A-Frame Sign. See “Sandwich board/sidewalk sign.”

“Abandoned sign” means a sign whose message describes the availability of goods or services at a location where such goods and services are no longer available and have ceased to be available for a period of at least 60 days or, in the alternative, a sign that is noncommercial in nature and the content of the sign pertains to a time, event, or purpose that has elapsed or expired in the preceding 60 days. Such abandonment includes failure to maintain the sign or disrepair.

“Alteration” means the process of changing, modifying, reworking, revising, or remodeling a sign. This does not include maintenance of a sign or a change of the copy on a painted, printed, or changeable copy sign.

“Animated sign” means a sign that uses movement or change of lighting to depict action or to create a special effect or scene.

Area. See “Sign area.”

“Awning” means a shelter projecting from and supported entirely by the exterior wall of a building constructed of nonrigid materials on a supporting framework that may either be permanent or retractable.

“Awning sign” means a sign painted on, printed on, or attached flat against the surface of an awning.

“Backlit sign” means a sign using illuminated reverse channel letters with an open or translucent back so that light from the letter is directed against the surface behind the letter, producing a halo lighting effect around the letter; also referred to as silhouette- or halo-lighted.

“Banner” means a temporary sign made of fabric or any nonrigid material with no enclosing framework that is mounted to a pole or a building.

Billboard. See “Off-premises sign.”

“Building” means any roofed structure intended or used for the support, shelter or enclosure of persons, animals or property of any kind.

“Cabinet, sign” means a complete, fully enclosed, unit or module of a sign.

“Canopy” means a shelter projecting from and supported entirely by the exterior wall of a building constructed of rigid materials or may be of nonrigid materials on a supporting framework that may either be permanent or retractable.

“Changeable copy sign (automatic)” means a sign, or portion thereof, on which the copy changes automatically on a lampbank or through electrical or electronic means (i.e., time and temperature units). This does not include electronic animation; see definition of “Copy.”

“Changeable copy sign (manual)” means a sign, or portion thereof, on which copy is changed manually in the field through placement of letters or symbols on a panel mounted in or on a track system (i.e., readerboards with changeable letters).

“Channel letter” means a fabricated or formed three-dimensional letter that may accommodate a light source.

City. Unless the context clearly discloses a contrary intent, the word “city” means the city of Wasilla.

“Clearance (of a sign)” means the smallest vertical distance between the grade of the adjacent street or street curb and the lowest point of any sign, including framework and embellishments, extending over that grade.

“Construction sign” means a temporary sign identifying the architect, engineer, contractor, subcontractor, financier, sponsor, and/or material supplier participating in construction of a residential or commercial development on the property on which the sign is located. The sign may also designate the future occupant or use of the development.

“Copy” means the words and/or message displayed on a sign surface in either permanent or removable letter form.

“Directional/information sign” means an on-premises sign giving directions, instruction, or facility information to pedestrian and vehicular traffic. It may contain the name or logo of an establishment but no advertising copy (i.e., parking or exit and entrance signs).

“Double-/multiple-faced sign” means a sign with two parallel faces.

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

Electronic Message Center. See “Changeable copy sign (automatic).”

“Exterior illuminated sign” means a sign that is illuminated by a light source that is directed towards and shines on the face of a sign; also called direct illumination.

“Facade” means the entire building front including the parapet.

Face. See “Sign face.”

“Festoons” means a string of ribbons, tinsel, small flags, or pinwheels.

“Flashing sign” means a sign which contains an intermittent or sequential flashing light source used primarily to attract attention (generally with a constantly repeating message). 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.

“Freestanding sign” means a sign supported above the ground by visible poles or braces and not attached to any building.

“Frontage” means the length of the property line of any one premises along a public right-of-way on which it borders.

“Frontage, building” means the length of an outside building wall on a public right-of-way.

“Government sign” means any temporary or permanent sign erected and maintained by the city, borough, state or federal government for traffic direction or for designation of or direction to any school, hospital, historical site, or public service, property or facility.

“Ground sign” means a sign other than a pole sign, in which the entire bottom is in contact with or is close to the ground, there is no visible support structure, and it is independent of any other structure.

Halo-Lit Sign. See “Backlit sign.”

“Height (of a sign)” means the vertical distance measured from the highest point of the sign, excluding decorative embellishments, to the grade of the adjacent street or the natural/unimproved surface grade beneath the sign, whichever is greater.

“Icon” means an image, symbol or emblem.

“Identification sign” means a sign whose copy is limited to the name and address of a building, institution, or person and/or to the activity or occupation being identified.

“Illegal sign” means a sign which does not meet the requirements of this title and that has not received legal nonconforming status.

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

“Incidental sign” means a small sign, emblem or decal informing the public of goods, facilities, or services available on the premises (i.e., a credit card sign or a sign indicating hours of business).

“Inflatable device” means a sign that is a cold air inflated object, which may be of various shapes, made of flexible fabric, resting on the ground or structure and equipped with a portable blower motor that provides a constant flow of air into the device. These devices are restrained, attached, or held in place by a cord, rope, cable, weight, or similar method.

“Internally illuminated sign” means a sign that has the light source enclosed within it so the source is not visible to the eye.

“Logo” means a design or symbol that represents a product, identity, or service.

“Lot” means a distinct parcel of land for ownership and tax purposes which is delineated and fixed on a plat filed for record.

“Maintenance,” for the purposes of this chapter, means 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.

“Mansard” means a sloped roof or roofline facade architecturally comparable to a building wall.

“Marquee” means a permanent roof-like structure or canopy of rigid materials supported by and extending from the facade of a building.

“Marquee sign” means any sign attached to or supported by a marquee structure.

“Menu board” means a variable-message sign that allows a retailer to list products and prices (i.e., the bill of fare for a fast-food restaurant).

“Message area” means the area within the sign panel describing the limits of the message.

“Name plate” means a nonelectric on-premises identification sign giving only the name, address, and/or occupation of an occupant or group of occupants.

“Nonconforming sign” means a sign which was erected legally and maintained but does not comply with subsequently enacted sign restrictions and regulations.

“Occupancy” means the portion of a building or premises owned, leased, rented or otherwise occupied for a given use.

“Off-premises sign” means a sign structure advertising or directing attention to a specific business, establishment, product, service, commercial activity, or entertainment event or activity that is not sold, produced, manufactured, furnished, or conducted at the property upon which said sign is located (i.e., billboards or outdoor advertising).

“On-premises sign” means a sign whose message and design relates to a business, profession, product, service, event, or other commercial activity sold, offered, or conducted on the same property where the sign is located.

“Owner” means a person recorded as such on official records. For the purposes of this chapter, the owner of property on which a sign is located is presumed to be the owner of the sign unless facts to the contrary are officially recorded or otherwise brought to the attention of the city planner or designee (i.e., a sign leased from a sign company).

“Painted wall sign” means any sign that is applied with paint or similar substance on a building surface.

“Parapet” means the extension of a false front or wall above a roofline.

“Pennant” means a triangular or irregular piece of fabric or other material, commonly attached in strings or stands, or supported on small poles, intended to flap in the wind.

“Permanent sign” means a sign attached to a building or structure, or to the ground in a manner that enables the sign to resist environmental loads, such as wind, and that precludes ready removal or movement of the sign and whose intended use appears to be indefinite.

“Person” means a natural person, partnership, firm, joint venture, public agency, government, business, company, corporation, or other association.

“Planner” means the city planner or designee.

“Point of purchase display” means advertising of a retail item accompanying its display (i.e., an advertisement on a product dispenser).

“Pole cover” means an enclosure for concealing and/or decorating poles or other structural supports of a sign.

Pole Sign. See “Freestanding sign.”

“Political sign” means a temporary sign used in connection with a local, state or national election or referendum.

“Portable sign” means any sign designed to be moved easily and not permanently affixed to the ground, a structure or a building.

“Premises” means a parcel of land with its appurtenances and buildings which, because of its unity of use, may be regarded as the smallest conveyable unit of real estate.

“Projecting sign” means a building-mounted sign with the sign face(s) projecting from and perpendicular to the building fascia. This does not include signs located on a canopy, awning, or marquee.

Pylon Sign. See “Freestanding sign.”

“Real estate sign” means a temporary sign advertising the real property upon which the sign is located as being for rent, lease or sale that provides the name and contact information for the owner or their licensee and their brokerage.

“Regulatory sign” means a sign having the primary purpose of conveying information concerning rules, ordinances, or laws.

“Right-of-way (ROW)” means the land on which a public thoroughfare is located and certain lands adjacent thereto.

“Roof-line” means the top edge of a roof or building parapet, whichever is higher, excluding any cupolas, architectural pylons, chimneys, or minor projections.

“Roof sign” means a building-mounted sign erected upon, against, or extending either partially or completely over the roof of the building.

“Rotating sign” means a sign where the sign itself or any portion of the sign moves in a revolving or similar manner. Such motion does not refer to methods of changing copy.

“Sandwich board/sidewalk sign” means a sign not secured or attached to the ground or surface upon which it is located, but supported by its own frame and most often forming the cross-sectional shape of an A.

“Sight triangle” means a triangle at an intersection, formed by the two roads or rights-of-way and a third line, which must be kept clear of obstructions such as hedges so that people in vehicles on one road can see cars approaching on the other road.

“Sign” means any device, structure, fixture, painting, visual image, flashing light, strobe or placard regardless of whether it is standalone or fixed using graphics, symbols, numbers and/or written copy designed specifically for the purpose of advertising, communicating, identifying, or attracting attention to any establishment, product, goods or services.

Sign Area – Projecting and Freestanding Sign. Only the largest face of any double- or multifaced sign is used when calculating the area of a freestanding sign or projecting sign. The area of a sign shall be measured as follows:

Sign Area – Wall Sign. The area shall be within a single, continuous perimeter composed of any straight line geometric figure which encloses the extreme limits of the advertising message. If the sign is composed of individual letters or symbols using the wall as the background with no added decoration, the total sign area shall be calculated by measuring the area within the perimeter of each symbol or letter and the total combined areas of the individual figures shall be considered the total sign area.

“Sign face” means the surface area of a sign on which the advertising copy or message is placed or displayed.

“Snipe sign” means a temporary sign or poster affixed to a tree, fence, etc. (erected for three days or less).

“Subdivision identification sign” means a freestanding or wall sign identifying a recognized subdivision, condominium complex, or residential development.

“Temporary sign” means a sign not constructed or intended for long-term use or permanent installation. Generally these signs are intended to be used for a limited period of time for purposes such as announcing special events or sales, announcing the sale or rental of property, supporting political positions, or presenting other miscellaneous or incidental information or instructions.

“Under-canopy sign” means a sign suspended beneath a canopy, ceiling, roof or marquee.

“Use” means the purpose for which a building, lot, sign or structure is intended, designed, occupied or maintained.

“Wall sign” means a building-mounted sign that is either attached to, displayed on, or painted on an exterior wall in a manner parallel with the wall surface, and not projecting more than 18 inches from the wall surface.

“Window sign” means a sign that is painted on, attached to, or suspended directly behind a window for the purpose of being viewed from the outside. (Ord. 17-09 § 4, 2017; Ord. 11-08 § 2, 2011; prior code § 16.43.902.2)