§ 135-902. Definitions.

For the purpose of this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ACCESSORY SIGN

Any on-premises billboard, sign or other advertising device that advertises, calls attention to or indicates the person occupying the premises on which the sign is erected, or the business transacted thereon, or advertises the property itself or any part thereof as for sale or to let, and which contains no other advertising matter.

AREA OF SIGN

The area of a sign shall be computed as the overall size of the display, including all backing, frames or casings. A double-faced sign shall be computed as the area of a single face, provided that all letters or characters on both faces are identical. Any sign made up of individual letters or characters shall be computed by multiplication of the overall length of all letters including spaces between letters by the average height of the letters or characters.

COMMERCIAL AREA

A commercial area is any area used for commercial uses as defined under the Zoning Bylaw and shown on the Zoning Map of the Town of Braintree as most recently amended.

COMMERCIAL SIGN

Sign containing advertising designed to promote the sale of goods or services to the public.

ERECTED

The word "erected" shall include the words attached, built, constructed, reconstructed, altered, enlarged and/or moved.

FRONTAGE

Frontage is that portion of a building facing the access roadway. Access roadway shall be considered the side of a building to which the street address is applied.

GASOLINE SERVICE STATION AND REPAIR GARAGE

A business facility with associated equipment to repair and service motor vehicles including, but not limited to, lubrication, tire changing machinery, diagnostic equipment, etc. This definition shall not include any specialty store or business that has an incidental sale of gasoline, such as convenience stores or auto part sales or car washing facilities or lubrication specialists, etc.

GENERAL BUSINESS AREA

Any area included within a district zoned for general business as defined under the Zoning Bylaws and shown on the Zoning Map as most recently amended. It does not include any area within a district zoned for residential purposes under the Zoning Bylaw as herein defined, regardless of whether the area is being lawfully used or is available for such use through a variance granted by the Board of Appeal, or through a nonconforming use or by any other means.

GROUND SIGN

A sign other than a billboard which does not extend or project into or over a public way and is supported by one or more uprights or braces that are in or upon the ground.

[Amended 3-17-2015 by Ord. No. 14-066(9)]

HIGHWAY BUSINESS AREA

A highway business area is an area used for highway business uses as defined under the Zoning Bylaw and shown on the Zoning Map of the Town of Braintree as most recently amended.

MARQUEE SIGN

A sign which is attached to a marquee.

NONACCESSORY SIGN

Any sign or other advertising device, whether on premises or off premises, that does not come within the foregoing definition of an accessory sign.

[Amended 3-17-2015 by Ord. No. 14-066(9)]

NONCOMMERCIAL SIGN

Sign containing any noncommercial message such as civic, philanthropic, charitable, religious, historic, cultural, recreational, political, ideological or advocacy messages and time, temperature, bus stop and traffic signs.

OFF-PREMISES SIGN

A sign other than a billboard which identifies a use, facility, or service which is not located on the premises, or identifies a product, service, activity, event, person, institution or business which either occurs, is generally conducted, or is sold, manufactured, produced or offered elsewhere than on the premises where such sign is located.

[Amended 3-17-2015 by Ord. No. 14-066(9)]

ON-PREMISES SIGN

A sign which is erected and maintained according to the standards set forth in § 135-907 upon the same real property that the business facility or point of interest is located. Such a sign, if commercial, shall advertise only the business, facility, or point of interest conducted thereon, or the sale, rent, or lease of the property on which it is located.

OPEN SPACE AND CONSERVANCY AREA

An open space and conservancy area is any area used for open space conservancy uses as defined in this chapter and shown on the Zoning Map of the Town of Braintree as most recently amended.

PERSON

The word "person" shall include one or more individuals, a partnership, an association or a corporation.

PROJECTING SIGN

A sign other than a billboard which is affixed to a building or structure and extends 12 inches or more beyond the building wall, structure or parts thereof.

[Amended 3-17-2015 by Ord. No. 14-066(9)]

RESIDENTIAL AREA

A residential area is for residential purposes under the Zoning Bylaw. It includes Districts A, B and C, as defined herein. This definition is applicable only to Article IX, Signs, of this bylaw.

ROOF SIGN

A sign other than a billboard which is erected, constructed or maintained above the roof of a building and does not project more than 12 inches beyond the wall line of the building.

[Amended 3-17-2015 by Ord. No. 14-066(9)]

SIGN

A sign means any structure, display, logo, device or representation which is designed or used to advertise or call attention to any thing, person, business, activity, or place and is visible from any public way. (It does not include the flag, pennant, or insignia of any nation, state or Town.)

TEMPORARY SIGN

A sign or cloth or other combustible material with or without a frame, intended for a limited period of display.

WALL SIGN

A sign which is supported wholly or partially by an exterior wall of a building and extends not more that 12 inches therefrom.

WINDOW SIGN

A sign including display, lettering, logo or advertising message which is attached, painted or posted flat against window glass contained wholly within a window or similar architectural detail or opening on the primary or secondary facade of a building or structure. Such signs shall be allowed as hereinafter provided notwithstanding the provisions of § 135-907, Construction.

[Amended 5-3-1993 STM by Art. 13]

Editor's Note: The former definition of "Sign Review Board," which immediately followed this definition, as amended 10-26-1993 STM by Art. 15, was deleted 1-27-2003 STM by Art. 11A.

Amended 5-18-1987 ATM by Art. 29; 5-11-1988 ATM by Art. 40; 1-8-1990 STM by Art. 12; 5-16-2001 ATM by Art. 54