§ 1-2. Definitions and rules of construction.

In the construction of this Code and of all ordinances of the city, the following definitions and rules of construction shall be observed, unless inconsistent with the manifest intent of the city council or the context clearly requires otherwise:

Bond. When a bond is required, an undertaking in writing shall be sufficient.

City. The words "the city" or "this city" shall mean the City of Lumberton in the County of Robeson and the State of North Carolina, except as otherwise provided.

City council. The words "council" or "city council" shall mean the city council of the City of Lumberton.

Code. The words "the Code" or "this Code" shall mean the "Code of the City of Lumberton, North Carolina."

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 Sunday or a legal holiday, that day shall be excluded.

County. The words "the county" or "this county" shall mean the County of Robeson in the State of North Carolina, except as otherwise provided.

Daytime, nighttime. "Daytime" is the period of time between sunrise and sunset, and "nighttime" is the period of time between sunset and sunrise.

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

G. S. or General Statutes shall mean the General Statutes of North Carolina, as amended.

In the city. The words "in the city" shall mean and include all territory over which the city now has, or shall hereafter acquire, jurisdiction for the exercise of its police or other regulatory powers.

Joint authority. All words giving 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.

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."

Officers, departments, etc. Every officer, department, board, commission or other similar body mentioned in this Code shall mean an officer, department, board, commission or similar body of the City of Lumberton, unless specified otherwise.

Owner. The word "owner," applied to a building or land, 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 building or land.

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 words "personal property" shall include moneys, goods, chattels, choses in action and evidences of debt, including all things capable of ownership, not descendible to heirs at law.

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, as defined in this section.

Real property shall include lands, tenements and hereditaments.

Shall, may. "Shall" is mandatory, and "may" is permissive.

Sidewalk. The word "sidewalk" shall mean any portion of a street between the curb line, or the lateral lines of a roadway where there is no curb, and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians.

Signature or subscription includes a proper mark when the person cannot write.

State. The words "the state" shall mean the State of North Carolina.

Street. The word "street" shall include avenues, boulevards, highways, roads, alleys, lanes, viaducts, bridges and the approaches thereto and all other public thoroughfares in the city, and shall mean the entire width thereof between abutting property lines.

Tenant, occupant. The word "tenant" or "occupant," when 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.

Time standard. Whenever certain hours are named in this Code, they shall mean eastern standard time or daylight saving time as may be in current use in the city.

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.

(Code 1967, §§ 1-2, 17-7)

State law reference

Rules of construction for statutes, G.S. § 12-3; citation of general statutes, G.S. § 164-1.