Chapter 1.04
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sections:
1.04.040 Grammatical interpretation.
1.04.010 Definitions.
The following words and phrases, whenever used in the ordinances of Adams County, shall be construed as defined in this section, unless a different meaning is specifically defined and more particularly directed to the use of such words or phrases:
“County” means Adams County, Washington.
“Law” means and denotes applicable federal law, the Constitution and statutes of the state of Washington, the ordinances of Adams County and any rules and regulations under those ordinances.
“May” is permissive.
“Month” means a calendar month.
“Must” and “shall” are each mandatory.
“Oath” means and includes an affirmation or declaration 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.”
“Owner” includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common or joint tenant.
“Person” means and includes a natural person, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, association, club, company, corporation, business, trust, organization, or their manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee.
“Personal property” means and includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt.
“Preceding” and “following” mean next before and next after, respectively.
“Property” includes real and personal property.
“Real property” means and includes lands, tenements and hereditaments.
“State” means the state of Washington.
“Tenant” and “occupant” mean and include any person who occupies the whole or a part of a building or land, whether alone or with others.
“Written” means and includes printed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise reproduced in permanent visible form.
“Year” means a calendar year. (Ord. O-3-91 § 1)
1.04.020 Titles of office.
Use of the title of any officer, employee, department, board or commission means that officer, employee, department, board or commission of Adams County. (Ord. O-3-91 § 2)
1.04.030 Interpretation.
All words and phrases shall be construed according to their common and approved meaning; 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. (Ord. O-3-91 § 3)
1.04.040 Grammatical interpretation.
The following grammatical rules shall apply in the ordinances of Adams County, unless it is apparent from the context that a different construction is intended:
A. Gender. Each gender includes the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
B. Singular and Plural. The singular number includes the plural and the plural includes the singular.
C. Tenses. Words used in the present tense include the past and the future tenses and vice versa, unless manifestly inapplicable. (Ord. O-3-91 § 4)
1.04.050 Acts by agents.
When an act is required by an ordinance it shall include all acts performed by an authorized agent. (Ord. O-3-91 § 5)
1.04.060 Prohibited acts.
Whenever in the ordinances of Adams County, any act or omission is made unlawful, it shall include causing, allowing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering or concealing the fact of such act or omission. (Ord. O-3-91 § 6)
1.04.070 Computation of time.
Except when otherwise provided, the time within which an act is required to be done shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day, unless the last day is Sunday or a holiday, in which case is shall also be excluded. (Ord. O-3-91 § 7)
1.04.080 Construction.
The provisions of the ordinances of Adams County, and all proceedings under them, are to be construed with a view to effect their objects and to promote justice. (Ord. O-3-91 § 8)
1.04.090 Repeal—Effect.
The repeal of an ordinance shall not revive any ordinance which has been previously repealed or which was repealed by the ordinance being repealed. (Ord. O-3-91 § 9)