Unless the context hereof otherwise requires, these general provisions, rules of interpretation and definitions shall govern the interpretation of the ordinances adopted by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. The provisions of each of the ordinances and proceedings thereunder are to be construed so as to implement the objectives of the ordinances, and to promote justice.
(prior code § 1.04.010; Ord. 597, 1959; Ord. 5285 § 2, 2018)
The provisions of this code shall be construed to avoid unconstitutionality wherever possible. No County ordinance or provision of this code shall be construed as being broad enough to permit or condone any unlawful censorship or prior restraint upon any constitutional right or freedom, or any other illegal application.
(prior code § 1.04.011; Ord. 1532, 1970; Ord. 5285 § 2, 2018)
The Board recognizes and approves the preferred place given in our scheme of government to the democratic freedoms and liberties secured by the United States Constitution and the California Constitution, and that these liberties and freedoms have a sanctity and sanction not permitting dubious intrusions. The Board has a zealous solicitude for rights falling within these constitutional guarantees. It is neither the express nor the implied intent of the Board to permit or allow any officials to exercise any discretionary power granted to them by this code so as to directly or indirectly impose a censorship or prior restraint upon these liberties and freedoms.
(prior code § 1.04.012; Ord. 1532, 1970; Ord. 5285 § 2, 2018)
It is not the intent of the Board of Supervisors by the enactment of the Santa Cruz County Code to take private property for public use without payment of just compensation, in violation of either the United States or California Constitutions. No provision of this code shall be construed as being broad enough to permit any direct or indirect taking of private property for public use in violation of the intent expressed herein.
(prior code § 1.04.014; Ord. 1828, 1973)
It is not the intent of the Board of Supervisors in its administrative capacity to condone or permit the violation of the constitutional rights of any person, nor to condone or permit the taking of private property for public use without payment of just compensation in violation of either the United States or California Constitutions.
(prior code § 1.04.015; Ord. 1828, 1973)
If any section, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this code is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the code. The Board of Supervisors would have adopted this code and each section, sentence, clause or phrase and portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, sentences, clauses, phrases or portions be invalid or unconstitutional.
(prior code § 1.04.013; Ord. 1532, 1970)
The Board has found and declared that SCCC § 1.04.010 through § 1.04.080 were intended to restate and clarify existing law in order to thereby facilitate and promote uniform administration of the County's business. The intent of the Board in enacting said sections was only to restate, codify and clarify existing law.
(prior code § 1.04.017; Ord. 2316, 1976)
(A) 
Applicability. The provisions of this chapter and this section apply to, but shall not be limited to, decisions and actions taken by the County pursuant to the Santa Cruz County Code; the California Coastal Act of 1976 (Sections 30000 et seq., Public Resources Code); the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (Sections 21000 et seq., Public Resources Code); State CEQA Guidelines (Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Sections 15000 et seq.); the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.); the State Planning and Zoning Law (Sections 65000 et seq., Government Code); the Subdivision Map Act (Sections 66410 et seq., Government Code); and any other mandated or permitted action taken which relates to planning, zoning approvals, permits, or other entitlements for use of property, or limitations or restrictions affecting the use of property pursuant to laws heretofore or hereafter enacted.
(B) 
Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter:
(1) 
"Adjudicatory decision"
does not include actions or proceedings by or through courts of competent jurisdiction.
(2) 
"Decision," "determination," "action taken" and "action taken pursuant to this code"
mean and shall include administrative, adjudicatory, legislative, discretionary, executive and ministerial decisions, determinations, proceedings or other actions taken or authorized by the County, or any commission, board, officer or agent thereof, or any of the proceedings, determinations or actions taken, done or made prior to such decision or action.
(C) 
Intent.
(1) 
In the absence of a duly adopted resolution of necessity for eminent domain proceedings pursuant to the California Constitution and statutes implementing same, no intent to take or damage property for public use shall be implied by reason of any past or future action taken pursuant to this code.
(2) 
Unless the Board of Supervisors has adopted a resolution of necessity for eminent domain proceedings, it is not and never has been the intention of the Board of Supervisors to impose or authorize limitations or restrictions on the use of any property which would have the effect of either taking or damaging such property or which would otherwise entitle the owner thereof to damages or compensation under the United States Constitution, any statutes or judicial decisions.
(3) 
If any action taken pursuant to this code is subsequently found by any court to entitle the owner of the affected property to damages or other compensation for such action, the Board hereby declares that, unless such action was taken pursuant to a duly adopted resolution of necessity for eminent domain proceedings, such action was taken, authorized, or permitted under a mistake of law and contrary to the intent expressed herein.
(D) 
Void Actions. To the extent that any action taken pursuant to this code is found by final decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have the effect of taking or damaging property affected by such action, or to otherwise entitle the owner thereof to compensation, the action shall be null and void and of no effect in accordance with the intention and policy stated in subsection (C) of this section.
(E) 
Time Limitation for Commencement of Court Proceeding.
(1) 
Except as otherwise provided in SCCC § 1.04.170, Sections 65860 and 66499.37 of the Government Code, and Sections 21167 and 30801 of the Public Resources Code, any legally permitted court action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, annul or seek damages or compensation for any County decision or action taken pursuant to this code, as defined in subsection (B) of this section, shall not be maintained by any person unless such action or proceeding is commenced and service of summons effected within 90 days after the date of such decision or action taken. Thereafter all persons are barred from commencing or prosecuting any such action or proceeding or asserting any defense of invalidity or unreasonableness of such decision, proceedings, determinations, or actions taken.
(2) 
The provisions of this subsection shall not expand the scope of judicial review and shall prevail over any conflicting provision in any otherwise applicable law relating to the subject matter.
(prior code § 1.04.016; Ord. 2316, 1976; Ord. 2362, 1976; Ord. 5285 § 2, 2018)
Division and section headings contained in any County ordinance or code provision shall not be deemed to govern, limit, modify, or in any manner affect the scope, meaning or intent of the provisions of any such division or section thereof.
(prior code § 1.04.020; Ord. 597, 1959; Ord. 5285 § 2, 2018)
County ordinances and code provisions shall only regulate the omission or commission of acts within unincorporated areas of the County of Santa Cruz, and to such territory under the supervision and control of the Board of Supervisors of the County, by virtue of the Constitution or any law, or by reason of ownership or control of property.
(prior code § 1.04.030; Ord. 597, 1959; Ord. 5285 § 2, 2018)
Whenever a reference is made to any County ordinance or code provision, or portion thereof, such reference applies to all amendments and additions thereto, now or hereafter.
(prior code § 1.04.070; Ord. 597, 1959; Ord. 5285 § 2, 2018)
Whenever a power is granted to or a duty imposed upon a public officer or employee under a County ordinance or code provision, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by a deputy of such officer or employee, or by a person otherwise duly authorized, unless the provisions of the applicable County ordinance or code provision prescribe otherwise.
(prior code § 1.04.050; Ord. 597, 1959; Ord. 5285 § 2, 2018)
(A) 
"Across"
includes along, in or upon.
(B) 
"Assistant County Administrative Officer"
means Assistant County Executive Officer wherever that position title is used in this code.
(C) 
"Auditor"
means the Santa Cruz County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector.
(D) 
"Board" or "Board of Supervisors"
means the Board of Supervisors of the County of Santa Cruz.
(E) 
"Code"
means the Santa Cruz County Code.
(F) 
"County"
means the County of Santa Cruz.
(G) 
"County Administrative Office"
means County Executive Office wherever that department title is used in this code.
(H) 
"County Administrative Officer"
means County Executive Officer wherever that position title is used in this code.
(I) 
"Deputy County Administrative Officer"
means Deputy County Executive Officer wherever that position title is used in this code.
(J) 
"Department of Planning" or "Planning Department"
means the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure wherever those department titles are used in this code.
(K) 
"Department of Public Works" or "Public Works Department"
means the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure wherever those department titles are used in this code.
(L) 
"Director of Public Works" or "Director of the Department of Public Works"
means the Director of the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure wherever those position titles are used in this code.
(M) 
"Director of the Planning Department" or "Planning Director"
means the Director of the Department of Community Development and Infrastructure wherever those position titles are used in this code.
(N) 
"Ex officio"
means by virtue of office.
(O) 
"Goods"
means and includes wares and merchandise.
(P) 
"May"
means "allowed to" or "able to" as distinguished from "shall."
(Q) 
"Oath"
includes affirmation.
(R) 
"Operate" or "engage in"
means and includes carry on, keep, conduct, maintain, or cause to be kept or maintained.
(S) 
"Owner,"
as applied to a building or land, means and includes any part owner, joint owner, tenant in common, or joint tenant of the whole or part of such building or land.
(T) 
"Person,"
unless it otherwise appears from the context as used, means and includes any person, firm, association, corporation, organization, partnership, business trust, company, public agency, school district, the State of California, and its political subdivisions or instrumentalities.
(U) 
"Personnel Director" or "Director of the Personnel Department"
means the Human Resources Director, or their designee, wherever the position title "Personnel Director" or "Director of the Personnel Department" are used in this code.
(V) 
"Personnel Department"
means the Human Resources Department wherever the department title "Personnel Department" is used in this code.
(W) 
"Risk Manager"
refers to that specific person employed within the Human Resources Department who supervises the County's risk management activities.
(X) 
"Sale"
means and includes any sale, exchange, barter, or offer for sale.
(Y) 
"SCCC"
means Santa Cruz County Code.
(Z) 
"Shall"
is mandatory except where it is used to direct a County or other public officer or employee to perform certain acts, in which case it is directory only.
(AA) 
Singular and Plural. The singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular.
(BB) 
"State"
means the State of California.
(CC) 
"Street"
means and includes all streets, highways, public roads, County roads, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares, curbs, sidewalks, parkways, or other public ways in the 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.
(DD) 
"Tenant" or "occupant,"
as applied to a building or land, means and shall include any person who legally inhabits and/or uses the whole or part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.
(EE) 
Tense. The present tense includes the past and future tense, and the future, the present.
(FF) 
Titles of Officers and Departments. The use of the title of any officer, employee, office, commission, department or board shall mean such officer, employee, office, commission, department or board of the County of Santa Cruz.
(GG) 
"Writing"
means handwriting, typewriting, printing, photostating, photographing, photocopying, transmitting by electronic mail or facsimile, and every other means of recording upon any tangible thing, any form of communication or representation, including letters, words, pictures, sounds, or symbols, or combinations thereof, and any record thereby created, regardless of the manner in which the record has been stored. Whenever any notice, report, statement or record is required or authorized by any County ordinance or code provision, it shall be made in writing in the English language unless it is expressly provided otherwise.
(prior code §§ 1.04.060, 1.04.100; Ord. 597, 1959; Ord. 2483, 1977; Ord. 2506, 1977; Ord. 2685, 1979; Ord. 5285 § 2, 2018; Ord. 5406 § 1, 2022; Ord. 5474 § 1, 2025; Ord. 5491 § 1, 2025)
Whenever a notice is required to be given under any County ordinance or code provision, unless specifically noted otherwise, such notice may be given either by personal delivery thereof to the person to be notified or by deposit in the United States Mail, in a sealed envelope, postage prepaid, addressed to each person to be notified, at their last known business or residence address as the same appears in the public records or other records pertaining to the matter to which such notice is directed. Service by mail shall be deemed to have been completed at the time of deposit in the United States Post Office, or a mail box sub-post office, substation or mail chute, or other collection facility regularly maintained by the Government of the United States.
(prior code § 1.04.080; Ord. 597, 1959; Ord. 2139, 1975; Ord. 5285 § 2, 2018)
Proof of giving any notice may be made by the certificate of any officer or employee of the County or by affidavit of any person over the age of 18 years, which shows service in conformity with this chapter, or other provisions of law applicable to the subject matter concerned.
(prior code § 1.04.090; Ord. 597, 1959)
(A) 
The provisions of Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6 shall be applicable with regard to proceedings to obtain judicial review of County decisions by writ of mandate. Judicial review of any decision of the County, or of any commission, board, officer or agent thereof, may be had pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure only if the petition for writ of mandate pursuant to said section is filed within the time limits specified in Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure. Thereafter all persons are barred from commencing or prosecuting any such action or proceeding or asserting any defense of invalidity or unreasonableness of such decision, proceedings, determinations or actions taken.
(B) 
The provisions of Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall not expand the scope of judicial review, but shall prevail over any conflicting provision in any otherwise applicable law relating to the subject matter, unless the conflicting provision is a State or Federal law which provides a shorter statute of limitations in which case the shorter statute of limitations shall apply.
(prior code § 1.04.110; Ord. 2362, 1976; Ord. 3519 § 1, 1984; Ord. 5285 § 2, 2018)
(A) 
The termination or suspension, by whatsoever means effected, of any ordinance or code provision creating a criminal offense or infraction does not constitute a bar to the indictment, information, or prosecution and punishment of an act already committed in violation of the ordinance or code provision so terminated or suspended, unless the intention to bar such indictment, information or prosecution and punishment is expressly declared by an applicable provision of an ordinance or code provision.
(B) 
It is the express legislative intent of the Board to retain and exercise its constitutional authority to preserve criminal sanctions and civil remedies for illegal acts committed prior to termination or suspension of County ordinances or code provisions and to so alter established common-law rules, if any, to the contrary.
(prior code § 1.04.130; Ord. 2660, 1979; Ord. 5285 § 2, 2018)