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 Council or the context clearly requires otherwise:

Administrative regulations: Written orders which are issued by the City Manager and compiled in a manual.

Bond: When a bond is required, an undertaking in writing shall be sufficient.

City: The City of Phoenix, in the County of Maricopa and State of Arizona, except as otherwise provided.

Computation of time: The time within which an act is to be done shall be computed by excluding the first and including the last day; and if the last day be Sunday or a legal holiday, that shall be excluded.

Council: The City Council of the City of Phoenix.

County: The words "the County" or "this County" shall refer to Maricopa County, Arizona.

Definitions: Unless expressly otherwise provided, definitions given within a chapter, article or division apply only to words or phrases used in such chapter, article, or division.

Gender: Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter.

Health Officer: The Director of the County Health Department or his authorized agent.

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.

Keeper; proprietor: The words "keeper" and "proprietor" shall mean and include persons, firms, associations, corporations, clubs and copartnerships, whether acting by themselves or a servant, agent or employee.

Month: A calendar month.

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

Oath: The word "oath" shall be construed to include an affirmation 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."

Or; and: "Or" may be read "and" and "and" may be read "or," if the sense so requires.

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, partnership, association, organization and any other group acting as a unit, as well as an individual.

Personal property: Personal property includes every species of property, except real property as herein defined.

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.

Public place: The term "public place" shall include any park, cemetery, schoolyard or open space adjacent thereto, any lake or stream, or any other public place.

Real property: Real property shall include land, together with all things attached to the land so as to become a part thereof.

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

Sidewalk: Any portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line intended for the use of pedestrians.

Signature; subscription: Signature or subscription includes a mark when the person cannot write.

State: The words "the State" or "this State" shall be construed to mean the State of Arizona.

Street: Any public way, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, alley, lane, viaduct, bridge and the approaches thereto within the City.

Tenant; occupant: The words "tenant" and "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.

Time: 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 and any other mode of representing words and letters.

Year: A calendar year. (Code 1962, § 1-2)