Interpretation

In these By-laws, unless the context otherwise requires“authorised officer” means an officer appointed by name or by office by the Council to carry out the provisions of these By-laws; “Bella Vista” means the area situated at 3 ¼ miles on the Northern Highway and which is bounded on the north and east by the Caribbean Sea, to the west by a man-made canal, to the southeast by a man-made canal and to the south by the Northern Highway Belize City Council 265 and includes all the parcels of land contained therein as delineated in the First Schedule to these By-laws; First Schedule. “boundary line” means a line or feature, which divides one lot from another or from any street in Belize City; “building” includes a tent or any structure constructed of any material and for any purpose and any part of a building, of whatever kind or nature, whether temporary or permanent, and every part thereof or ancillary to– (a) any road, whether public or private, including, in case of a public road, any bridge or culvert on which the road is carried; (b) any sewer or water main which is, or is to be vested in a public authority; (c) any telephone line and its supports; (d) any electricity supply line and its supports which is or is to be vested in a public authority; “building house” means a building used, constructed or adapted to be used wholly or principally for human habitation; “building setback” means any unobstructed unoccupied areas of a lot; “City Council Engineer” means a person appointed as such by the Council; CAP. 85. “Council” means the Belize City Council constituted under the Belize City Council Act; “commercial vessel or boat” means any sea vessel which is used for the carriage of goods, people or freight by water and for payment of a fee, or that which is licensed as such by the Port Authority; 266 Belize City Council “commercial zone” means the area classified as such under by law 4 and to which the requirements of these By-laws shall apply; “drain” means any channel, conduit, pipe, excavation or installation on a public or private street used to convey or carry storm water runoff; “develop” means planning or construction involving substantial property, building or structural improvements or the act of using land for the erection of any building; “fill” means the placement of material such as soil or rock to replace existing material or to create an elevated embankment; CAP. 194. “lot” means any parcel of land described by a number or a letter duly registered under the Lands and Survey Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources, under the Registered Land Act; “owner” includes the person for the time being receiving the rent of the land or building in connection with which the word is used, whether on his own account or as agent or trustee for any other person, or who would so receive that rent if the land or building were let, or the person in occupation of the land or building, but does not include a tenant from year to year or for any less term, or a tenant at will; “permit” means a document issued under these By-laws granting absolute or conditional permission; “person” means a natural person or a body corporate or unincorporated or a partnership; “personal boat” means a vessel used for leisure activities and not for profit or gain; “residential building” means a building which is used or intended to be used, solely for residential purpose; Belize City Council 267 “residential zone” means an are a classified as such under by-law 4 and to which the requirements of these By-laws shall apply; “septic tank and soak away” means a water tight tank which is designed and constructed to separate solids from liquids and to digest organic matter through a period of detention together with an absorption field; “street setback” means the measurement between the further most projection of a structure and the street’s right of way line or the property line abutting the street; “side setback” or “rear setback” means the measurement between the furthermost projection of a structure and that of the property line of the side and rear of the lot on which such structure is located; “zone” means a certain specified, reserved area properly defined within Bella Vista for residential or commercial buildings and structures, with limitations such as height, lot coverage, building occupancy, construction volume, and other stipulated restrictions.