(A) General rule. Words and phrases shall be taken in their plain, ordinary and usual sense. However, technical words and phrases having a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be understood according to their technical import.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CHARTER. The Charter of the City of Kings Mountain, North Carolina.
CITY. The City of Kings Mountain, in the Counties of Cleveland and Gaston, North Carolina.
CITY LIMITS. The legal boundary of the City of Kings Mountain, North Carolina.
CODE, THIS CODE or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This municipal code as modified by amendment, revision and adoption of new titles, chapters or sections.
COMPUTATION OF TIME. The time within which an act is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first and the last day; and if the last day is Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, that day shall be excluded.
COUNCIL. The Mayor and Council, or governing body, of the City of Kings Mountain, North Carolina.
COUNTY. The County of Cleveland or the County of Gaston, whichever may be applicable under the circumstances, in the State of North Carolina.
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. Whenever a provision of this code requires or authorizes an officer or employee of the city to do some act or perform some duty, it shall be construed to authorize the officer or employee to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to perform the act or duty unless the terms of the provision shall specifically designate or provide otherwise.
G.S. or GENERAL STATUTES. The latest edition of the GENERAL STATUTES of North Carolina, as amended.
GENDER. Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter.
GOVERNING BODY. The words CITY COUNCIL, COUNCIL or GOVERNING BODY shall refer to the duly constituted governing body of the City of Kings Mountain, North Carolina.
GOVERNOR. The Governor of North Carolina.
HEALTH OFFICER. The Health Officer of the respective counties in which the affected county is located.
JOINT AUTHORITY. All words giving a joint authority to three or more persons or officers shall be construed as giving the authority to a majority of persons or officers.
MAY. The act referred to is permissive.
MONTH. A calendar month.
NUMBER. Words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural includes the singular number.
OATH. An affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in those 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 this municipality unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
OFFICIAL TIME STANDARD. Whenever certain hours are named in this code, they shall mean standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in this city.
OWNER. Applied to any property, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or a part of the property.
PERSON. Extends to and includes person, persons, firm, corporation, copartnership, trustee, lessee or receiver. 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. Every species of property, except real property.
PRECEDING or FOLLOWING. Next before or next after, respectively.
PROPERTY. Includes real and personal property.
REAL PROPERTY. Includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
SHALL. The act referred to is mandatory.
SIDEWALK. Any portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
SIGNATURE or SUBSCRIPTION. Includes a mark when the person cannot write.
STATE. The State of North Carolina.
STREET. Any public way, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, dedicated alley, lane, viaduct, bridge and the approaches thereto within the city and shall mean the entire width of the right-of-way between abutting property lines.
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. When applied to a building or land, shall include any person who occupies the whole or a part of the building or land, whether alone or with others.
TENSE. Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed.
(Prior Code, § 1-2)