1-3-030 Rules of Interpretation
Unofficial copy. It may be out of date. Not legal or zoning advice. Zoning rules change, and only the city or county can say for sure what is allowed on a property. Confirm with the city or county planning department before you buy, sign or build.
The official Box Elder County code is at https://www.boxeldercountyut.gov/241/Land-Use-Management-Development-Code.
Text pulled 2026-10-19 from this source.
Chapter 5-4 (Flood Damage Prevention) is a scanned image on the county's site and is not included.
Tables (like use tables) may not copy cleanly, so check any table against the official code.
Confirm anything here with Box Elder County planning before you rely on it.
A. General . All provisions, terms, phrases and expressions contained in this Chapter shall be liberally construed to accomplish the purposes of this Code.
B. Conjunctions. Unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary, conjunctions shall be interpreted as follows. 1. "And" indicates that all connected items, conditions, provisions or events shall apply. 2. "Or" indicates that one (1) or more of the connected items, conditions, provisions or events shall apply. 3. "Either . . . or" indicates that the connected items, conditions, provisions or events shall apply singly but not in combination.
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C. Mandatory and Discretionary Terms. The word "shall" is always mandatory. The word “should” means the matter described ought to be accomplished if reasonable and possible under the circumstances. The word "may" is permissive.
D. Non-Technical and Technical Words. Words and phrases shall be construed according to the common use and understanding of the language, but technical words and phrases and such others as may have acquired a peculiar and appropriate meaning in law shall be construed and understood according to such meaning.
E. Tense, Number, and Gender . Words used in the past or present tense include the future as well as the past or present unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. The singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular as the context and application of this Code may reasonably suggest. Words of one gender shall apply to any person, natural or fictitious, regardless of gender, as the context and application of this Code may reasonably suggest.
F. Fractional Numbers. In determining compliance with the numerical requirements of this Code any computation or measurement resulting in a fractional number, it shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.
G. Public Officials, Bodies and Agencies. All public officials, bodies, and agencies to which reference is made are those of Box Elder County, Utah, unless otherwise indicated.
H. Delegation of Authority . Whenever a provision appears requiring the Community Development Director or some other officer or employee to do some act or perform some duty, it shall be construed to authorize the Community Development Director, or other officer to designate, delegate, and authorize professional-level subordinates to perform the required act or duty unless the terms of the provision or section, or other applicable law, specify otherwise.
I. Computation of Time. The time within which an act is to be done shall be including the last day except as otherwise provided in this Code. If the last day is a Saturday, Sunday, or computed by excluding the first day and holiday, then the last day shall be the next following business day. In computing the time required for public hearing notice (i.e., 10 days required notice), the day of the hearing shall be excluded.
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