§ 1822.52.Cause Deemed to Exist

This section supplies the substance behind the cause standard Section 1822.51 requires, and it's the core of what makes inspection warrants different from criminal search warrants. Cause exists in either of two situations. First, for a routine or area inspection, cause exists if reasonable legislative or administrative standards for conducting that kind of inspection of the particular place, dwelling, structure, premises, or vehicle are satisfied; a neutral inspection plan or schedule can supply cause without any suspicion about the specific property at all.

Second, cause also exists, independent of any general inspection plan, if there's reason to believe a condition of nonconformity, a code violation, in plain terms, exists with respect to that particular property. Either path is enough on its own; an agency doesn't need both a general area-inspection program and specific suspicion of a violation to get a warrant.