SIGNS

Any device, fixture, placard or structure that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol or writing to advertise, announce the purpose of or identify the purpose of a person or entity or to communicate information of any kind to the public.

(1)        ANIMATED SIGN - Any sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or to create a special effect or scene.

(2)        ADVERTISING VEHICLE - A vehicle and/or trailer which has affixed to it any sign or advertising device which is parked on public or private property and visible from the public right-of-way where the apparent purpose is to advertise a product or direct people to a business or activity located on the same or nearby property.

(3)        Awning - An architectural projection or shelter projecting from and supported by the   exterior wall of a building and composed of a covering of rigid or nonrigid materials and/or fabric on a supporting framework that may be either permanent or retractable

(4)        Awning sign - A sign mounted, painted, or attached to or integral to an awning.

(5)        BANNER - Any sign of lightweight fabric or similar material that may or may not be permanently mounted to a pole or building by a permanent frame at one (1) or more edges. National flags, state or municipal flags or the official flag of any institution or business shall not be considered "banners."

(6)        BEACON - Any light with one (1) or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one (1) or more points not on the same zone lot as the light source; also, any light with one (1) or more beams that rotate or move.

(7)        BUILDING SIGN - Any sign attached to any part of a building, as contrasted to a freestanding sign.

(8)        Canopy, Attached - A multisided overhead structure or architectural projection supported by attachments to a building on one or more sides and either cantilevered from such building or also supported by columns at additional points.

(9)        Canopy, detached - A multisided overhead structure supported by columns, but not enclosed by walls.

(10)       COMMERCIAL MESSAGE - Any wording, logo or other representation that, directly or indirectly, names, advertises or calls attention to a business, product, service or other commercial activity.

(11)       DIRECTIONAL SIGN - A sign that directs or instructs vehicular or pedestrian traffic on the premises relative to the parking area, entrances and exits.  Such sign shall contain no advertising other than the business name or logo. 

(12)       ELECTRONIC CHANGEABLE COPY SIGN - a sign, or portion of a sign, that is designed so that characters, letters or illustrations can be changed or rearranged electronically without altering the face or the surface of the sign.

(13)       FLAG - Any fabric, banner or bunting containing distinctive colors, patterns or symbols, used as a symbol of a government, political subdivision or other entity.

(14)       FLAT WALL SIGN - Any sign attached parallel to but within twelve (12) inches of a wall, painted on the wall surface of or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, which is supported by such wall or building and which displays only one (1) sign surface.

(15)       FREESTANDING SIGN.  A self-supporting sign detached from any building and is supported by poles, posts, braces, or other type of base on the ground

(16)       GOVERNMENTAL SIGN.  A sign which is owned, installed and maintained by Marshall Township.

(17)       GROUND/MONUMENT SIGN.  A freestanding sign which is completely self-supporting, has its sign face or base on the ground and has no air space, columns, or supports visible between the ground and the bottom of the sign.

(18)       HIGHWAY SIGN - A sign that is located on a lot which has frontage on an interstate.

(19)       INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED SIGN - Signs where the source of the illumination is inside the sign and light emanates through the message of the sign, rather than being reflected off the surface of the sign from an external source.  Signs that consist of or contain tubes that are filled with neon or some other gas that glows when an electric current passes through it and are intended to form or constitute all or part of the message of the sign, rather than merely providing illumination to other parts of the sign that contain the message, shall also be considered "internally illuminated signs."

(20)       NONCONFORMING SIGN - Any sign that does not conform to the requirements of this chapter.

(21)       OFF-PREMISES SIGN - A sign that draws attention to or communicates information about a business service, commodity, accommodation or attraction or that draws attention to a cause or advocates or proclaims a political, religious or other noncommercial message or other enterprise or activity that exists or is conducted, sold, offered, maintained or provided at a location other than the premises on which the sign is located.

(22)       ON-PREMISES SIGN - A sign that draws attention to or communicates information about a business, service, commodity, accommodation, attraction or other enterprise or activity that exists or is conducted, sold, offered, maintained or provided on the premises where the sign is located.

(23)       PENNANT - Any lightweight plastic, fabric or other material, whether or not containing a message of any kind, suspended from a rope, wire or string, usually in series, designed to move in the wind.

(24)       POLE/PYLON SIGN.  A freestanding sign erected on a pole, poles, pylon, or pylons, where the bottom edge of the sign face is five (5) feet or more above the ground.

(25)       POLITICAL SIGN.  A sign that advertises a candidate or an issue which is to be voted on in a local, state, or federal election process.

(26)       PORTABLE SIGN -  Any sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure or a sign designed to be transported, including but not limited to signs designed to be transported by means of wheels, signs converted to A- or T-frames, menu and sandwich board signs, balloons used as signs, umbrellas used for advertising and signs attached to or painted on vehicles parked and visible from the public right-of-way, unless said vehicle is used in the normal day-to-day operations of the business.

(27)       PROJECTING SIGN.  A sign which reproduces a remote image, by optical or any other means, on any surface.

(28)       PROTRUDING SIGN.  A sign supported and attached to a structure so that more than one side or part of a side is visible.

(29)       RESIDENTIAL SIGN - Any sign located in a district zoned for residential uses that contains no commercial message.

(30)       ROOF SIGN.  A sign erected on or attached to a roof or a sign attached to a building that projects above the highest point on the roofline.

(31)       SIGN.  Any fixture, placard, structure, or other device that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, writing, painting, printing, display, emblem, drawing, electronic display, or computerized display to advertise, announce the purpose of or identify the purpose of a person or entity or to communicate information of any kind to the public.

(32)       SUSPENDED SIGN - A sign that is suspended from the underside of a horizontal plane surface and is supported by such surface.

(33)       TEMPORARY SIGN - A sign that is used in connection with a circumstance, situation or event that is designed, intended or expected to take place or to be completed within a reasonably short or definite period after the erection of such sign or is intended to remain on the location where it is erected or placed for a period of not more than fifteen (15) days.  If a sign display area is permanent but the message displayed is subject to periodic changes, that sign shall not be regarded as "temporary."

(34)       WALL SIGN.  A sign attached parallel to but within twelve (12) inches of a wall, painted on the wall surface or erected and confined within the limits of an outside wall of any building or structure, which is supported by such wall or building and which displays only one (1) sign surface.

(35)       WINDOW SIGN - Any sign, pictures, symbol or combination thereof designed to communicate information about an activity, business, commodity, event, sale or service that is placed inside a window or upon the window panes or glass and is visible from the exterior of the window.