§ 1-3. Definitions and rules of construction.

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

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

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; if the last day is Sunday or a legal holiday, that day shall be excluded.

Council. The term "council" or "the council" means the council of the Town of Gate City located in the County of Scott, Virginia.

County. The term "county" or "the county" means the County of Scott in the State of Virginia.

Gender. Terms importing any gender includes the masculine, feminine and the neuter.

Health officer. The term "health officer" means the health director or sanitarian of Scott County, Virginia.

In the town. The term "in the town" means any territory jurisdiction of which for the exercise of its regulatory power has been conferred on the town by public or private law.

Joint authority. All terms 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.

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

Number. A term importing the singular only shall extend and be applied to several persons and things and a word importing the plural only may apply to one person or thing.

Oath. The term "oath" includes 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."

State Law reference— Similar state law, Code of Virginia, § 1-228.

Occupant. The term "occupant" applied to a building or land means any person who holds a written or oral lease of or actually occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, either alone or with others.

Official time standard. Whenever particular hours are specified in this Code relating to the time within which any act shall or shall not be performed by any person, the time applicable shall be official standard time or daylight saving time, whichever may be in current use in the town.

Owner. The term "owner" applied to a building or land, 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" includes a firm, partnership, association of persons, corporation, organization or any other group acting as a unit.

State Law reference— Definition of person, Code of Virginia, § 1-230.

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

Property. The term "property" means real, personal, or mixed property.

Public grounds. The term "public grounds" means the parks and all public lands owned by the town and those parts of public places which do not form traveled parts of streets as defined in this section.

Shall. The term "shall" shall be mandatory.

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

State. The term "state" or "the state" means the State of Virginia.

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

Time. Terms used in the past or present tense shall include the future.

Town. The term "town" or "the town" means the Town of Gate City, in the County of Scott and State of Virginia.

Written or in writing. The term "written" and "in writing" includes typewriting, printing on paper and any other mode of representing words and letters.

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

(Comp. Ords., § 1.3; Code 1950, § 1.5)

(Comp. Ords., § 1.3; Code 1950, § 1.5)