This code shall be known as the Brentwood Municipal Code. Whenever a reference is made to the code, the reference includes all amendments to it.
(Ord. 978 § 2, 2016)
In this code the following definitions apply unless defined elsewhere in the Code or the context requires otherwise:
"City"
means the city of Brentwood.
"Code"
means the Brentwood Municipal Code.
"Council" or "city council"
means the Brentwood city council, and unless context requires otherwise, includes the mayor.
"County"
means Contra Costa County.
"Day"
means the period of time between any midnight and the midnight following, or a calendar day. (Government Code Section 6806.) If a deadline falls on a weekend or city holiday, the deadline is the next city business day.
"Health officer"
means the health officer of Contra Costa County. (See also Section 1.16.070.)
"Including"
means "including, but not limited to," unless the context requires otherwise.
"Licensed"
means licensed in accordance with the appropriate provision of this code, or under state law.
"Month"
means a calendar month. (Civil Code Section 14.)
"Owner"
means a person owning real property, and includes a part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, joint tenant, tenant, lessee, or other person having control or possession of the property, and the mortgagee under a recorded deed of trust. (The owner of record is determined by the last equalized assessment roll or the supplemental roll, whichever is more current.)
"Person"
means an individual natural person, firm, corporation, association, organization, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, corporation or company, or the agent, officer or employee or lessee of the person, and includes a governmental entity other than the city. (Government Code Section 17; Code of Civil Procedure Section 17.) A person responsible for a violation at a property includes: the owner; the tenant; the person in charge; the person using the property; and the lienholder shown on the last equalized assessment roll. If any of these is a minor, the parent or guardian is responsible.
"Personal property"
means every type of property except real property. (Civil Code Sections 14, 663.)
"Property"
means both real and personal property. (Civil Code Section 14.)
"Real property"
means land, what is affixed to land, and what is incidental or appurtenant to land. (Civil Code Section 658.)
"State"
means the state of California.
"Week"
means seven consecutive days. (Government Code Section 6805.)
"Writing"
means any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means, including handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, photocopying, transmitting by electronic mail or facsimile. (Government Code Sections 8, 6252.)
"Year"
means a period of three hundred sixty-five days, or a calendar year. (Government Code Section 6803.)
(Ord. 978 § 2, 2016)
In the interpretation of this code, the following rules apply, unless otherwise required by the context.
A. 
Acts by Deputy. Whenever a power is granted to or a duty is imposed upon an employee, he or she may delegate that power or duty, unless this code expressly provides otherwise.
B. 
Gender; Number. The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter. The feminine includes the masculine and neuter. The singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular. (Government Code Sections 11, 12, 13.)
C. 
Construction of Words and Phrases. Words and phrases shall be construed according to the context and the approved usage of the language. Technical words and phrases and words and phrases which have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning at law, will be construed according to that meaning.
D. 
Amendments. Whenever a reference is made to this code, or a state code, it includes any amendment.
E. 
Headings. The title, chapter, section and subsection headings in this code are intended to indicate the contents and do not govern, limit, modify, or in any other way affect the scope, meaning or intent.
F. 
Directives. Shall, must, or will is mandatory and may is permissive. (Government Code Section 14.) May not is prohibitive.
G. 
Computation of Time. The time in which an act provided by law is to be done 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. (Government Code Section 6800.)
H. 
Prohibited Acts Include Causing or Permitting. An act or omission which is unlawful under this code includes causing, permitting, aiding, abetting, maintaining, suffering, or concealing the act or omission.
I. 
Cross References. Internal references to other chapters or sections refer to chapters or sections of this code. Parenthetical references to state law are for information and cross-referencing only.
J. 
Severability. The titles, chapters, sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this code are severable. If any is declared unconstitutional, invalid or unenforceable by a court, that determination shall not affect the remaining provisions.
K. 
If there is an inconsistency, the stricter regulation applies.
(Ord. 978 § 2, 2016; Ord. 999 § 1, 2018)
Whenever this code requires the giving of notice, and the time and manner of giving the notice is not otherwise specified, the notice must be in writing and given at least seven days before an act must be done or a right exercised. The notice will be served either personally or by first class mail in a sealed envelope with postage prepaid, addressed to the person at his or her last known mailing address.
(Ord. 978 § 2, 2016)
Where an ordinance requires a person to file an application or request a permit, the city council may by resolution fix the fee to be charged for the filing and processing of the application and the request for a permit, including an appeal from the decision of a subordinate body.
(Ord. 978 § 2, 2016)
No city permit, license, or other issuance is transferable by the holder to another person or entity unless the transfer is expressly allowed in this code or is a property right which runs with the land.
(Ord. 978 § 2, 2016)
The city council will establish by resolution those holidays on which the public offices of the city will be closed.
(Ord. 978 § 2, 2016)