The Fresno City Council on Thursday will consider amending city law to allow any enforcement officer to enter some areas of private properties without a warrant — a proposal officials say is meant to close a loophole that’s allowed landlords to avoid penalties for violating housing standards.
If the proposal is approved, enforcement officers would not need a warrant to access areas of properties considered “public,” such as front porches or driveways, said City Attorney Andrew Janz. He said officers will still seek warrants as required by the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures.
“The Fourth Amendment doesn’t require us to get a warrant to go to someone’s front door,” Janz told The Fresno Bee on Wednesday…