§ 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 commission or the context clearly requires otherwise.

Charter. The term "Charter" shall mean the Charter of Knox County, Tennessee, as printed in Part I of this volume.

Code. References to "the Code" or "this Code" shall mean the Code of Knox County, Tennessee.

Commission. The word "commission" shall mean the legislative branch of the government of Knox 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.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-102.

County. Whenever the words "the county" or "this county" are used, they shall be construed as meaning and referring to Knox 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. Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-104.

Highway; street. The word "highway" or "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.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 55-1-116.

Joint authority. All words 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.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-106.

Month. The word "month" shall mean a calendar month.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-105(12).

Number. Words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural includes the singular number.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-104.

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

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-105(14).

Officials, employees, boards, commissions, departments, agencies. Whenever reference is made to officials, employees, boards, commissions, departments or other agencies by title only, they shall be deemed to refer to the officials, employees, boards, commissions, departments or other agencies of Knox County.

Or, and. "Or" may be read as "and" and "and" may be read as "or" if the sense requires it.

Owner. The word "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 word "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.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-105(15).

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

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-105(16).

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

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

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-105(19).

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.

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-105(20).

Shall; may. The word "shall" is mandatory; the word "may" is permissive.

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

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-105(25).

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

T.C.A. The letters "T.C.A." shall mean the Tennessee Code Annotated, as amended.

Tenant; occupant. The word "tenant" or "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. Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past and present.

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

State Law reference— Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-105(30).

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

State law reference

Similar provisions, T.C.A. § 1-3-105(31).