In the construction of this code, the following rules shall be observed unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the provisions.
(A) General rule. All words and phrases shall be construed and understood 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 the law shall be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning.
(B) Acts by agents. When any provision of this code requires an act to be done which may by law as well be done by an agent as by the principal, such requisition shall be construed to include all such acts when done by an authorized agent.
(C) Definitions. For the purpose of this code, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
CITY. The words “the city” or “this city” shall be construed as if the words “of Lake Forest” followed the word CITY, and shall extend to and include its several officers, agents and employees.
CITY COUNCIL. The City Council of the City of Lake Forest.
COUNTY. The words “the county” or “this county” shall mean Lake County, Illinois,
OATH. Includes an affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmative may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words “swear” and “sworn” shall be equivalent to the words “affirm” and “affirmed.”
OTHER CITY OFFICIALS OR OFFICERS. Whenever reference is made to officials, boards, commissions, departments and the like, by title only, they shall be deemed to refer to the officials, boards, commissions, departments of the City of Lake Forest.
OWNER. When applied to a building or land, shall include any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety, of the whole or of part of such building or land.
PERSON. Shall extend and be applied to firms, corporations or voluntary associations, as well as to individuals, unless plainly inapplicable.
SHALL HAVE BEEN. Includes past and future cases.
STATE. The words “the state” or “this state” shall mean the State of Illinois.
WEEK. Shall be construed to mean seven days; but publication in a newspaper or any notice or other matter indicated to be for a stated number of weeks shall be construed to mean one insertion in each week, unless specifically stated to be for each day of the week or for more than one day in each week.
(D) Gender. Any word importing the masculine gender shall extend to and be applied to females as well as to males.
(E) Interpretation. In the interpretation and application of any provision, 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 imposes greater restrictions upon the subject matter than the general provisions imposed by the code, the provision imposing the greater restriction or regulation shall be controlling.
(F) Joint authority. All words purporting to give a joint authority to three or more city officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons unless it shall be otherwise expressly declared in the provisions giving the authority.
(G) May. “May” is always directory and not mandatory.
(H) Number. Every word importing the singular number only shall extend and be applied to several persons or things as well as to one person or thing, and every word importing the plural number only shall extend and be applied to one person or thing as well as to several persons or things.
(I) Or, and. “Or” may be read “and” and “and” may be read “or” if the sense requires it.
(J) Personal property. Personal property shall extend and be applied to every species of property except real property.
(K) Reasonable time. In all cases where any provisions shall require an act to be done in a reasonable time or reasonable notice to be given, such reasonable time or notice shall be deemed to mean such time only as may be necessary for the prompt performance of such duty, or compliance with such notice.
(L) Shall. “Shall” is always mandatory and not directory.
(M) Tenses. The use of any verb in the present tense shall include the future when applicable.
(N) Time; how computed. The time within which any act is to be done, as provided in any provision of this code or in any other issued pursuant to any provision of this code, when expressed in days, shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last, except that if the last day be Sunday it shall be excluded; and when any such time is expressed in hours the whole of Sunday, from midnight to midnight, shall be excluded.
(Prior Code, § 1-2)