§ 33.3. Definitions.
Words and phrases used in this article shall have the meanings set forth in this section. Words and phrases not defined in this section, but defined in the Zoning Resolution of Fulton County, shall be given the meanings set forth in such resolution. All other words and phrases shall be given their common, ordinary meaning, unless the context clearly requires otherwise. Section headings or captions are for reference purposes only and shall not be used in the interpretation of this article.
Abandoned sign. Any sign that contains or exhibits broken panels, visible rust, visible rot, damaged support structures, or missing letters or which is otherwise dilapidated, unsightly, or unkempt, and for which no person accepts maintenance responsibility.
Animated sign. Any sign, or part of a sign, that uses any movement or change of lighting or color to depict action or create a special effect or scene.
Audible sign. Any sign which emits a sound which is audible or emits a signal which can be converted into audible sounds, whether by radio or other means.
Awning/canopy sign. Any sign that is a part of, or attached to, an awning, canopy or other fabric, plastic or structural protective cover over a door, entrance, window, or outdoor service area. A marquee is not a canopy.
Banner. A sign other than a flag with or without characters, letters, illustrations or ornamentation applied to cloth, paper, vinyl, plastic or fabric that is intended to be hung either with a frame or without a frame. Neither flags nor canopy signs are considered banners.
Beacon. Any light with one or more beams directed into the atmosphere or directed at one or more points not on the same lot as the light source; also, any light with one or more beams that rotate or move.
Billboard. A sign with an area of more than seventy-two (72) square feet but not more than six hundred seventy-two (672) square feet.
Changeable copy sign. Any sign that incorporates changing lettering or images to form a message or messages, whether such changes are accomplished electronically or manually. Changeable copy signs shall not incorporate changing lights or electronic images. Such changeable copy signs cannot flash, and if located within one hundred fifty (150) feet of a road right-of-way, may not change more than once per twenty-four (24) hours.
Commission or commissioners. The Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
County. Fulton County.
Department. The department of environment and community development.
Director. The director of the department of environment and community development or his or her designee for a particular purpose.
Directory sign. A single sign for multiple businesses, offices, professionals, industries, or other entities located within a planned center.
Drive-through/drive-in facility. A location where products and/or services are distributed to, or business is transacted with, a person seated in a motor vehicle.
Fall zone. An area equal to 133 percent of the height of the structure in every direction.
Flag. Any fabric or bunting containing colors, patterns, or symbols used as a symbol of a government or other entity or organization.
Flashing sign. A sign, the illumination of which is not kept constant in intensity at all times when in use and which exhibits marked changes in lighting effects.
Freestanding sign. Any sign supported by structures or supports that are placed on, or anchored in, the ground and that are independent from any building or other structure. A permanently affixed sign which is wholly independent of a building for support with a base of a width not less than the width of the sign face.
Illuminated sign, external. A sign illuminated by an external light source. Such source cannot be a device that changes color, flashes or alternates.
Illuminated sign, internal. A sign illuminated by an internal light source. Such source cannot be a device that changes color, flashes, or alternates.
Internal development signs. Signs not visible from a public right of way, including but not limited to signs such as parking lot information, directional, safety signs and signs delineating internal sub-components of the overall development.
Lot. A parcel of land that is of sufficient size to meet minimum zoning requirements for lot area, coverage, and use and that can provide such yards as required by the zoning standards.
Marquee, marquee sign. Any permanent roof-like structure projecting beyond a building or extending along and projecting beyond the wall of the building, generally designed and constructed to provide protection from the weather.
Menu sign. A sign that informs on the products or services offered at a drive-through facility. Such sign is not to be legible by the traveling public and shall not exceed six (6) feet in height and 32 square feet in size.
Moving sign. A sign which revolves, rotates, swings, undulates, or otherwise attracts attention through the structural movement of parts.
Multi-tenant. One or more buildings, located on a single premise, containing two or more separate and distinct individual establishments, which occupy separate portions of the building and which are physically separated from each other by walls.
Obscene. Material is obscene if to the average person, applying contemporary community standards, taken as a whole, it predominantly appeals to the prurient interest, that is, a shameful or morbid interest in nudity, sex or excretion; the material taken as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value; and the material depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined as: (a) acts of sexual intercourse, heterosexual or homosexual, normal or perverted, actual or simulated; (b) acts of masturbation; (c) acts involving excretory functions or lewd exhibition of the genitals; (d) acts of bestiality or the fondling of sex organs of animals; or (e) sexual acts of flagellation, torture, or other violence indicating a sadomasochistic sexual relationship.
Out-of-store marketing device. An out-of-store marketing device is any facility or equipment which is located outside of a primary building on a site zoned for nonresidential uses, which is used for the primary purpose of providing a product or service without the owner's immediate presence, and which is manufactured to include a color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, and/or writing thereon to communicate information regarding the product or service provided thereby to the public. Examples of out-of-store marketing devices include: fuel pumps, bank ATM units, vending machines, newspaper racks, drink machines, ice boxes, and phone booths.
Pennant, streamer. 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 a series, designed to move in the wind.
Permanent sign. Any sign which, when installed, is intended for permanent use. A permanent freestanding sign shall be of a type and construction as not to be easily or readily removed from the lot on which it has been erected.
Permit. A sign permit reviewed, approved, and issued by the county.
Permittee. The person and/or entity owning or leasing the land on which the sign is erected or for which an application has been submitted.
Person. A natural or legal person, including a firm, organization, partnership, trust, and corporation.
Portable sign. A sign which is not permanently affixed to the ground or to a structure, including but not limited to signs on trailers or signs mounted or painted on vehicles which are parked in such a manner as to serve the purpose of a sign.
Principal building. The building in which the principal use of the lot is conducted. Non-residential lots with multiple principal uses may have multiple principal buildings, but storage buildings, garages, and other structures with clearly accessory uses shall not be considered principal buildings.
Projecting sign. Any sign which is suspended or projected from the wall, eave, or soffit of the building.
Public sign. Any sign erected by a governmental entity.
Roof sign. Any sign erected and constructed wholly on and over the roof of a building, or supported by the roof structure.
Sign face. That part of a sign that is or can be used for advertising purposes.
Sign. Any device, fixture, placard, or structure affixed to, supported by, or suspended by a stationary object, building or the ground that uses any color, form, graphic, illumination, symbol, or writing to communicate information of any kind to the public.
Standard informational sign. A sign with an area of not greater than four square feet, with a sign face made for short term use (90 days or less), containing no reflecting elements, flags, or projections and which, when erect, stands at a height not greater than three feet and is mounted on a stake or metal frame with a thickness or diameter not greater than 1½ inches.
Temporary sign. Any sign that is not permanently mounted.
Wall sign. Any sign attached parallel to 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 sign surface. Wall signs may be allowed to extend up to 15 inches from any wall, building or structure when a raceway is utilized. Raceways shall be painted to match the color of the exterior walls to which they are attached. Wall signs shall not cover architectural features or details, and not extend beyond the horizontal roof line or vertical edges of the building. Except for principle anchors, wall signs shall be uniform in alignment and height in developments in which multiple businesses share a building.
Window sign. Any sign that is placed inside a window or upon the window panes or glass, either inside or outside the building, and is visible from the exterior of the structure.
(Res. No. 08-0238, 5-7-08; Res. No. 08-0586, 7-2-08; Res. No. 12-0556, 7-11-12)