In the construction of this Code and of all ordinances, the following definitions and rules of construction shall be observed, unless inconsistent with the manifest intent of the council or the context clearly requires otherwise:
Bond. When a bond is required, an undertaking in writing shall be sufficient.
Charter. The word "Charter" shall mean the Charter of the Town of Surf City as printed in Part I of this volume.
Code. The word "Code" shall mean the Code of Ordinances, Town of Surf City as designated in section 1-1.
Computation of time. The time within which an act is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first and including the last day; and if the last day is Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, that shall be excluded.
State law reference— Computation of time, G.S. 1-593.
Council. The word "council" shall mean and refer to the mayor and councilmembers of the Town of Surf City, North Carolina.
County. The word "county" shall mean the County of Pender, in the State of North Carolina, except as otherwise provided.
Gender. Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter.
Governor. The words "governor" or "the governor" shall mean the Governor of North Carolina.
Joint authority. All words giving a joint authority to three (3) or more persons or officers shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such persons or officers.
May, shall. The word "may" is permissive; the word "shall" is mandatory.
Month. The word "month" shall mean a calendar month.
Number. Words used in the singular include the plural and the plural includes the singular number.
Oath. The word "oath" 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 equivalent to the words "affirm" and "affirmed."
Official time standard. The term "official time standard" means that 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 town.
Officers, employees, boards, etc. The title of any officer, employee, board, commission, etc., used herein shall be construed as if the words "of the Town of Surf City" followed it.
Owner. The word "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 such property.
Person. The word "person" shall include a corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization and any other group acting as a unit, as well as an individual.
Personal property. The term "personal property" includes every species of property except real property, as herein defined.
Polystyrene. A thermoplastic polymer or copolymer comprised of at least eighty (80%) styrene of para-methylstyrene by weight (commonly known as Styrofoam).
Preceding, following. The words "preceding" and "following" shall mean next before and next after, respectively.
Property. The word "property" shall include real and personal property.
Real property. The term "real property" shall include lands, tenements and hereditaments.
Sidewalk. The word "sidewalk" shall mean any portion of a street, between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
Signature or subscription. The word "signature" or "subscription" includes a mark when the person cannot write.
State. The words "state" or "this state" shall be construed to mean the State of North Carolina, except as otherwise provided.
Street. The word "street" shall mean and include any public way, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, alley, lane, viaduct, bridge, and the approaches thereto within the town and shall mean the entire width of the right-of-way between abutting property lines.
Tenant. The word "tenant" or "occupant" applied to a building or land shall include any person who occupies the whole or a part of such 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.
Town. The words "the town" or "this town" shall mean the Town of Surf City, in the County of Pender and Onslow, in the State of North Carolina, except as otherwise provided.
Unencapsulated polystyrene. Polystyrene that is not completely encased within a polyethylene shell or within other comparable materials that protects against cracking, peeling, sloughing, and deterioration from ultraviolet exposure and physical trauma.
Writing, written. The words "writing" and "written" shall include printing and any other mode of representing words and letters.
Year. The word "year" shall mean a calendar year, unless otherwise specified.
(Code 1977, § 1-2) (Ord. No. 2022-07, § 1, 7-5-22)
State law reference— Similar rules of construction of statutes, G.S. 12-3.