Which officials may use the warrant procedure to obtain a search warrant?

• A. Fire Marshal
• B. Code Officer
• C. Health Official
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

In code enforcement, any official charged with enforcing safety and health rules can seek a search warrant by presenting probable cause to a magistrate or judge. The warrant allows entry to inspect a property when voluntary access is refused or when there are immediate safety concerns, and it confines the search to the scope of the code being enforced.

A fire marshal is responsible for enforcing fire safety codes, so they may obtain a warrant to inspect for fire hazards, egress issues, or storage of flammable materials. A code officer enforces building and safety codes and may need a warrant to assess structural or occupancy compliance. A health official enforces sanitation and public health codes and may seek a warrant to inspect for health or sanitary violations. Since each plays a legitimate enforcement role, all of the above officials may use the warrant procedure to obtain a search warrant.