Chapter 1.04
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sections:

1.04.010    Definitions.

1.04.020    Grammatical interpretation.

1.04.030    Official actions by agents.

1.04.040    Construction.

1.04.050    Prohibited acts include causing, permitting.

1.04.060    Repeal not to revive any ordinances.

1.04.010 Definitions.

A. The following words and phrases, whenever used in the ordinances and resolutions of the county of Okanogan codified in this code, shall be construed as defined in this section unless from the context a different meaning is intended or unless a different meaning is specifically defined and more particularly directed to the use of such words or phrases:

1. “County” means the county of Okanogan, Washington.

2. “BOCC” or “board” means the board of county commissioners of Okanogan County, Washington. “All its members” or “all commissioners” means the total number of commissioners provided by the general laws of the state of Washington.

3. “Law” denotes applicable federal law, the constitution and statutes of the state of Washington, the ordinances and resolutions of the county and, when appropriate, all rules and regulations which may be promulgated thereunder.

4. “May” is permissive.

5. “Month” means a calendar month.

6. “Must” and “Shall.” Each is mandatory.

7. “Oath” shall be construed to include 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” shall be equivalent to the words “affirm” and “affirmed.”

8. “Office.” The use of the title of any officer, employee, or any office, or ordinance or resolution, means such officer, employee, office, or ordinance or resolution, of Okanogan County, Washington, unless otherwise specifically designated.

9. “Ordinance” means a law of the county; provided that a temporary or special law, administrative action, order, or directive may be in the form of a resolution.

10. “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 a part of such building or land.

11. “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.

12. “Personal property” includes money, goods, chattels, things in action and evidences of debt.

13. “Preceding” and “following” mean next before and next after, respectively.

14. “Property” includes real and personal property.

15. “Real property” includes lands, tenements, and hereditaments.

16. “Sidewalk” means that portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.

17. “State” means the state of Washington.

18. “Street” includes all streets, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares, curbs, or other public ways in this county which have been or may be dedicated and open to public use, or such other public property so designated in any law of this state except that this definition shall not include any streets, alleys, or roads which are within the boundaries of any incorporated city or town of this county unless specifically included therein.

19. “Tenant” and “occupant,” applied to a building or land, includes any person who occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.

20. 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.

21. “Written” includes printed, typewritten, mimeographed, or multigraphed.

22. “Year” means a calendar year.

B. 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. (Ord. 2023-3, 2023; Ord. 1975-1 § 1(1) – (24), 1975).

1.04.020 Grammatical interpretation.

The following grammatical rules shall apply in the ordinances and resolutions of the county:

A. Gender. Designation in the forms 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. 1975-1 § 2, 1975).

1.04.030 Official actions by agents.

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 requirement shall be construed as to include all such acts performed by an authorized agent. (Ord. 1975-1 § 1(25), 1975).

1.04.040 Construction.

The provisions of the ordinances and resolutions of the county and all proceedings under them are to be construed with a view to effect their objects and to promote justice. (Ord. 1975-1 § 4, 1975).

1.04.050 Prohibited acts include causing, permitting.

Whenever in the ordinances and resolutions of the county, any act or omission is made unlawful, it includes causing, allowing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering, or concealing the fact of such act or omission. (Ord. 1975-1 § 3, 1975).

1.04.060 Repeal not to revive any ordinances.

The repeal of an ordinance shall not repeal the repealing clause of such ordinance or revive any ordinance which has been repealed thereby. (Ord. 1975-1 § 5, 1975).