For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AND or OR. The word AND may be read as OR, and the word OR may be read as AND where the sense requires it.
BOND. When BOND is required, an undertaking in writing shall be sufficient.
CITY. The City of Goose Creek, Berkeley County, South Carolina.
CLERK. The Municipal City Clerk. The title may be used interchangeably with “Clerk”, “City Clerk” or “Clerk-Treasurer”, if one person holds both positions.
COMPUTATION OF TIME. The time within which an act is to be done, computed by excluding the first day and including the last, and if the last day be Sunday or a legal holiday, that shall be excluded. The day the act, event or default after which the designated period of time begins to run is not to be included. The last day of the period so computed is to be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday or a state or federal holiday, in which event the period runs until the end of the next day which is neither a Saturday, Sunday nor the holiday. When the period of time prescribed or allowed is less than seven days, intermediate Saturdays, Sundays and holidays shall be excluded in the computation. A half holiday shall be considered as other days and not as a holiday.
CORPORATE LIMITS, CORPORATION LIMITS. Whenever the words CORPORATE LIMITS, CORPORATION LIMITS or words of similar import are used, they shall mean the legal boundary of the City of Goose Creek.
COUNCIL or CITY COUNCIL. The Mayor and Council, as defined in S.C. Code § 5-11-20.
COUNTY. The County of Berkeley, State of South Carolina.
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. Whenever a provision appears in this code requiring the manager of a department or other officer of the city to do some act or perform some duty, it shall be constructed to authorize the manager of the department or other officer to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to perform the required act or make the required inspection, unless the terms of the provision or section designate otherwise.
EMERGENCY VEHICLE. Vehicles of the Fire and Police Departments, ambulances and/or emergency vehicles or public service corporations as are designated or authorized by the South Carolina Department of Highways and Transportation, or by the City Council.
GENDER. See § 10.04(B).
IN THE CITY. Any territory, jurisdiction of which, for the exercise of the city’s regulatory power, has been conferred on it by public or local law.
INTERPRETATION. In the interpretation and application of any provision of this code, it shall be held to be the minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare. Where any provision of this code imposes greater restriction upon the subject matter than another more general provision imposed by the code, the provision imposing the greater restriction or regulation shall be deemed to be controlling.
JOINT AUTHORITY. All words giving joint authority to three or more persons or offices shall be construed as giving the authority to a majority of the persons or officers.
KEEPER, PROPRIETOR. Persons, firms, associations, corporations, clubs and partnerships, whether acting by themselves or through a servant, agent or employee.
MAY. The act shall be permissive.
MINOR. All references to minors in this code shall be deemed to mean persons under the age of 18 years, except as otherwise provided in laws relating to the sale of alcoholic beverages.
MONTH. A calendar month, unless defined otherwise.
MUNICIPALITY. May be used interchangeably with “city” and shall mean the entire area within the corporate limits.
NAME OF OFFICIAL, BOARD AND THE LIKE. Whenever reference is made to an official, board, commission, department and the like, by title only, it shall be construed as though the words “of the City of Goose Creek” were added.
NONTECHNICAL and TECHNICAL WORDS. Words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of the language, but technical words and phrases and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be construed and understood according to the meaning.
NUMBER. See § 10.04(A).
OATH or SWEAR. SWORN shall be construed to include 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 the equivalent to words AFFIRM and AFFIRMED and vice versa.
OWNER. When applied to a building or land, any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or part of the building or land.
PERSON. A corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization and any other group as a unit, as well as an individual or individuals.
PERSONAL PROPERTY. Every species of property, except real property, as defined in this section.
PRECEDING and FOLLOWING. The next before and the next after, respectively.
PREMISES. Place or places.
PROPERTY. Real and personal property.
PUBLIC PLACE. Any park, cemetery, schoolyard or open space adjacent thereto, and any river or other waterway.
REAL PROPERTY and REAL ESTATE. Lands, tenements and the hereditaments.
RESIDENCE. The place adopted by a person as the person’s place of habitation, and to which, whenever the person is absent, the person has the intention of returning. When a person eats at one place and sleeps at another, the place where the person sleeps shall be deemed the person’s residence.
RESIDENCE DISTRICT. Territory contiguous to, and including a street not comprising a business district when the property on the street for a distance of 300 feet or more, is in the main improved with dwellings or dwellings and buildings in use with residences.
ROADWAY. The portion of a street improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.
SEAL. The city or corporate seal.
SHALL. The act shall be mandatory.
SIDEWALK. Any portion of a street between the curb line, or the lateral lines of a roadway where there is no curb and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. A mark, when a person cannot write.
STATE. The State of South Carolina.
STATUTE REFERENCES. Whenever reference is made, for example, to S.C. Code § 44-1-160, it shall be constructed to refer to the code of Laws of South Carolina, § 44-1-160, as amended, or whatever section is to be cited. Whenever reference is made, for example, to Acts 1944, p.1301, it shall be constructed to refer to page 1301 of the Acts of South Carolina 1944, or whatever page and year is to be cited.
STREET. Streets, avenues, boulevards, highways, roads, alleys, lanes, bridges and all other public thoroughfares, and shall mean the entire width thereof between abutting property lines. It shall be construed to include a sidewalk or footpath, unless the contrary is expressed or unless the construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the Council.
TENANT or OCCUPANT. When applied to a building or land, shall include any person who occupies the whole or part of a building or land, whether alone or with others.
TENSE. Words used in the past and present tense shall include the future as well as the past and present.
WEEK. Seven days.
WRITING. The words “writing” or “written” shall include printing and any other mode of representing words and letters.
YEAR. A calendar year, unless otherwise defined.
(1985 Code, § 1-2)