San Mateo Municipal Code Ch. 1.01 Code Adoption

Prior history: Ords. 1971-36, 1985-13; prior code §§ 1.01-1.04, 1.06, 1.07, 2.01-2.04, 3.01.

For the statutory provisions authorizing cities to adopt by reference a codification of its ordinances see West's Cal. Gov. C.A. §§ 50022.1-50022.8 and 50022.10.

This code shall be known as the "San Mateo Municipal Code," may be cited as such, and will be referred to in this code as "this code," or "code."

Whenever in this code any act or omission is made unlawful, it includes causing, allowing, permitting, aiding, abetting, suffering or concealing the fact of such act or omission.

The following words, terms and phrases whenever used 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, terms or phrases:

(a) "City" means the City of San Mateo, or the area within the territorial limits of the City of San Mateo, and such territory outside said City over which the City has or may have jurisdiction or control by virtue of any constitutional or charter provisions, or any law.

(b) "City Council or council" means the City Council of the City of San Mateo.

(c) "Code" means the San Mateo Municipal Code.

(d) "May" is permissive.

(e) "Must" is mandatory.

(f) "Oath" means oath or affirmation.

(g) "Person" means natural persons of either sex, joint ventures, partnerships, firms, associations, corporations, business trusts, whether acting by themselves, or by servants, agents or employees. The provisions hereof shall be applicable as well to the servants, agents, managers, lessees, officers and employees of such persons.

(h) "Shall" is mandatory.

(i) "State" means the State of California.

(j) "Street" means the land dedicated or condemned for, or established by use as, a public thoroughfare, including all streets, boulevards, highways, avenues, lanes, alleys, courts, places, squares, curbs, or other public ways of this City, or other public property so designated in any law of this State.

(k) "Written" includes handwritten, printed, typewritten, mimeographed, multi-graphed or reproduced by photography.

Unless otherwise specified in this code, the following grammatical interpretations shall prevail:

(a) Genders. Any gender includes the other gender;

(b) Singular and Plural. The singular number includes the plural; the plural includes the singular;

(c) Tenses. Unless otherwise provided in this code, words, phrases, or sentences used in the present tense include the past and future tenses; words, phrases or sentences used in the past tense include the present and future tenses; words, phrases or sentences used in the future tense include the present and past tenses.

The provisions of Sections 13 and 1645 of the Civil Code of the State are adopted in the interpretation of words and phrases, unless otherwise provided herein.

Reference in this code to any officer, employee, board, commission, or ordinance, unless otherwise indicated, means the officer, employee, board, commission, or ordinance, as the case may be, of the City.

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this code is held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the remaining portions of this code. The Council declares that it would have adopted and passed this code and each part, chapter, article, division, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase and word hereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more of other parts, chapters, articles, divisions, sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases or words hereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.