Rules of construction.

Little Rock City Code § 1-2

in effect

Sec. 1-2. - Rules of construction. In the construction of this Code, and of all ordinances, the following rules shall be observed, unless such construction would be inconsistent with the manifest intent of the city board of directors. Generally. All words and phrases shall be construed and understood according to the common and approved usage of language; but technical words and phrases and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in the law shall be construed and understood according to such peculiar and appropriate meaning. A.C.A. The abbreviation "A.C.A." means the Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated. Board of directors. The term "board of directors," or "directors" shall refer to the board of directors of the City of Little Rock. City. The term "city," "the city" or "this city" shall mean the City of Little Rock. Code. The term "Code" or "this Code" shall refer to "The Little Rock City Code, Revised 1988" as designated in section 1-1. Computation of time. Whenever a notice is required to be given or an act to be done, a certain length of time before any proceeding shall be had, the day on which such notice is given, or such act is done, shall be counted in computing the time, but the day on which such proceeding is to be had shall not be counted. County. The term "county" shall mean Pulaski County, Arkansas. Finance department, department of finance. The terms "finance department" and "department of finance" are interchangeable. Finance director, director of finance. The terms "finance director" and "director of finance" are interchangeable. Gender. A word importing the masculine gender only shall extend and be applied to females and to firms, partnerships, and corporations as well as to males. Include, including. The term "include," "including" or any other similar term of inclusion shall mean without limitation or restriction. May. The term "may" is to be construed as being permissive and not mandatory. May not. The term "may not" has a prohibitory effect and states a prohibition. Must. The term "must" is to be construed as being mandatory and not permissive. Number. Words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural includes the singular number. Oath. The term "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 requires it. Other city officials or officers. Whenever reference is made to officials, boards, commissions, departments, etc., by title only, i.e., "city clerk," "chief of police," etc., they shall be deemed to refer to the officials, boards, commissions and departments of the city. Person. The term "person" shall extend and be applied to firms, partnerships, associations, organizations and bodies politic and corporate, or any combination thereof, as well as to individuals. Public works department, department of public works. The terms "public works department" and "department of public works" are interchangeable. Public works director, director of public works, etc. The terms "director of public works," "public works director" and "director of the department of public works" are interchangeable. Sanitary sewer committee, sewer committee. The terms "sanitary sewer committee" and "sewer committee" are interchangeable. Shall. The term "shall" is to be construed as being mandatory and not permissive. Sidewalk. The term "sidewalk" means a strip of land in front or on the sides of a house or lot of land lying between the property line and the street. Signature or subscription. The term "signature" or "subscription" includes a mark when the person cannot write. State. The term "state," "the state" or "this state" shall be construed to mean the State of Arkansas. Street. The term "street" shall be construed to embrace streets, avenues, boulevards, roads, alleys, lanes, viaducts and all other public highways in the city. Tense. Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past or present. Written or in writing. The term "written" or "in writing" shall be construed to include any representation of words, letters or figures, whether by printing or otherwise. Year. The term "year" shall mean a calendar year. If at any point in this Code a specific city department, city official, or city employee is specified or designated as having authority, responsibilities or duties as set forth therein, the department, employee or official as specified in the Code shall be construed to mean or include the phrase "or such other department, official or employee as subsequently is designated by the city manager to carry out or have such authority, responsibility or duty." (Code 1961, § 1-2; Ord. No. 15,988, § 3, 12-18-90)

Source: City of Little Rock, Arkansas, Little Rock City Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ar/little_rock/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH1GEPR_S1-2RUCOFetched: 11/7/2026