Ordinance 4099, codified in Titles 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this code, shall be known as the “Administrative Code of the county of Los Angeles.” (Ord. 4099 Art. 1 § 1, 1942.)

Article, division, part, chapter and section headings contained in the provisions of Ordinance 4099, as originally adopted and as set forth in Titles 2, 3, 4 and 5 of this code, shall not be deemed to govern, limit, modify or in any manner affect the scope, meaning or intent of any section hereof. (Ord. 4099 Art. 1 § 2, 1942.)

The present tense includes the past and future tenses; and the future, the present. (Ord. 4099 Art. 1 § 3, 1942.)

The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter genders. (Ord. 4099 Art. 1 § 4, 1942.)

The singular number includes the plural, and the plural the singular. (Ord. 4099 Art. 1 § 5 1942.)

“Shall” is mandatory and “may” is permissive. (Ord. 4099 Art. 1 § 6, 1942.)

Reference by other ordinances to Ordinance 929 shall be deemed reference to Ordinance 4099. (Ord. 4099 Art. 1 § 7, 1942.)

The words set forth below have in the rules set out in Ordinance 4099, and codified in Titles 2 through 5 of this code, the signification attached to them in this chapter unless otherwise apparent in the context. (Ord. 5399 § 1, 1949: Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 15, 1942.)

“Alcoholic beverages” includes alcohol, spirits, liquor, wine, beer, and every liquid or solid containing alcohol, spirits, wine or beer, and which contains one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume and which is fit for beverage purposes either alone or when diluted, mixed, or combined with other substances. (Ord. 7135 § 1 (part), 1957: Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 15.5, 1942.)

“Appointing officer” means the officer, board, commission or body having power of appointment to any position in the service of the county. (Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 16, 1942.)

“Assistant officer,” when used alone, means an officer under the direction of and subordinate to the department head. (Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 17, 1942.)

“Auditor” and “county auditor” means the auditor-controller of the county of Los Angeles. (Ord. 7357 § 1, 1958: Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 28, 1942.)

“Board,” when used alone, means the board of supervisors of the county of Los Angeles. (Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 18, 1942.)

“Charter,” when used alone, means the County Charter of the county of Los Angeles. (Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 19, 1942.)

“Chief deputy” means that person who occupies a position in a department which is superior to all other positions in the department except the position of the department head himself. (Ord. 9323 § 1 (part), 1967: Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 19.5, 1942.)

“Classified service” shall have the same meaning as said term is defined in the Charter of the county of Los Angeles. (Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 20, 1942.)

“Commission,” when used alone, means the civil service commission of the county of Los Angeles. (Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 21, 1942.)

“County” means the county of Los Angeles. (Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 22, 1942.)

“Department head” means:
A. The director of planning;
B. The executive officer of the business license commission;
C. The director of personnel;
D. The director, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History;
E. The director of the Otis Art Institute of Los Angeles County;
F. Repealed by Ord. 91-0044;
G. The marshal of the municipal court within the county;
H. The executive officer of the Superior Court;
I. The chairman of any commission or committee other than the regional planning commissioner, and the civil service commission, or such other member as may be designated by such commission or committee;
J. The director, Los Angeles County Museum of Art;
K. The executive director of the commission on human relations;
L. In all other cases, the actual head of a department. (Ord. 2000-0020 § 1, 2000: Ord. 91-0044 § 1 (a), 1991: Ord. 10629 § 1, 1972: Ord. 10576 § 1 (part), 1972: Ord. 9246 § 1, 1967; Ord. 8969 § 1, 1965; Ord. 8110 § 4, 1961; Ord. 7981 § 1, 1961; Ord. 7796 § 1, 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 22.5, 1942.)

“Deputy,” when used alone, is any person in the county service who acts for the department head under the direction of and subordinate to the department head or his assistant, when appointed pursuant to Section 24101 of the Government Code. (Ord. 5033 § 1, 1947: Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 23, 1942.)

“Item” means an item in Ordinance 6222, entitled “Salary Ordinance of the County of Los Angeles,” adopted May 28, 1953. (Ord. 6226 § 1, 1953: Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 26, 1942.)

“Public entity” means any district or other political subdivision of which the board is ex officio the governing body. (Ord. 7248 § 1, 1957: Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 27, 1942.)

“Section” means a section of Ordinance 4099, unless some other ordinance or statute is indicated. (Ord. 5399 § 2, 1949: Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 25, 1942.)

“Subordinate officer,” when used alone, means an officer subordinate to and acting under the direction of the department head and his assistant officer or assistant officers. (Ord. 4099 Art. 2 § 24, 1942.)

Based on recommendation by the chief administrative officer, in consultation with the judges, and action by the board of supervisors the chief administrative officer may designate a clerk of a municipal court within Los Angeles County as a department head for a specific purpose or purposes after consultation with the presiding judge and with the approval of a majority of the judges of the affected municipal court; provided that in the case of the Los Angeles Municipal Court such approval shall be given by the executive committee of the court. (Ord. 91-0044 § 1 (b), 1991.)