§ 1-2. Definitions and rules of construction.

The following definitions and rules of construction shall apply to this Code and to all ordinances and resolutions unless the context requires otherwise:

Generally. All provisions shall be liberally construed. When provisions conflict, the specific shall prevail over the general. All provisions shall be liberally construed so that the intent of the board of supervisors may be effectuated. Words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of the language, but technical words, technical phrases and words and phrases that have acquired peculiar and appropriate meanings in law shall be construed according to such meanings. Provisions shall be interpreted and applied so as to be the minimum requirements adopted for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare. In the event of conflicts between provisions, the more stringent provision controls. It is intended that no provision of this Code conflict with any federal or state law intended to preempt jurisdiction with respect to the subject matter contained in this Code and the provisions of this Code shall be construed, whenever possible, to avoid such conflict.

Acts by agents. When an act is required by an ordinance, the same being such that it may be done as well by an agent as by the principal, such requirement shall be construed to include all such acts performed by an authorized agent.

A.R.S. The abbreviation "A.R.S." means the Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended.

Board of supervisors. The term "board of supervisors" means the governing body of Mohave County.

State Law reference— Board of supervisors, A.R.S. § 11-201 et seq.

Code. The term "Code" means the "Code of Ordinances, Mohave County, Arizona," as designated in section 1-1.

Computation of time. The time in which an act is required to be done, when expressed in days, is computed by excluding the first day and including the last day, unless the last day is a holiday, and then it is also excluded. In cases in which notice of a decision by the county must be given to a petitioner and in which the petitioner must file a notice of appeal of such decision within a time certain of less than ten days, such time shall be computed starting with the day after the day during which the notice of decision is received by the petitioner by personal service or registered or certified mail.

State Law reference— Computation of time, A.R.S. § 1-243.

Conjunctions. In a provision involving two or more items, conditions, provisions or events, which items, conditions, provisions or events are connected by the conjunction "and," "or" or "either…or," the conjunction shall be interpreted as follows, except that in appropriate circumstances the terms "and" and "or" are interchangeable.

(1)

The term "and" indicates that all the connected terms, conditions, provisions or events apply.

(2)

The term "or" indicates that the connected terms, conditions, provisions or events apply singly or in any combination.

(3)

The term "either…or" indicates that the connected terms, conditions, provisions or events apply singly but not in combination.

County. The term "county" means Mohave County, Arizona.

State Law reference— Mohave County, A.R.S. § 11-110.

Delegation of authority. Any provision requiring a county officer or a county employee to do some act is to be construed to authorize the officer or employee to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to perform the required act unless otherwise prohibited.

Departments, boards, officers, etc. References to a department, board, committee, commission, office, officer or employee are to a department, board, committee, commission, office, officer or employee of the county.

Gender. Words of one gender include all other genders.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, A.R.S. § 1-214.

Includes. The term "includes" does not limit a term to a specified example.

May. The term "may" is to be construed as being permissive.

May not. The term "may not" states a prohibition.

Month. The term "month" means a calendar month.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, A.R.S. § 1-215.

Must. The term "must" is to be construed as being mandatory.

Number. Words used in the singular include the plural. Words in the plural include the singular.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, A.R.S. § 1-214.

Oath. The term "oath" means and includes an affirmation in cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath. In such cases, the terms "swear" and "sworn" are equivalent to "affirm" and "affirmed."

State Law reference— Similar provisions, A.R.S. § 1-215.

Owner. The term "owner," as applied to a building or land, means and includes 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 term "person" means and includes a corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization and any other group acting as a unit, as well as an individual. The term "person" also includes a trustee, receiver, an assignee or similar representative.

State Law reference— Definition of person, A.R.S. § 1-215.

Personal property. The term "personal property" means other than real property.

State Law reference— Definition of personal property, A.R.S. § 1-215.

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

State Law reference— Similar provisions, A.R.S. § 1-215.

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

State Law reference— Similar provisions, A.R.S. § 1-215.

Shall. The term "shall" is to be construed as being mandatory.

Signature or subscription. The term "signature" or "subscription" means and includes a mark, when a person cannot write, with his name written near it and witnessed by a person who writes his own name as witness.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, A.R.S. § 1-215.

State. The term "state" means the State of Arizona.

State Law reference— Definition of state, A.R.S. § 1-215.

Tenant or occupant. The term "tenant" or "occupant," as applied to a building or land, means and includes any person holding a written or an oral lease of or who occupies the whole or part of such building or land, either alone or with others.

Tense. The present tense includes the past and future tenses, and the future includes the present.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, A.R.S. § 1-214.

Week. The term "week" consists of seven consecutive days.

Writing and written. The term "writing" or "written" means and includes printing and any other mode of representing words and letters, including any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means.

State Law reference— Definition of printing, A.R.S. § 1-215.

Year. The term "year" means a calendar year.

State law reference

General definitions and rules of construction for state statutes, A.R.S. § 1-211 et seq.