Here's what the 2012
International Property Maintenance Code says about right of entry:
[A] 104.3 Right of entry. Where it is necessary to make an
inspection to enforce the provisions of this code, or whenever
the code official has reasonable cause to believe that there
exists in a structure or upon a premises a condition in violation
of this code, the code official is authorized to enter the
structure or premises at reasonable times to inspect or perform
the duties imposed by this code, provided that if such
structure or premises is occupied the code official shall present
credentials to the occupant and request entry. If such
structure or premises is unoccupied, the code official shall
first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person
having charge or control of the structure or premises and
request entry. If entry is refused, the code official shall have
recourse to the remedies provided by law to secure entry.
My state doesn't use the IPMC, but the building code has similar language about right of entry. "Recourse to the remedies provided by law to secure entry" is code-speak for getting an administrative warrant.
Also:
[A] 104.5 Notices and orders. The code official shall issue
all necessary notices or orders to ensure compliance with this
code.
Unless the jurisdiction amends the code, there's nothing in there that allows using a shyster to issue citations. It says "the code official," and that's a term defined in the code. It would include his staff, but it would not include outside counsel.
I know in my state building and fire code violations carry potential penalties of fines and even prison, so they are criminal offenses. The state attorney's office has created ticket books, just like the cops use, for code officials to issue formal citations.
My state brings up the idea of adopting the IPMC every two or three years. I always argue against it. The last thing this world needs is a posse of lawn Nazis cruising around.
