(A) General rule.
(1) Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, ordinary and usual sense.
(2) However, technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(B) Specific definitions. For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CALENDAR YEAR. From January 1 through December 31 of any given year.
COUNCIL. The Town Council of the Town of Fairfax.
COUNTY. Marin County, California.
DAY. A calendar day unless otherwise expressed.
FISCAL YEAR. From July 1 of any given year through June 30 of the following year.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MONTH. A calendar month.
OATH. An affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath and, in such cases, the words SWEAR and SWORN shall be equivalent to the words AFFIRM and AFFIRMED.
OFFICER, OFFICE, EMPLOYEE, COMMISSION or DEPARTMENT. An officer, office, employee, commission or department of the town unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
OWNER. Applied to a building or land, the term shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant, tenant in common or joint tenant of whole or part of the building or land.
PERSON.
(a) Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee or receiver.
(b) Whenever used in any clause prescribing and imposing a penalty, the terms PERSON or WHOEVER, as applied to any unincorporated entity, shall mean the partners or members thereof, and as applied to corporations, the officers or agents thereof.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt.
PRECEDING or FOLLOWING. Next before or next after, respectively.
PROPERTY. Both real and personal property.
QUARTERLY. When used to designate a period of time, the first three calendar months of any given year or any succeeding period of three calendar months.
REAL PROPERTY. Lands, tenements and hereditaments.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of California.
STREET. All streets, highways, avenues, boulevards, alleys, courts, places, squares or other public ways in the town which have been or may hereafter be dedicated and open to public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of the state.
SUBCHAPTER.
(a) A division of a chapter, designated in this code by a heading in the chapter analysis and a capitalized heading in the body of the chapter, setting apart a group of sections related by the subject matter of the heading.
(b) Not all chapters have SUBCHAPTERS.
TENANT or OCCUPANT. Applied to a building or land, the terms shall include any person who occupies the whole or part of the building or land, whether alone or with others.
TOWN CODE, CODE, THIS CODE or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This municipal code, as modified by amendment, revision and adoption of new titles, chapters or sections.
TOWN, MUNICIPAL CORPORATION or MUNICIPALITY. The Town of Fairfax, California.
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year unless otherwise expressed.