Chapter 2 Administrative Search Warrants
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This chapter lets the Town of Centreville or its designated code official apply to a District or Circuit Court judge in Queen Anne’s County for an administrative search warrant to enter premises and carry out inspections required by Town Code or other law. Applications must be written, sworn, and describe the place and the scope and purpose of the inspection; a judge may issue a warrant only if the applicant sought access and was denied or could not locate anyone, the Town is authorized to inspect the property, and probable cause is shown by evidence of a code violation, a public nuisance affecting health/safety/welfare, or that the property is part of an administrative inspection program. Warrants must specify the places and limits of inspection, authorize designated Town officials to enter to inspect, sample, and perform authorized functions, and expire on the time stated in the warrant (no more than 30 days) or, if no time is specified, 15 days from issuance. The history notes Ord. 05-2025 (expired within 120 days) and adoption by Ord. 10-2025 on 8/7/2025.
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Chapter 2 Administrative Search Warrants 2-1 Right Of Entry 2-1 Right Of Entry The Town of Centreville, or its designated code official, may apply to a judge of the District Court or Circuit Court for Queen Anne's County, for an administrative search warrant to enter any premises to conduct any inspection required or authorized by this Code or other applicable law. The application for an administrative search warrant shall be in writing and sworn to by the applicant and shall particularly describe the place, structure, premises, etc., to be inspected and the nature, scope and purpose of the inspection to be performed by the applicant. A judge of a court referred to in this section may issue the warrant based upon information set forth in subsection A upon a finding that: The applicant has sought access to the property for the purpose of making an inspection; and after requesting, at a reasonable time, that the owner, tenant or other individual in charge of the property allow the applicant access, the applicant has been denied access to the property; or after making a reasonable effort the applicant has been unable to locate any individuals; The Town or its designated code official(s) is authorized by law to make an inspection of the property for which the warrant is sought; and Probable cause for the issuance of the warrant has been demonstrated by the applicant by: specific evidence of a violation of the Town Code or other applicable law, or a public nuisance that affects the health, safety and welfare of the Town's citizens; or information that the property to be inspected falls within an administrative inspection program of the Town. An administrative search warrant issued under this section shall specify the place, structure, or premise to be inspected. The inspection conducted may not exceed the limits specified in the warrant. An administrative search warrant issued under this section authorizes the applicant and other designated officials or employees of the Town to enter specified property to perform the inspection, sampling and other functions authorized by law to determine compliance with the provisions of the Code or other law. The time specified in the warrant, not to exceed thirty (30) days; or If no time is specified in the warrant, fifteen (15) days from the date of its issuance. HISTORY Adopted by Ord. 05-2025 Expired within 120 days of adoption on 4/4/2025 Adopted by Ord. 10-2025 on 8/7/2025