The following words and phrases whenever used in the ordinances of the county of Merced, California, shall be construed as defined in this section unless from the context a different meaning is specifically defined and more particularly directed to the use of such words or phrases:
"Computation of time"
means the time within which an act is to be done. It shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day. If the last day is Sunday or a legal holiday, the day shall be excluded.
"County"
means the county of Merced, state of California.
"Law"
denotes applicable federal law, the constitution and statutes of the state of California, the ordinances of the county of Merced, and when appropriate, any and all rules and regulations which may be promulgated thereunder.
"May"
is permissive.
"Month"
means a calendar month.
"Must" and "shall"
is each mandatory.
"Oath"
includes an affirmation or declaration in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words "swear" and "sworn" are equivalent to the words "affirm" and "affirmed."
"Ordinance"
means a law of the county of Merced; provided that a temporary or special law, administrative action, order or directive, may be in the form of a resolution.
"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 part of such building or land.
"Person"
means natural person, joint venture, joint stock company, partnership, association, club, company, corporation, business, trust organization, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer or employee of any of them.
"Personal property"
includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt.
"Preceding" and "following"
means next before and next after, respectively.
"Property"
includes real and personal property.
"Real property"
includes lands, tenements, and hereditaments.
"Road"
includes all streets, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares, curbs, or other public ways in this county which have been or may hereafter be dedicated and open to public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of this state.
"Sidewalk"
means that portion of a street between the curb-line and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.
"State"
means the state of California.
"Tenant" and "occupant,"
applied to a building or land, include any person who occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.
"Title of office."
Use of the title of any officer, employee, department, board or commission means that officer, employee, department, board or commission of the county of Merced.
"Written"
includes printed, typewritten, mimeographed, multi graphed, Xeroxed or copied by a similar wet or dry copies.
"Year"
means a calendar year.
All words and phrases shall be construed and understood 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 the law shall be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning.
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 requirements shall be construed as to include all such acts performed by an authorized agent.
(Ord. 938, 1979)
The following grammatical rules shall apply in the ordinances of the county of Merced, state of California:
A. 
Gender. Designation in the form of any gender includes the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.
B. 
Singular and Plural. The singular number includes the plural and the plural includes the singular.
C. 
Tenses. Words used in the present tense include the past and the future tenses and vice versa, unless manifestly inapplicable.
D. 
Use of Words and Phrases. Words and phrases not specifically defined shall be construed according to the context and approved usage of the language.
(Ord. 938, 1979)
Whenever in the ordinances of the county of Merced, any act or omission is made unlawful, it shall include causing, allowing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering or concealing the fact of such act or omission.
(Ord. 938, 1979)
The provisions of the ordinances of the county of Merced, and all proceedings under them are to be construed with a view to affect their objects and to promote justice.
(Ord. 938, 1979)
The repeal of an ordinance shall not repeal the repealing clause of such ordinance or revive any ordinance which has been repealed thereby.
(Ord. 938, 1979)
A. 
In addition to the enforcement authority assigned to specific county officials throughout this Code, the sheriff/coroner, and designees, the director of the community and economic development department, and designees, and any other county official or employee that the county executive officer or board of supervisors has authorized to do so, may enforce any provision of this Code consistent with applicable law.
B. 
The enforcement authority assigned to the officials and employees identified in subsection A of this section includes the authority to utilize the administrative processes and penalties provided for in this Code, which shall include, but not be limited to, those stated in Chapter 9.70 of this Code.
(Ord. 2011 § 1, 2022)