§ 1-2. Definitions and rules of construction.

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 board of commissioners or the context clearly requires otherwise:

Charter. The term "Charter" means the Charter of the County of Granville, North Carolina.

Code. The term "Code" means the Code of Ordinances, County of Granville, North Carolina, 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 day shall be excluded.

State Law reference— Computation of time, G.S. 1-593.

Commissioners. The term "commissioners" or "board of commissioners" shall mean the members of the governing body of the County of Granville, North Carolina.

County. The term "county" shall mean the County of Granville, in the State of North Carolina, except as otherwise provided.

Gender. Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter.

G.S. and General Statutes. The abbreviation "G.S." and the term "General Statutes" means the latest edition of the General Statutes of North Carolina, as amended.

Governor. The term "governor" or "the governor" shall mean 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 such authority to a majority of such persons or officers.

May, shall. The term "may" is permissive; the term "shall" is mandatory.

Month. The term "month" shall mean a calendar month.

Number. Words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural includes the singular number.

Oath. The term "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 terms "swear" and "sworn" shall be equivalent to the terms "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.

Officials, boards, commissions, etc. Whenever reference is made to officials, boards, commissions, committees and the like, by title only, they shall be construed as if followed by the words "of the County of Granville, North Carolina."

Owner. The term "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 term "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.

Preceding, following. The terms "preceding" and "following" mean next before and next after, respectively.

Property. The term "property" includes real and personal property.

Real property. The term "real property" includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.

Sidewalk. The term "sidewalk" shall mean any portion of a street, between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.

Signature and subscription. The terms "signature" and "subscription" include a mark when the person cannot write.

State. The terms "state" and "this state" shall be construed to mean the State of North Carolina, except as otherwise provided.

Street. The term "street" means and includes any public way, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, alley, lane, viaduct, bridge and their approaches within the town and means the entire width of the right-of-way between abutting property lines.

Tenant and occupant. The terms "tenant" and "occupant," applied to a building or land, includes 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.

Writing, written. The terms "writing" and "written" include printing and any other mode of representing words and letters.

Year. The term "year" means a calendar year unless otherwise specified.

State law reference

Similar rules of construction of statutes, G.S. 153A-4.