(1) “Board” means the board of adjustment required by this part, a board of zoning appeals designated to act as a board of adjustment, a county board of adjustment, and a municipal board of adjustment;

(2) “Building” means any building, structure or improvement of any kind or part of the building, structure or improvement that through erection, construction, reconstruction, addition or alteration in any manner becomes a part of the realty;

(3) “Chief executive” means the mayor of a municipality and the county mayor;

(4) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of transportation;

(5) “County” means, with respect to residency requirements of officers or to territorial jurisdiction, the area within the county outside municipalities;

(6) “County register” means the register of deeds of the county, and the register of deeds of the county in which a municipality is located;

(7) “Highway” means any public way or part of the public way, including, but not limited to, a street, avenue, highway, or road. For a county, the public ways in the territory outside the boundaries of municipalities; for municipalities, the public ways within their corporate boundaries;

(8) “Legislative body” means the board or body in which the general legislative powers of a county or municipality are vested; the county legislative body, county council, county commission or other body to which most or all county functions or powers are delegated; city council, board of mayor and aldermen, board of commissioners or other body to which most or all municipal functions or powers are delegated;

(9) “Municipality” means an incorporated city or town. With respect to residency requirements of officers or to territorial jurisdiction, “municipality” means the area within the corporate limits of a municipality;

(10) “Ordinance” means the form of action of the municipal legislative body in exercising the powers under this part;

(11) “Planning commission” means the duly constituted planning commission of the county or municipality; for a county, the regional planning commission; for a municipality, the municipal planning commission or regional planning commission that has been designated a planning commission for a municipality; and

(12) “Resolution” means the form of action of the county legislative body in exercising the powers under this part.