City. Whenever the word “city” is used, it shall mean the city of Maricopa, Arizona.

Clerk. Whenever the word “clerk” is used, it shall be construed to mean the city clerk of the city of Maricopa, Arizona.

Code. The words “the code” or “this code” shall mean “The Code of the City of Maricopa, Arizona,” unless the context indicates otherwise.

Council. Whenever the word “council” is used, it shall be construed to mean the common council of the city of Maricopa, Arizona.

Day. A “day” is the period of time between any midnight and the midnight following.

Daytime, Nighttime. “Daytime” is the period of time between sunrise and sunset. “Nighttime” is the period of time between sunset and sunrise.

Department, Board, Commission, Office, Officer or Employee. Whenever any “department, board, commission, office, officer or employee” is referred to, it shall mean a department, board, commission, office, officer or employee of the city unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the City. The words “in the city” or “within the city” shall mean and include all territory over which the city now has, or shall hereafter acquire, jurisdiction for the exercise of its police powers or other regulatory powers.

Joint Authority. All words purporting to give a joint authority to three or more city officers or other persons shall be construed as giving such authority to a majority of such officers or other persons unless it shall be otherwise expressly declared in the law giving the authority.

Month. The word “month” shall mean a calendar month.

Oath. “Oath” includes affirmation or declaration.

Or, And. “Or” may be read “and,” and “and” may be read “or,” if the sense requires it.

Person. The word “person” shall extend and be applied to firms, corporations or voluntary associations, as well as to individuals, unless plainly inapplicable.

Personal Property. “Personal property” includes every species of property, except real property as defined in this section.

Preceding, Following. The words “preceding” and “following” mean next before and next after, respectively.

Property. The word “property” shall include real and personal property.

Real Property. “Real property” shall include lands, tenements and hereditaments.

Shall Have Been. The words “shall have been” include past and future cases.

Shall, May. “Shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive.

Signature or Subscription by Mark. “Signature” or “subscription” includes a mark when the signer cannot write, such signer’s or subscriber’s name being written near the mark by a witness who writes his own name near the signer’s or subscriber’s name; but a signature or subscription by mark can be acknowledged or can serve as a signature or subscription to a sworn statement only when two witnesses so sign their own names thereto.

State. The words “the state” shall be construed to mean the state of Arizona.

Tenant or Occupant. The word “tenant” or “occupant” applied to a building or land shall include any person holding a written or an oral lease or who occupies the whole or part of such building or land, either alone or with others.

Week. A “week” consists of seven consecutive days.

Writing. “Writing” includes any form of recorded message capable of comprehension by ordinary visual means. Whenever any notice, report, statement or record is required or authorized by this code, it shall be made in writing in the English language unless it is expressly provided otherwise.

Year. The word “year” shall mean a calendar year, except where otherwise provided. [Code 2004 §§ 1-3-3 – 1-3-9, 1-3-11 – 1-3-25, 1-3-29 – 1-3-31.]