Sec. 1-2. Rules of construction.[1]
In the construction of this Code, and of all ordinances, the
following rules shall be observed, unless such construction would
be inconsistent with the manifest intent of council:
Bond. When a bond is required, an undertaking in writing
shall be sufficient.
City. The words "the city" shall mean the City of Charlottesville,
in the County of Albemarle and the Commonwealth
of Virginia.
Computation of time. Whenever a notice is required to be
given, or any other act to be done, a certain time before any
motion or proceeding, there must be that time, exclusive of the
day for any such motion or proceeding, but the day on which such
notice is given, or such act is done, may be counted as part of the
time; but when a notice is required to be given, or any other act to
be done, within a certain time after any event or judgment, that
time shall be allowed in addition to the day on which the event or
judgment occurred.
Council. Whenever the word "council" is used, it shall be
construed to mean the council of the City of Charlottesville.
Gender. A word importing the masculine gender only shall
extend and be applied to females and to firms, partnerships and
corporations as well as to males.
Joint authority. Words purporting to give authority to three or
more officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such
authority to a majority of such officers or other persons.
Month. The word "month" shall mean a calendar month.
Number. A word importing the singular number only may
extend and be applied to several persons or things as well as to
one person or thing, and a word importing the plural number only
may extend and be applied to one person or thing as well as to
several persons or things.
Oath. 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 such cases the words "swear" and
"sworn" shall be equivalent to the words "affirm" and
"affirmed."
Owner. 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 of a part of such building or land.
Person. The word "person" shall extend and be applied to
associations, firms, partnerships and bodies politic and corporate
as well as to individuals.
Preceding; following. The words "preceding" and "following"
mean next before and next after, respectively.
Sidewalk. The word "sidewalk" shall mean any portion of
the street between the curb and the adjacent property line
intended for the use of pedestrians.
Signature; subscription. "Signature" or "subscription"
includes a mark when a person cannot write.
State. The words "the state" or "this state" shall be construed
to mean the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Street. The word "street" shall be construed to embrace
streets, avenues, boulevards, roads, alleys, lanes, viaducts,
bridges and the approaches thereto and all other public highways
in the city.
Tenant. The words "tenant" or "occupant," applied to a
building or land, shall include any person holding a written
or oral lease of, or who occupies, the whole or a part of such
building or land, either alone or with others.
Time. Words used in the past or present tense include the
future as well as the past and present.
Written; in writing. "Written" or "in writing" shall be
construed to include any representation of words, letters or
figures, whether by printing or otherwise.
Year. The word "year" shall mean a calendar year.
Other words. The rules of construction given in sections
1-13 to 1-15.1, Code of Virginia, shall govern, so far as applicable,
the construction of all other words not defined in
this section. (Code 1959, § 1-2.)
