Spring Valley CHAPTER 11 RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY § 3-11-11
INSPECTION ACCESS
Operative Text
If any owner, property agent, tenant, occupant or other person in control of a rental residential property or a dwelling unit or a rooming unit contained therein fails or refuses to consent to free access and entry to the property or dwelling unit or rooming unit under his or her control for any inspection pursuant to this chapter, the Code official or his or her designee may apply to the Circuit Court for a search warrant or other appropriate court order authorizing such inspections. However, except in an emergency situation, no application for such a search warrant shall be made without first making a reasonable effort to secure access and entry to the property or dwelling unit or rooming unit through the owner or the owner's property agent as identified pursuant to subsection 3-11-5 (A)1 or (A)4 of this chapter. (Ord. 1643, 10-10-2016)
Spring Valley Chapter 11 § 3-11-11 establishes a process for obtaining legal authority to inspect residential rental properties when access is denied. If an owner, agent, tenant, or other person in control refuses or fails to allow entry for a code inspection, the Code official may seek a search warrant or court order from the Circuit Court. Outside of emergencies, the Code official must first make a reasonable effort to gain voluntary access through the owner or the owner's property agent before pursuing a court order.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 3-11-11, compliant property owners and their agents generally cooperate with inspection requests made pursuant to Chapter 11, since refusal can trigger a formal court process. Operators who have registered an agent under subsections 3-11-5(A)1 or (A)4 should ensure that agent is reachable and responsive, as the Code official is required to attempt contact through that channel before seeking a warrant in non-emergency situations. Maintaining open communication with the Code official is a hallmark of routine compliance under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 3-11-11 clarifies that tenants and occupants are among those whose consent may be sought for an inspection, but it also means that a Code official who is denied access has a legal pathway—through the Circuit Court—to obtain a search warrant or court order. Tenants who have questions about whether an inspection request is valid under Chapter 11, or about their rights when access is sought, may benefit from consulting a local tenant-rights organization familiar with Spring Valley's code. Understanding this provision can help tenants recognize the difference between a voluntary access request and one backed by a court order.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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