorporated into architectural elements such as an archway, fountain, or sculptured garden which is integrated with, but subordinate to, the overall architectural element.

Advertising Devices. A commercial temporary device other than signs, used for grand openings and special promotions. Advertising devices could consist of, but not be limited to, balloons, flags, search lights, clowns, etc.

Area of Sign. “Sign area” means the entire area within the outside border of the sign. The area of a sign having no continuous border or lacking a border shall mean the entire area within a single continuous perimeter formed by no more than eight straight lines enclosing the extreme limits of writing, representations, emblem, or any fixture or similar character, integral part of the display or used as a border, excluding the necessary supports or uprights on which such sign is placed. Where a sign has two (2) or more faces, the area of all faces shall be included in determining the area of the sign, except that where two (2) such faces are placed back-to-back and are at no point more than three feet (3') from one another, the area of the sign shall be taken as the area of one face if the two faces are of equal area, or as the area of the larger face if the two faces are of unequal area.

Awning/Canopy Sign. Signs which are placed on or integrated into fabric awnings, or other material canopies, which are mounted on the exterior of a building which extend from the wall of a building to provide shielding of windows and entrances from inclement weather and the sun.

Balloon. Any mobile, portable, temporary structure that is inflated with gaseous material and is used for the purpose of attracting attention whether or not it contains a written or graphic message.

Banner, Flag, Pennant or Streamers. Any cloth, bunting, plastic, paper, or similar material, used for advertising purposes, attached to any structure, staff, pole, line, framing, vehicle, but not including official flags of the United States, the State of California, and other states of the nation, counties, municipalities, and official flags of foreign nations.

Berm. A mound or embankment of earth.

Billboard Sign. Shall mean a sign, static or digital, excluding a supergraphic sign, which advertises goods, products, services or facilities not sold, produced, manufactured or furnished on the premises on which the sign is located (also known as outdoor advertising, off-premise sign or off-site sign).

A. Digital Billboard. Shall mean a changeable off-premise message sign (digital sign) consisting of a matrix of lamps or diodes or other electronic light source which are computer controlled (excluding time/temperature signs). A Digital Billboard shall not change more often than once every four (4) seconds.

B. Static Billboard. Shall mean a conventional off-premise sign that is painted or have a vinyl that is stretched over the face of the sign or has another means of displaying the advertising that is not using a digital billboard display.

Building Facade. The exterior wall of a building exposed to public view or that wall viewed by persons not within the building.

Building Wall. The individual sides of a building.

Business Entrance Identification. A sign adjacent to, or on the entrance door of a business which names, gives the address and other appropriate information as store hours and telephone numbers.

Cabinet. A three dimensional structure which includes a frame, borders, and sign face panel and may include internal lighting upon which the sign letters and logos are placed or etched, and is architecturally integrated with the building.

Center. A center contains businesses and buildings designed as an integrated and interrelated development sharing such elements as architecture, access, and parking. Such design is independent of the number of structures, lots, or parcels making up the center.

Channel Letter Sign. Three dimensional individually cut letters or figures, illuminated or unilluminated, affixed to a building or sign structure.

Channel Letter Sign, Reverse. A type of sign utilizing opaque channel lettering with an open back containing a light source which throws light onto the sign field (background) against which the channel letters are silhouetted.

Directional Sign. Signs limited to directional messages, principally to direct pedestrian or vehicular traffic, such as “one way”, “entrance”, or “exit.” These signs provide information which will assist the operators of vehicles and the flow of traffic. Such signs may use names, logos, or symbols of buildings, businesses, activities, uses or places as a means of providing directions.

Directory Sign. A sign which provides a listing of the names of businesses, tenants, activities, addresses, locations, uses, or places within a building, complex of buildings, or multi-use project.

Double-Faced Sign. A single sign structure designed with the intent of providing copy on both sides in which the sides are not separated by more than three (3) feet.

Eave. That part of a roof that overhangs the side walls or the lowest part of the roof extending over an arcade.

Eaveline. The eaveline is the bottom of the eave.

Entryway Sign. A sign which is placed on the perimeter of a recorded subdivision, townhouse project, commercial development, master planned community, hotel, motel, or guest ranch at a major street or driveway entrance to identify the name of the interior project. Such signs may flank both sides of the entrance and may include monument or landscape wall sign types.

Fascia Sign. A sign placed on a parapet-type wall used as part of the face of a flat roofed building and projecting not more than one (1) foot from the building face immediately adjacent thereto.

Flag. A fabric sheet or square, rectangular or triangular shape which is mounted on a pole, cable, or rope at one end.

Flag, Decorative. A flag which contains no text or graphics. Also known as pennants.

Flashing Sign. A sign that contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source.

Free-Standing Sign. A sign that is not attached to any building.

Flashing, Intermittent or Moving Light. Shall mean a light or message that changes more often than once every four (4) seconds. The illumination or the appearance of illumination resulting in a change of message or advertising copy is not the use of flashing, intermittent, or moving light, unless it changes more often than once every four (4) seconds.

Freeway. A major highway which carries high speed traffic without interruption by traffic signals.

Frontage. Linear measurement of a lot or building facade or portion of the facade which encloses an individual tenant or business which fronts on either a street, freeway, parking lot, or pedestrian mall, not including loading or service areas, and is used as the basis for determining the maximum sign area and number of signs allowed for individual activities. For wall signs, building frontage may also include linear footage of the building facing an adjacent commercial or industrial designated use, which is not adjacent to another building.

Height, Sign. The distance from ground level to the highest point of the structure, providing, however that where the structure is on a berm, mound or slope, the slope shall not exceed a four to one (4:1) horizontal to vertical ratio. If the slope exceeds this ratio, then height shall be measured from the toe (or bottom) of the slope, or a point where the slope does not exceed four to one (4:1).

Highway. A major highway which carries high speed traffic which may be continuous without interruption by traffic signals or may have frequent interruption by traffic signals. Within the City of Adelanto, Highway 395 and Palmdale Road (Highway 18) are classified as Highways.

Identification Sign. A sign on a building wall or landscape wall, a ground sign or temporary sign used to present the name of a major residential project or master planned community information center.

Illegal Sign. Any sign erected without first obtaining a sign permit, or a sign for which the permit has expired or been revoked.

Illuminated Sign. A sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outline backlit or internally illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as a part of the sign proper.

Indirect Lighting. Illumination so arranged that the light is reflected from the sign to the eyes of the viewer. Indirect lighting is typically external illumination located away from the sign, which lights the sign, but which is itself not visible to persons viewing the sign from any street, sidewalk, or adjacent property.

Individual Letters. A cut-out or etched letter or logo which is individually placed on a landscape, screen wall, building wall, or ground sign.

Institutional Sign. A sign identifying the premises of a church, school, hospital, rest home, or similar institutional facility.

Internal Lighting. A source of illumination entirely within the sign which makes the contents of the sign visible at night by means of the light being transmitted through a translucent material but wherein the source of illumination is not visible.

Internal Backlighting. A source of illumination entirely within the individual letter, cabinet, or structure which makes the sign visible at night by means of lighting the background upon which the individual letter is mounted. The letters are opaque, and thus are silhouetted against the background. The source of illumination is not visible.

Kiosk Sign. An off-premises sign used for directing people to the sales office or models of a residential subdivision project.

Logo. A graphic symbol representing an activity, use, or business. Permitted logos shall be registered trademarks or symbols commonly used by the applicant, and may include graphic designs. The applicant shall provide stationery or other supporting documents illustrating use of logo.

Main Traveled Way. Shall mean in the case of a freeway or highway, the traveled way of each of the separate roadways for traffic in opposite directions is the main traveled way.

Menu Board. An outdoor sign listing food and beverage items available at restaurants with drive-through windows for take-out service.

Monument Sign. A free-standing cabinet or panel sign mounted on, or within, a base (above grade) which is detached from any building.

Multiple Tenant Commercial Building. A commercial development in which there exists two or more tenant spaces, and which is designed to provide a single area in which the public can obtain a variety of products and services. Distinguishing characteristics of a multiple tenant commercial building may, but need not, include common ownership of the real property upon which the center is located, common-wall construction and multiple occupant commercial use of a single structure.

Name Plate. A small sign which identifies a resident’s or home’s name and address or the name of a farm, ranch, or commercial stable. Such sign may be shingle, building wall, or archway-mounted.

Off-Site Subdivision Directional Sign. A sign located off the subject property providing direction to a residential land development project.

On-Site Subdivision and Model Home Directional Sign. A sign providing direction to a residential land development project located within the boundaries of the subdivision.

Panel. A two dimensional visual background behind the sign letters and logos which is visually separated from the mounting upon which the sign letters and logos are placed by the presence of a border, different colors, different materials, or other technique of visual framing around the letters or logo.

Pennant. See “Flag, Decorative.”

Permanent Sign. Any sign which is intended to be and is so constructed as to be a lasting and enduring condition remaining unchanged in character, condition (except normal wear) and position, and in a permanent manner affixed to the ground, wall, or building, provided the sign is listed as a permanent sign in the Ordinance.

Pole Signs. Pole signs are signs that are supported by a pole or post and otherwise separated from the ground by air. Pole signs are almost always separated from buildings and other structures.

Portable Sign. A sign that is not permanently affixed to a structure or the ground.

Projecting Sign. A wall sign suspended from, or supported by, a building or structure and projecting outward.

Raceway. A metal conduit or channel containing the electrical power lines for illuminated signs.

Reader Board Sign. A on-premise sign designed to allow the changing of copy through manual, mechanical, or electrical means, including time and temperature. The changeable copy of a “Reader Board Sign” shall not change at a frequency in excess of one alteration per four (4) seconds, shall not use scrolling or animated characterization nor be located within the direct line-of-sight of any residential used or zoned property within 150 feet of said sign.

Reverse Channel Lettering. See “Channel Letter Sign, Reverse.”

Roof Sign. A sign that extends above the roof line.

Shingle Sign (Canopy Sign). A sign suspended from a roof overhang of a covered porch or walkway which identifies the tenant of the adjoining space (see “Under Canopy Sign”).

Sign. Any words, letters, numerals, emblems, designs, or other marks shown on any flag, card, cloth, paper, metal, painted surface, glass, wood, plaster, stone or other device of any kind or character by which anything is made known and used to attract attention. “Sign” does not include:

A. Official notices issued by any court or public body or officer;

B. Notices posted by any public officer in performance of a public duty or by any person in giving any legal notice;

C. Directional, warning or information signs or structures required by or authorized by law or federal or state authority.

Sign Copy. Letters or figures that make up the sign’s message.

Sign Program. A specific set of design standards established for the purpose of unifying a variety of signs associated with a multi-tenant or multi-use project (three or more tenant spaces), building or complex of buildings. The design standards shall include, but are not limited to, letter and logo sizes, letter style, colors, texture, lighting methods, sign type (individual letters, cabinet, etc.) and architectural features. The purpose of the program is to provide design compatibility for all signs and to integrate the signs with the architectural features of the project or building(s) being signed. Upon approval of the master sign program by the Director, all signage contained within the limits of the project, regardless of ownership, shall comply with the design standards established by the program.

Sign Structure. Any structure which supports any sign.

Snipe Sign. Temporary signs made of any material, including paper, cardboard, wood and metal which is fastened to fences, trees, utility poles, or other nonsign structures.

Special Event Sign/Banner. A temporary sign or banner that is intended to inform the public of a unique happening, action, purpose, or occasion, such as a grand opening or community event (see Banner).

Special Service Sign. Small signs associated with gasoline or service stations such as “full service”, “water and air”, “cashier”, “smog certificates”, etc.

Temporary Sign. A sign usually constructed of cloth or fabric, cardboard, wallboard, wood or other light material intended to be displayed for a short period of time as set forth in this Chapter.

Time/Temperature Sign. Shall mean a sign which communicates time and temperature information in digital or analog fashion, frequently in connection with business logo or identification copy.

Traffic Directional Sign. Signs used at driveways to improve public safety and to enhance public access to the site from public streets. These signs provide information which will assist the operators of vehicles and the flow of traffic. Such signs may use names, logos, or symbols of buildings, businesses, activities, uses or places as a means of providing directions.

Two Hundred Feet from the Edge of the Right Of Way. Shall mean two hundred feet (200') measured from the edge of the right of way horizontally along a line perpendicular to the centerline of the highway.

Under Canopy Sign. Any sign attached to the underside of a projecting canopy protruding over a private or public sidewalk or right-of-way.

Vehicle Sign. A sign which is attached to or painted on a vehicle which is parked on or adjacent to any property, the principal purpose of which is to attract attention to a product sold or business located on such property.

Wall Sign. A sign that is affixed to the wall or fascia of a building.

Window Sign. Any sign posted, painted, placed, or affixed in or on any window exposed to public view. Any interior sign which faces any window exposed to public view and is located within three (3) feet of the window.

[Ord. No. 474, Section 5, 5/28/08; Ord. No. 528, Exhibit P, 9/10/14; Ord. No. 611, 4/22/20.]