Wolcott, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 95 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 95-3
Word usage
Operative Text
The present tense shall include the future, the singular shall include the plural and the plural the singular. The word "shall" is always mandatory.
Section 95-3 of Wolcott, N.Y., Code of Ordinances Chapter 95 establishes how language in the chapter is to be interpreted. Under this rule, present-tense wording also covers future situations, singular and plural forms are interchangeable, and any use of the word 'shall' signals a mandatory requirement rather than a suggestion. These are standard drafting conventions that shape how every other provision in the chapter is read.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Chapter 95 should be aware that Section 95-3 means every obligation written in the present tense or using 'shall' is fully binding—not discretionary. When reviewing any requirement in the chapter, a compliant operator treats singular references as applying equally to multiple units or parties, and vice versa. Understanding these interpretive rules helps ensure that no mandatory duty is inadvertently read as optional.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 95-3 provides the interpretive foundation for all other rules in Wolcott's Chapter 95, meaning that any right or protection written with 'shall' is a firm requirement, not a guideline. Tenants can use this provision to support the argument that landlord obligations stated anywhere in the chapter are mandatory and enforceable. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with local Wolcott ordinances can help explain how these word-usage rules interact with specific protections elsewhere in the code.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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