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The following words, terms, and phrases, when used in this chapter, shall have meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning. Any word, term, or phrase used in this chapter that is not defined in this section shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Chapter 18.20 CMC. Any word, term, or phrase used in this chapter that is not defined in this section or Chapter 18.20 CMC shall have its normal dictionary meaning:

“Abandoned sign” means any sign remaining in place after such sign has not been maintained or, if the activity conducted on the subject property ceases, for 180 or more consecutive days.

“Animated sign” means any sign, or any portion of the sign, affected by the movement of air or other atmospheric or mechanical means, or that uses natural or artificial changes of lighting, to depict action or create a special effect or scene. Animated signs include, but are not limited to, flashing signs, inflatable signs, rotating signs, pennants, streamers, balloons, searchlights, spinners, and propellers. Changeable copy signs and electronic changeable copy signs are not considered animated signs for the purposes of this chapter.

“Athletic field” means facilities used for sporting activities such as softball, baseball, football, soccer, running track, tennis, and other nonmotorized sports. Athletic fields may include bleachers, concession stands, lights, restrooms, and other supporting facilities.

“Awning or canopy sign” means a nonelectric sign that is printed on, painted on, or attached to the vertical surface or flap of an awning or canopy.

“Banner” means a sign composed of flexible material, such as fabric, pliable plastic, or other similar nonrigid material, with no enclosing framework or electrical components and that is supported or anchored on two or more edges or at all four corners, or along either one edge or two corners with weights installed that reduce the reaction of the sign to wind.

“Building-mounted signs” means any sign attached to the face of a building, including, without limitation, wall signs, marquee signs, under canopy signs, and projecting signs.

Canopy Sign. See “Awning or canopy sign.”

“Changeable copy sign” means a sign with copy that can be changed or altered by manual, electric, electromechanical, or electronic means and without changing or altering the sign frame, sign supports, or electrical parts. A sign on which the copy changes more than eight times in a 24-hour period shall be considered an electronic changeable copy sign, and not a changeable copy sign, for the purposes of this chapter.

“Commercial sign” means any sign, display, or device designed, intended or used to encourage or promote purchase or use of goods or services.

“Comprehensive sign plan (CSP)” means a coordinated program of all signs, including exempt and temporary signs for a business, or businesses if applicable, located on a development site. The sign program shall include, but not be limited to, indications of the locations, dimensions, colors, letter styles, and sign types of all signs to be installed on a site.

“Copy” means the graphic content of a sign surface, including, but not limited to, graphics, letters, numbers, figures, symbols, and trademarks.

“Electric sign” means a sign or sign structure in which electrical wiring, connections, or fixtures are used.

“Electronic changeable copy sign” means an electronically activated sign with a copy that is changed, either in whole or in part, more than eight times in a 24-hour period by means of electronic programming.

“Exposed building face” means the building exterior wall of a single occupant building or the building exterior wall of an individual tenant’s leased space in a multi-tenant complex, viewed as a vertical plane between the finished grade and the roofline. This vertical plane will be used to calculate the sign area for building-mounted signs. In the case of an interior business without a separate exterior entrance, the exposed building face will be the vertical plane of the entrance wall measured between the floor and ceiling. As an option, for those businesses having oblique walls, the exposed building face is that area between the finish grade and the roofline that is shown on the elevation drawing submitted with the required drawings for a building permit.

“Flag” means any piece of cloth of individual size, color, and design, hoisted on a pole permanently affixed to the ground or displayed via a pole bracket permanently affixed to a building. If any single dimension of a flag is more than three times greater than any other single dimension, for the purposes of this chapter such a flag is classified and regulated as a banner, regardless of how it is anchored or supported.

“Flashing sign” means an electric sign or any portion of an electric sign that changes light intensity in sudden transitory bursts, or switches on and off in a constant pattern (e.g., strobe lights). Changeable copy signs and electronic changeable copy signs are not considered flashing signs for the purposes of this chapter.

“Freestanding sign” means a sign on a frame, pole, or other support structure that is not attached to any building.

“Frontage, building” means the length of an outside building wall.

“Frontage, property” means the length of the property line along the public right-of-way or private street on which it borders.

“Graffiti” means writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in public right-of-way or public space, or on a private property viewable from a public right-of-way, public space, or another private property.

“Height” means the vertical distance measured from the highest point of the sign to either the grade of the adjacent street or the surface grade beneath the sign, whichever is less.

“Illuminated sign” means a sign with an artificial light source incorporated internally or externally for illuminating the sign.

“Inflatable sign” means any object enlarged or inflated that floats, is tethered in the air, is activated by air or moving gas, or is located on the ground or on a building with or without copy or other graphics. These signs include large single displays or a display of smaller inflatable items, such as balloons, connected in some fashion to create a larger display.

“Institutional property” means property developed as governmental, educational, health, cultural and recreational centers, places of worship, and cemeteries. They may include government owned and operated facilities or be privately owned and operated.

“Kiosk” means a small structure in a public area used for providing information, often incorporating an interactive display.

“Lawn sign” means a freestanding sign made of lightweight materials such as cardboard or vinyl that is supported by a frame, pole, or other support structure placed directly in the ground without foundation or other anchors.

“Maintenance” means the cleaning, painting, and minor repair of a sign in a manner that does not alter the basic copy, design, or structure of the sign.

“Marquee sign” means any sign attached to or supported by a marquee, which is a permanent roof-like projecting structure attached to a building.

“Monument sign (ground sign)” means a freestanding sign having the appearance of a solid base that is 100 percent or greater of the sign face width, made of landscape construction materials such as brick, stucco, stonework, textured wood, tile, or textured concrete, which are harmonious with the materials of the primary structure on the subject property.

“Multi-tenant complex” means a complex containing two or more uses or businesses.

“Neon (outline tubing) sign” means a sign consisting of glass tubing, filled with neon gas or other similar gas, which glows when an electric current is sent through it.

“Noncommercial sign” means a sign which contains no message, statement, or expression related to commercial interests. Noncommercial signs include, but are not limited to, signs expressing political views, religious views, or information about and/or announcements of nonprofit organizations.

“Nonconforming sign” means any sign that was constructed, erected, and maintained in conformance with all King County or City of Covington rules and regulations in effect at the time the sign was established and that no longer conforms to the rules and regulations of this chapter.

“Pedestal sign” means freestanding signs supported permanently upon the ground by one or more solid bases, which base or bases shall be of a width equal to or greater than 50 percent of the sign width.

“Pole or pylon signs” means freestanding signs supported permanently upon the ground by one or more solid bases, which base or bases are less than 50 percent of the sign width.

“Portable sign” means a sign that is not permanently affixed and that is designed for or capable of being moved, except those signs explicitly designed for people to carry on their persons or that are permanently affixed to motor vehicles. Portable signs include, but are not limited to, A-frame signs, portable reader boards, lawn signs, and similar signs.

“Projecting sign” means a sign, other than a wall sign, which is attached to and projects from a building wall or other structure not specifically designed to support the sign.

“Public art” means original artwork that is accessible to the public and/or public employees and has been approved as public art by the City.

“Right-of-way” means land owned, dedicated, or conveyed to the public and used primarily for the movement of vehicles, wheelchair, and pedestrian traffic, and land privately owned and used primarily for the movement of vehicles, wheelchair, and pedestrian traffic, so long as such privately owned land has been constructed in compliance with all applicable laws and standards for a public right-of-way.

“Roadway” means the portion of a street that is improved for motor vehicle or bicycle travel. Roadway includes vehicle travel lanes and on-street parking areas. Roadway does not include area devoted to curbs, parking strips, or sidewalks.

“Roofline” means that lowest portion of a pitched or flat roof visible from a public right-of-way or adjacent property.

“Rotating sign” means a sign that revolves on a fixed axis.

“Sign area” means the entire area of a sign on which copy is placed, excluding the sign’s structure, architectural embellishments, and framework. Sign area is calculated by measuring the perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the module or sign face containing the copy; provided, however, that separated copy using a canopy, awning, or wall as the background and that is without added decoration or change in the canopy, awning, or wall shall have a sign area calculated by measuring the perimeter enclosing the separate copy and totaling the square footage of all such perimeters included as part of the sign.

“Sign face” means the area of a sign on which the copy is placed.

“String light” means small electric lights spaced evenly along a cable and used for decoration.

“Temporary sign” means any sign not permanently affixed or attached to the ground or a structure.

“Tenant space” means a portion of a structure occupied by a single commercial leaseholder with its own public entrance from the exterior of the building or through a shared lobby, atrium, mall, or hallway and separated from other tenant spaces by walls.

“Vacant lot” means any parcel of land that is without a primary use or structure.

“Wall sign” means either a sign applied with paint or similar substance on the surface of a wall or a sign with no copy on the sides or edges and attached essentially parallel to and extending not more than 12 inches from the wall of a building.

“Window signs” mean all signs located inside and affixed to a window and intended to be viewed from the exterior of the structure. (Ord. 08-18 § 2 (Exh. A))