§ 1-3. Definitions.

Words and phrases used in this Code shall have the following meanings, unless otherwise specified:

Advice and consent. The term "advice and consent," when applied to the board, means an affirmative vote of the majority of the entire board.

Board, board of commissioners, commissioners. The term "board," "board of commissioners" or "commissioners" means the county board of commissioners.

Chairperson or chairman. The term "chairperson" or "chairman" means the chairperson or chairman of the board.

City. The term "city" may be used following the specific identification or designation of any incorporated city within the county.

City council, council. The term "city council" or "council" may be used to further refer to the governing body of any incorporated city within the county following the identification or designation of a specific city.

Code. The term "Code" means "The Code of Greene County, Georgia," as designated in section 1-1.

County. The term "county" means Greene County, Georgia.

Court. The term "court" means a specific court following identification of said court (i.e., small claims, magistrate, probate, or superior court).

Governing authority, governing body. The term "governing authority" or "governing body" means the board.

Judge. The term "judge" means the judge of a previously identified court of the county.

May. The term "may" is to be construed as being permissive and not mandatory.

May not. The term "may not" states a prohibition.

Misdemeanor. The term "misdemeanor" means a violation of the law punishable by a fine not in excess of $1,000.00 or confinement in a county or other jail for a term not exceeding 60 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. See O.C.G.A § 15-10-60.

Municipality. The term "municipality" is synonymous with the term "city," "town," or "municipal corporation," existing within the boundaries of the county.

Must. The term "must" is to be construed as being mandatory.

Oath. The term "oath" includes an affirmation in all cases in which, by law, an affirmation may be substituted for an oath, and in such cases the words "affirm" and "affirmed" shall be equivalent to the words "swear" or "sworn."

O.C.G.A. The abbreviation "O.C.G.A." means the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.

Ordinance. The term "ordinance" means a legislative act of the board of a general and permanent nature, duly adopted and recorded.

Owner. The term "owner," when applied to a building or to 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 term "person" means a corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization, and any other group acting as a unit, as well as an individual.

Personal property. The term "personal property" means every specie of property except real property, as hereinafter defined.

Preceding, following. The terms "preceding" and "following" mean next before and next after, respectively.

Property. The term "property" means real, personal, mixed estates and interests.

Real property. The term "real property" means lands, tenements and hereditaments.

Reasonable time or notice. The term "reasonable time or notice" means only such time as may be necessary for the prompt performance of the act required.

Resolution. The term "resolution" means a legislative act of the board of a specific or temporary character, duly adopted and recorded.

Road. The term "road" means any public way, road, highway, street, avenue, boulevard, parkway, alley, viaduct or bridge and the approaches thereto within the county.

Shall. The term "shall" shall mean mandatory and not permissive.

Sidewalk. The term "sidewalk" means any portion of a street between the curbline and the adjacent property line, intended for the use of pedestrians, but shall not include any unimproved areas between the curbline and improved walkways.

Signature or subscription. The term "signature" or " subscription" includes a mark intended as such when the person cannot write.

State. The term "state" means the State of Georgia.

Street. See Road.

Tenant or occupant. The term "tenant" or "occupant," when applied to a building or to land, shall include any person holding a written or oral lease of, or who occupies the whole or a part of such building or land, whether alone or with others.

Town. See Municipality.

Week. The term "week" means seven days.

Writing or written. The term "writing" or "written" means printing and any other mode of representing words and letters.

Year. The term "year" means a calendar year, unless specifically designated to be a fiscal year.

(Code 1998, § 1-103)

State law reference

Computation of time, O.C.G.A. § 1-3-1; construction of definitions, O.C.G.A. § 1-3-2; meaning of certain words, O.C.G.A. § 1-3-3.