§ 240-60. Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ABANDONED SIGN

A sign which no longer identifies or advertises a bona fide business, lessor, service, owner, product or activity and/or for which no legal owner can be found.

ANIMATED SIGN

Any sign which uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or to create a special effect or scene.

AREA (OF A SIGN)

(See § 240-62 herein).

BANNER

A sign made of fabric or any nonrigid material with no enclosing framework.

BILLBOARD

(See "off-premises sign.")

BUILDING COMMISSIONER

The Building Commissioner of the Town of Barnstable or his designee.

BUILDING SIGN

A sign affixed to and wholly supported by an exterior wall of a building or structure.

BUSINESS AREA SIGNS

An off-premises sign intended to direct the motoring public to specific commercial areas only, and not to include individual businesses.

CANOPY OR ARCADE SIGN

A wall-mounted sign attached to or constructed on the face of a permanent roofed structure covering an area customarily used for pedestrian circulation.

CHANGEABLE-COPY SIGN

A sign that is designed so that characters, letters or illustrations can be changed or rearranged either manually or automatically without altering the face or the service of the sign.

CONSTRUCTION SIGN

A temporary sign identifying an architect, contractor, subcontractor, material supplier or others participating in the construction on the property on which the sign is located.

DIRECT LIGHTING

Illumination by means of an external source.

DIRECTIONAL/INFORMATION SIGN

An on-premises sign identifying a premises or activity conducted upon such premises, and providing direction for the safe and efficient flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic to such activity or premises. Directional signs shall include signs marking entrances, exits, parking areas, loading areas or other operational features of the premises.

DISCONTINUED SIGN

(See "abandoned sign.")

DOUBLE-FACED SIGN

A sign with two faces or panels, neither of which is visible at the same time and are directly back to back as opposed to a V-shaped sign.

ELECTRONIC MESSAGE CENTER

A sign on which the copy changes automatically on a lampbank or through mechanical means, e.g., electrical or electronic time-and-temperature units.

EXTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN

A sign whose illumination is derived entirely from an external artificial source.

FACADE

The entire building front, including the parapet.

FLASHING SIGN

A sign which contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source used primarily to attract attention. This does not include changeable-copy signs, animated signs or signs which, through reflection or other means, create an illusion of flashing or intermittent light. (Compare "animated sign.")

FREESTANDING SIGN

A sign supported upon the ground by poles or braces and not attached to any building.

FRONTAGE

The length of the property line of any one premises along a public right-of-way on which it borders.

GOVERNMENT SIGN

Any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained by the Town, county, state or federal government for traffic direction or for designation of or direction to any school, hospital, historic site or public service, property or facility.

HEIGHT (OF A SIGN)

The vertical distance measured from the highest point of the sign to the average ground grade beneath the sign.

IDENTIFICATION SIGN

A sign whose copy is limited to the name and address of the building, institution or person and/or activity or occupation being identified.

ILLEGAL SIGN

A sign which does not meet the requirements of this chapter and which has not received legal nonconforming status.

INDIRECT LIGHTING

Illumination by means of a concealed light source, whereby all incandescent or fluorescent devices are shielded from view by opaque or translucent materials, and including reflected lighting.

INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN

Illumination by means of a light source completely enclosed by the sign panel(s).

INTERMITTENT LIGHTING

(See "flashing sign.")

MAINTENANCE (OF A SIGN)

The cleaning, painting, repair or replacement of defective parts of a sign in a manner that does not alter the basic copy, design or structure of the sign.

MENU SIGNS

The menu normally presented at tableside.

MULTIPLE-FACED SIGNS

Signs containing more than two faces or panels.

NEON SIGN

A neon sign is made of glass tubes filled with an inert gas, such as neon or argon, electrified to produce illumination. This provision is an exception to § 240-24.1.10A(6).

NONCONFORMING SIGN

Sign which was erected legally, but which does not comply with subsequently enacted regulations.

OFF-PREMISES SIGN

A sign structure advertising an establishment, merchandise, service or entertainment which is not sold, provided, manufactured or furnished at the property on which said sign is located, e.g., "billboards," "outdoor advertising" or "off-site signs."

ON-PREMISES SIGN

A sign which pertains to the use of the premises on which it is located and maintained.

OPEN/CLOSED SIGN

A sign indicating whether a business is open or closed. A business in the HVB may display a neon open/closed sign, as defined herein, indicating whether it is open or closed. Open/closed signs are not counted towards the amount of signage allowed.

[Added 6-17-2010 by Order No. 2010-123; amended 6-20-2013 by Order No. 2013-133]

OPEN HOUSE DIRECTIONAL SIGN

A temporary sign to be displayed only for real estate open house events staffed by real estate professionals such as brokers or agents. Such directional signs shall not exceed 24 inches by 24 inches in size, may be two-sided and shall display a directional arrow in addition to any other sign display.

[Added 5-5-2011 by Order No. 2011-046]

OPEN HOUSE SIGN

A temporary sign to be displayed only for real estate open house events where real estate professionals such as brokers or agents are present at the open house. Such signs shall not exceed 24 inches by 24 inches in size and may be two-sided A-frame or panel signs.

[Added 5-5-2011 by Order No. 2011-046]

PAINTED WALL SIGN

A sign which is applied with paint or similar substance on the face of a wall; such sign shall be considered a wall sign for calculation purposes.

PORTABLE SIGN

Any sign designed to be moved easily and not permanently affixed to the ground or to a structure or building.

PRIVATE WAY

For the purposes of this Article VII, a private way shall be considered a public way. (See "public way.")

PROJECTING SIGN

A sign other than a flat wall sign which is attached to and projects from a building wall or other structure not specifically designed to support the sign and is not parallel to the structure to which it is attached.

PUBLIC SERVICE INFORMATION SIGN

Any sign intended exclusively to promote items of general interest to the community, such as time, temperature, date, atmospheric conditions, news or travel control.

PUBLIC WAY

Any roadway over which everyone has rights to pass, including Town ways and private ways.

REAL ESTATE SIGN

A temporary sign advertising real estate upon which the sign is located as being for rent, lease or sale.

ROOF SIGN

Any sign erected upon a roof and wholly or partially supported by the sign structure placed upon the roof.

ROTATING SIGN

Any sign or device which has any visible moving part, visible revolving part, or visible mechanical movement but not including methods of changing copy.

SIGN

Any permanent or temporary structure, light, letter, word, model, banner, pennant, insignia, trade flag, representation or any other device which is used to advertise, inform or attract the attention of the public and which is designed to be seen from outside a building, including all signs in windows or doors but not including window displays of merchandise.

SPECIAL EVENT SIGN

A temporary sign advertising or pertaining to any civic, patriotic or special event of general public interest taking place within the Town.

STREET BANNER SIGN

Any banner which is stretched across and hung over a public right-of-way.

SUBDIVISION IDENTIFICATION SIGN

A freestanding or wall sign identifying a recognized subdivision, condominium complex or residential development.

TEMPORARY SIGN

A sign not constructed or intended for long-term use.

TRADE FIGURE OR SYMBOL

A three-dimensional representation of a business that is used to indicate the type of merchandise or services offered by the business. Trade figures or symbols shall be still and silent. Business trade figures are not counted towards the amount of signage allowed.

[Added 6-17-2010 by Order No. 2010-123]

Trade Figure or Symbol Example Butcher Shop

TRADE FLAG

Any sign consisting of lightweight fabric that is affixed to a pole displaying letters, designs or icons exemplary of the business displaying the flag. Such images shall be consistent with the historical heritage and character of village or neighborhood in which it is displayed.

[Added 6-17-2010 by Order No. 2010-123; amended 5-5-2011 by Order No. 2011-047]

UNDER-CANOPY SIGN

A directional sign suspended beneath a canopy, ceiling, roof or marquee.

V-SHAPED SIGN

A sign with two faces or panels not supported by one common structural member and which faces are not back-to-back.

WALL SIGN

A sign attached parallel to and extending not more than 18 inches from the wall of a building, including painted signs, individual lettered signs, cabinet signs and signs on a mansard.

WINDOW SIGN

A sign installed inside a window and intended to be viewed from the outside.

Editor's Note: The definition of "location hardship sign," added 6-17-2010 by Order No. 2010-123, which immediately followed, was repealed 11-7-2019 by Order No. 2020-020.

Added 6-20-2013 by Order No. 2013-133