Monterey County Municipal Code Ch. 1.30 Rules of Construction

The ordinances embraced in this and all following chapters and sections shall constitute and be designated "the Code of the County of Monterey," and may be so cited. Such Code may also be cited as the "Monterey County Code."

(Ord. 3659 § 2, 1993)

The provisions appearing in this Code, and any amendments thereto, so far as they are the same as those of ordinances existing at the time of the effective date of this Code or any such amendment, shall be considered as continuations thereof and not as new enactments.

(Ord. 3659 § 2, 1993)

The repeal of an ordinance shall not revive any ordinances in force before or at the time the ordinance repeal took effect. The repeal of an ordinance shall not affect any punishment or penalty incurred before the repeal took effect, nor any suit, prosecution, or proceeding pending at the time of the repeal, for any offense committed under the ordinance repealed.

(Ord. 3659 § 2, 1993)

It is hereby declared to be the intention of the Board of Supervisors that the sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, and phrases of this Code are severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, or section of this Code or any amendment to this Code shall be declared unconstitutional by the valid judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs, and sections of this Code or any amendment.

(Ord. 3659 § 2, 1993)

The headings of chapters, articles, divisions, and sections contained in this Code shall not be deemed to govern, limit, modify, or in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of the provisions of any chapter, article, division, or section of this Code.

(Ord. 3659 § 2, 1993)

The provisions of this Code and all proceedings under it are to be construed so as to give effect to the objectives of this Code and to promote justice.

(Ord. 3659 § 2, 1993)

Any reference in this Code to an ordinance or provision of this Code shall mean such ordinance or provision as now or hereafter amended. Reference to any section of this Code shall be understood to refer to and include the penalty section relating thereto as specified in this Title, unless otherwise expressly provided. In case of the amendment of any section of this Code, containing provisions for which a penalty is provided in another section, the penalty so provided in such other section shall be held to relate to the section so amended, whether reenacted in the amendatory ordinance or not, unless such penalty is specifically repealed therein.

(Ord. 3659 § 2, 1993)

Whenever a power is granted to or duty is imposed upon an official, the power may be exercised or the duty may be performed by a deputy or designee of such official, or other employee or person duly authorized pursuant to law or ordinance, unless this Code expressly provides otherwise.

(Ord. 3659 § 2, 1993)

Whenever in this Code 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. 3659 § 2, 1993)

A. General Rules.

1. Any gender includes the other genders.

2. The singular number includes the plural, and the plural includes the singular.

3. Words used in the present tense include the past and the future tenses and vice versa.

4. Words and phrases used in this Code and not specifically defined shall be construed according to the context and approved usage of the language. The provisions of Section 13 and 1645 of the Civil Code of the State of California are hereby adopted in the interpretation of words and phrases, unless otherwise provided in this Code.

B. Specific Rules.

1. It is the policy of the Board of Supervisors that the legal documents of this County, including all ordinances, resolutions, and contracts, should be gender neutral.

2. It is the policy of the Board of Supervisors that the legal documents of this County, including all ordinances, resolutions, and contracts, should be written in "plain English."

(Ord. 3659 § 2, 1993)