(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.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. The governing body of Lincoln County, North Carolina.
CODE, THIS CODE, or THIS CODE OF ORDINANCES. This county code, as modified by amendment, revision, and adoption of new titles, chapters, or sections.
COUNTY. Lincoln County, North Carolina.
DAY. A calendar day.
GOVERNOR. The Governor of North Carolina.
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 those persons or officers.
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 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 the county, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
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 pathway, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, dedicated alley, lane, viaduct, bridge, and the approaches thereto within the county, and shall mean the entire width of the right-of-way or area between abutting property lines.
SUBCHAPTER. 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. 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.
WRITTEN. Any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
YEAR. A calendar year, unless otherwise expressed.