201. DEFINITIONS.
Unless specifically defined below, words or phrases used in this Code shall be ascribed a meaning which they have in common usage and which gives this Code its most reasonable application.
Abandoned Sign
Any nonconforming on-premises sign or sign structure which bears no sign or copy for a period of six (6) consecutive months; or displays for a period of six (6) consecutive months information which incorrectly identifies the business, owner, lessor, or principal activity conducted on the site; or which through age, lack of maintenance or obsolescence no longer conforms to the applicable structural or maintenance standards.
Activated Sign
Any sign which contains or uses for illumination any light, lighting device, or lights which change color, flash, or alternate; or change appearance of said sign or any part thereof automatically; any sign which contains moving parts as part of its normal operation, such as rotating signs, shall be considered an activated sign. Additionally, a sign that depicts or contains copy which moves or appears to be moving, or emits audible sound, vapor, smoke, odor particles, or gaseous matter, or electronic reader boards.
Advertiser
Any person who is a lessee or owner of a sign, an agent of same, or anyone who has beneficial use of a sign.
Advertising Balloon
A sign constructed from nonporous material, which is inflated and is designed to rise and float in the atmosphere. Included in this definition are those advertising balloons that represent the form of a person, place or thing. Aircraft that may meet this definition are not considered advertising balloons. Advertising balloons may be tethered or tied to the ground or may be designed to float freely in the atmosphere.
Aggregate Sign Area
When used in reference to the total allowable sign surface area, the total available display area of all sides or portions of a sign.
Alter (Signs)
This term shall include, but not be limited to, the following: the addition of sign surface area, the changing or relocation of light source, or the relocation of an outdoor advertising display from one position to another. “Alter” includes any and all structural changes in the sign, but shall not include the changing of copy on a sign which is designed as a changeable copy sign, or faces.
Awning Sign
A shelter supported entirely from the exterior wall of a building and composed of nonrigid materials (except for the supporting framework) upon which a sign is indelibly drawn, painted or printed.
Banner Sign
Any sign intended to be hung either with or without frames, possessing characters, letters, illustrations, or ornamentations applied to paper, plastic, or fabric of any kind. “Banner” does not include ground signs or pole signs, regardless of whether the ground signs or pole signs are on-site or off-site, and does not include flags, emblems, or insignia of any nation, state, or political subdivision, religious, charitable, political, social or fraternal organization. All other flags shall be considered banner signs.
Beacon Light
Any light source, whether fixed or activated, which is designed to attract attention to a specific location, place or thing.
Bench Sign
A bench whose primary purpose is collateral with providing transportation service to the public upon which a sign is indelibly drawn, painted, or printed.
Billboard
See Outdoor Advertising Sign.
Broker Identification Strip
A strip of wood or like material or paper affixed to, around or upon a real estate sign to indicate the name of the broker advertising the sale of property.
Building Frontage
The linear length of a building facing a public street right-of-way, exclusive of alleys; or the linear length of the street right-of-way that faces the building, whichever is smaller.
Canopy Sign
A roof-like cover, attached or unattached, extending from the exterior wall of a building and composed of supporting framework of rigid materials upon which a sign is indelibly drawn, painted or printed.
Changeable Copy Sign
Any framed sign, illuminated or not, which is principally devoted to and designed for changeable text and graphics. This definition shall not include activated signs.
Colonnade Sign
A sign suspended below the roof of a covered walkway, perpendicular to the façade of the structure, oriented to pedestrians and identifying the premises adjacent to it.
Commemorative Decoration
An embellishment placed to honor a certain event, person or place.
Commercial
Engaging in a business, enterprise, activity, or other undertaking for profit.
Commercial District
A commercial district is any parcel or parcels of land or water zoned C-1, C-2, C-3, or any areas designated and used for commercial purposes within a PUD/MPUD District as defined by the Pasco County Zoning Ordinance enacted November 19, 1975, and as subsequently amended.
Construction Sign
Any sign giving the name of contractors, architects, consultants and lending institutions responsible for construction on the site where the sign is placed, together with other information included thereon.
Copy
The letters, colors, text, or other graphics which comprise the message displayed upon the sign surface area.
Directional Sign
Any permanent or temporary sign which is used principally for the purpose of indicating the direction or location of any object, place, event or area including, but not limited to, those signs which indicate the avenues of ingress and egress from a particular premise, and bearing no additional advertisement beyond the name of the object, place or area. Directional signs shall not contain names, addresses or occupations of tenants.
Directory Sign
A sign which gives the name, address or occupation of the tenants of a building, including office directories; church directories; and shopping center, apartment, or townhouse directories.
Double-Faced Sign
A sign having two (2) display surfaces not necessarily displaying the same copy, which are parallel, back-to-back, and not more than forty-eight (48) inches apart.
Erect
To build, construct, attach, hang, place, suspend, or affix, and shall also include the painting of wall signs. This term shall not apply to copy changes on existing permitted signs.
Establishment
Any commercial, industrial, institutional, educational, office, business, social, fraternal or financial entity.
Exempt Signs
All signs for which permits are not required but which must, nonetheless, conform to the other terms and conditions of this Code.
Fascia Sign.
See Wall Sign.
Festoon
Fabric, paper, plastic or foil draped and bound at intervals.
Government Sign
Any sign erected by or on the order of a public official in the performance of his office or duty such as, but not limited to, traffic control signs, street name signs, warning and directional signs, public notices, historical markers, signs identifying governmental facilities, official commemorative signs, or signs of similar nature.
Ground Sign
Any sign other than a pole sign which is placed upon or supported by structures or supports in or upon the ground and independent of support from any building. The base shall touch the ground and continue to top of the sign without any openings, and the finish shall be consistent with materials used on the building that the sign serves. “Ground signs” shall include monument signs.
Height (Signs)
The vertical distance measured from the finished grade at the base of the sign structure to the highest point of any sign. An elevation survey must be submitted with all applications for permanent on-site and off-site signs.
Holiday Decoration
An embellishment placed specifically for the purpose of celebrating a specific holiday, holiday event or holiday season.
Identification Sign
A sign which depicts the name or address of a building or establishment on the parcel where the sign is located as a means of identifying said building or establishment.
Illegal Sign
Any sign erected prior to the adoption of the Zoning Ordinance in 1975 and not conforming to this Ordinance; any sign erected without a permit subsequent to the enactment of the Zoning Ordinance in 1975; and signs erected prior to or subsequent to the enactment of the Zoning Ordinance in 1975 in violation of the county, state, or federal regulations shall be considered illegal signs.
Illuminated Sign
An illuminated sign is one which either: (a) provides artificial light through exposed bulbs, lamps, or luminous tubes on the sign surface; (b) emits light through transparent or translucent material from a source within the sign; or (c) reflects light from a source intentionally directed upon it.
Industrial District
An industrial district is any parcel or parcels of land or water zoned I-1, I-2, or any areas designated and used for industrial purposes within a PUD/MPUD District as defined by the Pasco County Zoning Ordinance enacted November 19, 1975, and as subsequently amended.
Interior Sign
A sign that is located in the interior of a structure or is located outside a structure but, because of the sign’s placement, design or orientation is not visible to persons from a public place. An interior sign is not considered an on-site or off-site sign.
Maintain
Maintain shall include general servicing and upkeep in a safe, operable and attractive condition.
Marquee Sign
Any sign which is attached to or hung from a permanent, roof-like structure (marquee) which is supported by a building wall and which projects out from the building line usually but not necessarily over a public right-of-way such as a sidewalk.
Memorial Sign
Any sign erected in remembrance of a person or event or which is commemorative in nature.
Model Sign
A temporary sign that designates particular dwelling units and is used to depict other units of similar design that are for sale.
Multiple Listing Strip
A strip of wood or like material or paper affixed to, around or upon a real estate sign to indicate that the property being advertised for sale is also advertised within the real estate industry by virtue of their multiple listings service.
Multiple Occupancy Parcel
Any parcel that is occupied by more than one (1) establishment.
Multiprism Sign
Signs made with a series of triangular vertical sections that turn and stop to show three pictures or messages in the sign surface area.
No Dumping Sign
A sign having copy that includes the words “no dumping” and which is designed to inform the public that permission to place any putrescible or nonputrescible material or other solid or liquid waste is expressly denied.
Nonconforming Sign
Any sign lawfully in existence within Pasco County on the effective date of this Code which does not conform to the requirements of this Code. An illegal sign shall not be considered to be a nonconforming sign.
Nonconforming Structure
A structure or part of a structure not designed to comply with the applicable use provisions of Article 500 of this Code or amendments heretofore or hereafter enacted, where such structure lawfully existed prior to the enactment of Article 500 of this Code. Such nonconforming structures include, but are not limited to, nonconforming signs.
Nonresidential District
A nonresidential district is any parcel or parcels of land or water zoned other than E-R, ER-2, R-MH, R-1MH, R-2MH, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, MF-1, MF-2, MF-3 or any areas designated and used within a PUD/MPUD district for residential purposes as defined by Article 500 of this code and as subsequently amended.
No Trespassing Sign
A sign having copy that includes the words “no trespassing” and which is designed to inform the public that permission to enter a parcel of land or structure is expressly denied.
Off-Premises Sign
See Outdoor Advertising Sign.
Off-Site Sign
See Outdoor Advertising Sign.
On-Premises Sign
See On-Site Sign.
On-Site Sign (a/k/a On-Premises Sign)
Any sign upon which commercial or noncommercial advertising or any other matter may be displayed, advertising goods, services or other things sold or available upon the parcel where the sign is located. Any authorized or permitted on-site sign is allowed to contain non-commercial copy in lieu of any other permitted copy.
Outdoor Advertising Sign (a/k/a Billboard, Off-site sign, Off-premises sign)
A sign structure advertising an establishment, merchandise, service, or entertainment which is not sold, produced, manufactured, or furnished at the property on which the sign is located regulated by Section 601.21 of this Section.
Parcel
Any quantity of land being capable of being described with such definiteness that its location and boundaries may be established, and which is designated by its owner or developer as land to be used or developed as a unit.
Pennant
Any flag-like or streamer-like piece of cloth, plastic, foil or paper attached to any staff, cord, building, or other structure at only one (1) or two (2) edges, the remainder hanging loosely.
Permanent Sign
A permanent sign is one which is affixed to a building or the ground in accord with the requirements of the Pasco County Construction Code and any other applicable Federal, State, or local laws, and in such a manner as to be immobile without the use of extraordinary means such as disassembly.
Pole Sign
A sign, independent of support from any building, that is mounted on freestanding poles or other supports.
Political Sign
A sign identifying and urging support for or opposition to a particular issue, political party, or candidate for public office.
Portable Sign
Any sign other than a sandwich sign, double or single-faced, which is not permanently erected on the site and which may readily be moved from place to place; except that this definition shall not apply to signs painted directly on vehicles or signs displayed through, but not on, windows.
Professional Office District
A professional office district is any parcel or parcels of land or water zoned PO-1, PO-2, or any areas designated and used for professional office purposes within a PUD/MPUD District as defined by the Pasco County Zoning Ordinance enacted November 19, 1975, and as subsequently amended.
Projecting Sign
Any sign which is attached to and which projects from the outside wall of any building or structure, excluding wall signs as defined herein.
Public Place
Public rights-of-way, any river, channel, lake, bay, body of water, public park or any adjacent parcel under separate ownership.
Real Estate Sign
A sign which advertises the sale, rental, or development of the parcel upon which it is located.
Residential Development Identification Sign
See Subdivision Sign.
Residential District
A residential district is any parcel or parcels of land or water zoned E-R, ER-2, R-MH, R-1MH, R-2MH, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, MF-1, MF-2, MF-3 or any areas designated and used within a PUD/MPUD district for residential purposes as defined by Article 500 of this code and as subsequently amended.
Revolving Sign (a/k/a Rotating Sign)
Any sign so erected or constructed as to periodically or continuously change the direction toward which any plane containing the display surface area is oriented.
Roof Sign
Any sign erected, constructed, or maintained on the roof of any building, above the eaves, or above mansards, parapets, or other similar architectural features of buildings or structures which are capable of supporting signs. A “Roof Sign” is part of the structure for purposes of determining the height of the structure for zoning height restrictions.
Roof Line
The top edge of the roof or parapet. Whichever forms the top line of the building silhouette when viewed from the ground level.
Rotating Sign
See Revolving Sign.
Sandwich Sign
A sign consisting of two (2) sign faces connected at the top with either hinges or fixed fastening devices that is not permanently erected on the site and which may readily be moved from place to place.
Sign
Any device, permanent or temporary, which is visible from a public place or to a public audience and which is designed to attract attention to the subject matter of its copy shall be deemed to be a sign. Specifically excluded from this definition is any mural or painting or other artistic creation etched or painted on the wall of any structure, provided that the mural, painting or artistic creation, contains no off-site or on-site advertising material. Further, flags or emblems of any nation, state or political subdivision or any other noncommercial entity shall not be considered signs. Interior signs, as hereinafter defined, are not regulated by this Code.
Sign Face
The part of a sign on which the copy or message is or could be placed.
Sign Number
For the purpose of determining the number of signs, a sign shall be construed to be a single display surface or device containing elements organized, related, and composed to form a single unit. In cases where material is displayed in a random or unconnected manner, or where there is reasonable doubt as to the intended relationship of such components, each component or element shall be considered to be a single sign. A projecting sign or ground sign with sign surface on both sides of such sign shall be construed as a single sign, and the total area of such sign shall be the area computed on a single side of the sign.
Sign Structure
Any structure which is designed specifically for the purpose of supporting a sign, has supported, or is capable of supporting a sign. This definition shall include any decorative covers, braces, wires, supports, or components attached to or placed around the sign structure.
Sign Surface Area
The surface area of a sign is the entire area within the periphery of a regular geometric form, or combination of regular geometric forms, comprising all of the display area of the sign and including all of the elements of the matter displayed, but not including the sign structure bearing no copy. The surface area of the sign shall be measured from the outside edges of the sign or the sign frame, whichever is greater. The sign surface area shall include the aggregate sign area upon which copy could be placed, and shall include the total of a single side of a sign surface upon which copy could be placed.
Single Occupancy Parcel
Any parcel that is occupied by a single establishment.
Snipe Sign
A sign made of any material when such sign is tacked, nailed, posted, glued, or otherwise attached to any pole, tree or other natural feature, fence, fence post, bench, stakes, other sign or other similar objects located on public or private property. A snipe sign does not include real estate sales signs, warning signs or open house signs.
Sold Sign
A strip of wood or like material or paper affixed to, around or upon real estate sign to indicate that the property being advertised is no longer offered for sale.
Special Event Sign
A sign, not within the scope of another defined term of this Section, advertising a temporary event sponsored by a public, social, charitable, educational, religious or other nonprofit institution.
Subdivision Sign
Any community entry sign which is designed solely to identify a subdivision or neighborhood, including but not limited to industrial and commercial parks, multifamily projects, and single-family residential development.
Substantial Damage (Signs)
Damage of any origin sustained by a sign where the cost of restoring the sign to its condition prior to damage would equal or exceed fifty (50) percent of the adjusted replacement cost of the sign before the damage occurred, as assessed through current Marshall & Swift construction cost data publications.
Temporary Sign
A sign which is not designed, constructed, or intended to be permanent. This definition shall not include prohibited signs.
Vehicle Sign
Any sign attached to or placed on a vehicle, including automobiles, trucks, boats, campers, and trailers, that is parked on or otherwise utilizing a public right-of-way, public property or on private property so as to be intended to be viewed from a vehicular right-of-way for the purpose of providing advertisement of products or services or directing people to a business or activity. This definition is not to be construed to include those signs that identify a firm or its principal products on a vehicle or such advertising devices as may be attached to and within the normal unaltered lines of the vehicle of a licensed transit carrier, when and during that period of time such vehicle is regularly and customarily used to traverse the public highways during the normal course of business.
Wall Sign (a/k/a Fascia Signs)
A sign which is painted on, fastened to, or erected against the wall of a building with its face in a parallel plane to the plane of the building façade or wall and which does not project more than eighteen (18) inches from such building. This definition shall include the painting of a sign on a wall surface.
Warning Sign
Any sign which is designed to provide public notice of a clear and present danger to public health, safety, and welfare.
Window
An opening to the outside other than a door which provides all or part of the required natural light, natural ventilation, or both to an interior space. The glazed portion of a door in an exterior wall may be construed to be a window in regard to the provision of natural light.
Window Sign
A window sign is one which is painted on, attached to, or visible through a window (excluding displays of merchandise), which identifies or advertises activities, services, goods, or products available on the parcel.
