Rock Falls — Ch. 12 Human Relations § 12-19
Construction of terms
Operative Text
In construing the intended meaning of terminology used in this article, the following rules shall be observed: (1) Words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in section 12-20 , unless the context indicates otherwise; terms not defined in section 12-20 shall have their standard English dictionary meanings. (2) All time periods expressed in days shall be construed as calendar days, not working days. (3) References to sections shall be deemed to include all subsections within that section, but a reference to a particular subsection designates only that subsection. (4) A general term that follows or is followed by enumerations of specific terms shall not be limited to the enumerated class unless expressly limited.
Rock Falls Ch. 12 Human Relations § 12-19 establishes the interpretive rules that govern how language throughout the article is read and applied. Defined terms carry the meanings given in § 12-20, undefined terms default to standard dictionary meanings, and all day-count periods refer to calendar days rather than business days. References to a section pull in all its subsections, while references to a specific subsection are limited to that subsection alone, and general terms are not automatically narrowed by any specific examples listed alongside them.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Rock Falls Ch. 12 Human Relations § 12-19 generally ensure that when they count any deadline or notice period under the article, they count every calendar day—including weekends and holidays—rather than only business days. Compliant operators also read references to a section as covering all subsections within it, and they do not treat a list of specific examples as exhausting the scope of a broader term unless the text expressly says so. Keeping a copy of the definitions in § 12-20 on hand helps ensure that any specialized terminology is applied as the article intends.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Rock Falls Ch. 12 Human Relations § 12-19, tenants can rely on the fact that any time period stated in days means calendar days, which affects how deadlines for notices or responses are calculated. If a dispute arises over the meaning of a term used in the article, § 12-19 directs that defined terms be read according to § 12-20 and that undefined terms carry their ordinary dictionary meanings. Tenants who believe a provision is being misinterpreted may wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for guidance on how these construction rules apply to their situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation