<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 1-2. - Definitions and rules of construction.</div>
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               In the construction of this Code and of all ordinances of the board of commissioners,
               the following definitions and rules shall be observed, unless inconsistent with the
               manifest intent of the board, or unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">And, or.</span> The word "and" may be construed to include the word "or," and the word "or" may be
               construed to include the word "and," when such construction is not incompatible with
               the context.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Board, board of commissioners, governing body.</span> The terms "board," "board of commissioners" and "governing body" shall mean the board
               of commissioners of Cleveland County, North Carolina.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Bond.</span> When a bond is required, an undertaking in writing shall be sufficient.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Code.</span> The term "Code" or "this Code" shall mean the Code of Ordinances, Cleveland County,
               North Carolina, as designated in <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH1GEPR_S1-1HOCODECI" class="section-link" data-product-id="12207">section 1-1</a>.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Computation of time.</span> The time within which an act is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first
               and including the last day. If the last day is a Sunday or a legal holiday, that day
               shall be excluded.
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               <span class="ital">County.</span> The words "the county" or "this county" shall mean Cleveland County, North Carolina.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Gender.</span> A word importing one (1) gender only shall extend and be applied to the other genders.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Generally.</span> The rules of construction given in <a href="" data-chunk-id="COOR_CH12UNDEOR_ARTIGEPR_S12-3JU" class="section-link" data-product-id="12207">sections 12-3</a> and 153A-1 of the General Statutes shall govern, so far as applicable, the construction
               of words not defined in this section or other sections of this Code.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">G.S.</span> The designation "G.S." appearing in the text or in the state law references shall
               refer to the General Statutes of North Carolina, as amended.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Highway.</span> The word "highway" shall include any street, alley, highway, avenue or public square,
               bridge, viaduct, tunnel, causeway and sidewalk lying within the highway right-of-way,
               dedicated or devoted to public use.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Joint authority.</span> 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.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">May, shall.</span> The word "may" is permissive; the word "shall" is mandatory.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Month.</span> The word "month" shall mean a calendar month.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Nontechnical and technical words.</span> Words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of
               the language, but technical words and phrases and such others as may have acquired
               a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be construed and understood according
               to such meaning.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Number.</span> Any word importing the singular number only may extend and be applied to several
               persons and things as well as to one (1) person or thing.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Oath.</span> 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 like cases the words
               "affirm" and "affirmed" shall be equivalent to the words "swear" and "sworn."
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Occupant, tenant.</span> The word "occupant," or "tenant," applied to a building or land, shall mean any person
               who holds a written or oral lease of or who actually occupies the whole or a part
               of such building or land, either alone or with others.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Officers, boards, etc.</span> Whenever reference is made to a particular officer, department, board, commission
               or other agency, without further qualification, it shall be construed as if followed
               by the words, "of Cleveland County," unless otherwise specifically provided. Any reference
               to an officer shall include such officer's designated representative.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Official time standard.</span> Whenever certain hours are named in this Code, they shall mean standard time or daylight
               saving time as may be in current use in the county.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Owner.</span> The word "owner," applied to a building or land, shall include any part owner, joint
               owner, tenant in common, tenant in partnership, joint tenant or tenant by the entirety,
               of the whole or a part of such building or land.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Person.</span> The word "person" shall extend and be applied to associations, firms, partnerships
               and bodies politic and corporate, as well as to individuals.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Personal property.</span> The term "personal property" shall include every species of property, except real
               property as defined in this Code.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Preceding/following.</span> The words "preceding" and "following" shall mean next before and next after, respectively.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Property.</span> The word "property" shall include real and personal property.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Real property.</span> The term "real property" shall include lands, tenements and hereditaments.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Sidewalk.</span> The word "sidewalk" shall mean any portion of the street between the curb and the
               adjacent property line.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Signature, subscription.</span> The word "signature" or "subscription" shall include a mark properly witnessed when
               a person cannot write.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">State.</span> The term "the state" or "this state" shall mean the State of North Carolina.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Street.</span> The word "street" shall embrace streets, avenues, boulevards, roads, alleys, lanes,
               squares, bridges, viaducts, tunnels, causeways, sidewalks lying within the street
               right-of-way, and all other public highways.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Swear, sworn.</span> The word "swear" or "sworn" shall be equivalent to the word "affirm" or "affirmed"
               in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Tense.</span> Words used in the past or present tense shall include the future as well as the past
               and present.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Written, in writing.</span> The term "written" or "in writing" shall be construed to include any representation
               of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
               </p>
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               <span class="ital">Year.</span> The word "year" shall mean a calendar year.
               </p></div>