§ 1-2. Definitions and rules of construction.

In the construction of this Code and of all ordinances, the following definitions and rules of construction shall be observed, unless inconsistent with the manifest intent of the board of county commissioners or the context clearly requires otherwise.

Board of county commissioners, board, county commission. The terms "board of county commissioners," "board" and "county commission" shall mean the legislative branch of the government of Shelby County, Tennessee.

Commissioner. The term "commissioner" shall mean a member of the board of county commissioners of Shelby County, Tennessee.

Computation of time. The time within which an act is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day, and if the last day is a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday, it shall be excluded.

County. Whenever the terms "the county" and "this county" are used, they shall be construed as meaning and referring to Shelby County, Tennessee.

Delegation of authority. Whenever a provision appears requiring the head of a department or some other county officer to do some act or perform some duty, it shall be construed to authorize the head of the department or other officer to designate, delegate and authorize subordinates to perform the required act or perform the duty, unless the terms of the provision or section specify otherwise.

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

Highway; street. The terms "highway" and "street" shall mean the entire width between boundary lines of every way publicly maintained, when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.

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" shall mean a calendar month.

Number. Terms used in the singular shall include the plural, and terms in the plural shall include the singular.

Oath, swear, sworn. The term "oath" shall be construed to include an affirmation, and the terms "swear" and "sworn" shall be equivalent to the terms "affirm" and "affirmed."

Officials, employees, etc. Whenever reference is made to officials, employees, boards, commissions, departments or other agencies by title only, these references shall be deemed to refer to the officials, employees, boards, commissions, departments or other agencies of Shelby County, Tennessee.

Owner. The term "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 term "person" shall include a corporation, firm, company, partnership, association, organization and any other group acting as a unit or legal entity, as well as an individual.

Personal property. The term "personal property" shall include money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt.

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

Property. The term "property" shall include real and personal property.

Real estate, real property. The terms "real estate" and "real property" shall include lands, tenements and hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein, equitable as well as legal.

Shall, may. The term "shall" is mandatory; the term "may" is permissive.

Sidewalk. The term "sidewalk" shall mean any portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians.

Signature, subscription. The terms "signature" and "subscription" shall include a mark when the person cannot write, the name being written near the mark and witnessed.

State. The terms "the state" and "this state" shall be construed as meaning and referring to the State of Tennessee.

T.C.A. The abbreviation "T.C.A." shall mean the Tennessee Code Annotated, as now or hereafter amended.

Tenant, occupant. The terms "tenant" and "occupant," 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. Terms used in the past or present tense shall also include the future, and the future tense shall include the present.

Writing, written. The terms "writing" and "written" shall include printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters.

Year. The term "year" shall mean a calendar year.

(Code 1992, § 1-2)

State law reference

Similar provisions, T.C.A. §§ 1-3-102, 1-3-104, 1-3-105, 1-3-106, and 55-1-116.