Dept. of Development Services v. CF Homes

IJ submitted an amicus brief in a case before the Ohio Supreme Court, seeking to strike down an ordinance in North Canton that allows city officials to search rental homes without a warrant based on probable cause.  

The North Canton ordinance requires all landlords to register their properties with the city. As part of that registration process, city officials can demand entrance into any rental home to search for code violations. If the landlord or tenant refuses entrance, city code officials can obtain an “administrative” warrant to search the property. Unlike a traditional warrant, where the government has to prove there is probable cause to suspect some sort of crime or violation is taking place, administrative warrants require no evidence of wrongdoing.