camara municipal argued february decided june appellant charged violating san francisco housing code refusing three efforts city housing inspectors secure consent allow warrantless inspection quarters leased residential use allegedly violated apartment building occupancy permit claiming inspection ordinance unconstitutional failure require warrant inspections appellant awaiting trial sued state superior writ prohibition denied relying frank maryland similar cases district appeal affirmed holding ordinance violate fourth amendment state denied petition hearing held fourth amendment bars prosecution person refused permit warrantless inspection personal residence frank maryland supra pro tanto overruled pp basic purpose fourth amendment enforceable fourteenth prohibition unreasonable searches seizures safeguard privacy security individuals arbitrary invasions governmental officials certain carefully defined exceptions unconsented warrantless search private property unreasonable pp contrary assumption frank maryland supra fourth amendment interests merely peripheral municipal fire health housing inspection programs involved whose purpose determine existence physical conditions complying local ordinances programs moreover enforceable criminal process refusal allow inspection pp warrantless administrative searches justified grounds make minimal demands occupants warrants cases unfeasible area inspection programs function reasonable requirements pp probable cause upon basis warrants issued area inspections dependent inspector belief particular dwelling violates code reasonableness enforcement agency appraisal conditions area whole standards guide magistrate issuance search warrants necessarily vary municipal program enforced pp search warrants required nonemergency situations normally sought entry refused pp nonemergency situation appellant right insist inspectors obtain search warrant marshall krause argued cause appellant briefs donald cahen albert harris assistant attorney general california argued cause appellee brief thomas lynch attorney general gloria dehart deputy attorney general leonard kerpelman filed brief homeowners opposition housing authoritarianism amicus curiae urging reversal briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed thomas john sholenberger roger arnebergh barnett shur alexander brown david stahl robert michalski member municipalities national institute municipal law officers elliot richardson attorney general willie davis assistant attorney general edward martin deputy attorney general max rosenblatt lewis weinstein loyd starrett commonwealth massachusetts et al justice white delivered opinion frank maryland upheld vote state conviction refused permit municipal health inspector enter inspect premises without search warrant eaton price similar conviction affirmed equally divided since closely divided decisions intensive efforts levels government contain eliminate urban blight led increasing use inspection techniques numerous decisions fully defined fourth amendment effect state municipal action mapp ohio ker california view growing nationwide importance problem noted probable jurisdiction case see city seattle post whether administrative inspection programs presently authorized conducted violate fourth amendment rights rights enforced fourteenth amendment appellant brought action california superior alleging awaiting trial criminal charge violating san francisco housing code refusing permit warrantless inspection residence writ prohibition issue criminal ordinance authorizing inspections unconstitutional face superior denied writ district appeal affirmed california denied petition hearing appellant properly raised considered california courts federal constitutional questions presents though judicial findings fact prohibition proceeding shall set forth parties factual allegations november inspector division housing inspection san francisco department public health entered apartment building make routine annual inspection possible violations city housing code building manager informed inspector appellant lessee ground floor using rear leasehold personal residence claiming building occupancy permit allow residential use ground floor inspector confronted appellant demanded permit inspection premises appellant refused allow inspection inspector lacked search warrant inspector returned november without warrant appellant refused allow inspection citation mailed ordering appellant appear district attorney office appellant failed appear two inspectors returned apartment november informed appellant required law permit inspection housing code sec right enter building authorized employees city departments city agencies far may necessary performance duties shall upon presentation proper credentials right enter reasonable times building structure premises city perform duty imposed upon municipal code appellant argued throughout litigation contrary fourth fourteenth amendments authorizes municipal officials enter private dwelling without search warrant without probable cause believe violation housing code exists therein consequently appellant contends may prosecuted refusing permit inspection unconstitutionally authorized relying frank maryland eaton price decisions district appeal held violate fourth amendment rights part regulatory scheme essentially civil rather criminal nature inasmuch section creates right inspection limited scope may exercised unreasonable conditions concluded frank maryland extent sanctioned warrantless inspections must overruled reverse though general agreement fundamental purpose fourth amendment translation abstract prohibition unreasonable searches seizures workable guidelines decision particular cases difficult task many years divided members nevertheless one governing principle justified history current experience consistently followed except certain carefully defined classes cases search private property without proper consent unreasonable unless authorized valid search warrant see stoner california jeffers mcdonald agnello explained johnson right officers thrust home also grave concern individual society chooses dwell reasonable security freedom surveillance right privacy must reasonably yield right search rule decided judicial officer policeman government enforcement agent frank majority municipal fire health housing inspection programs touch upon periphery important interests safeguarded fourteenth amendment protection official intrusion inspections merely determine whether physical conditions exist comply minimum standards prescribed local regulatory ordinances since inspector ask property owner open doors search evidence criminal action may used secure owner criminal conviction historic interests jointly protected fourth fifth amendments said involved less intense right secure intrusion personal privacy may agree routine inspection physical condition private property less hostile intrusion typical policeman search fruits instrumentalities crime reason alone frank differed great bulk fourth amendment cases considered agree fourth amendment interests stake inspection cases merely peripheral surely anomalous say individual private property fully protected fourth amendment individual suspected criminal behavior instance even citizen tangible interest limiting circumstances sanctity home may broken official authority possibility criminal entry guise official sanction serious threat personal family security even accepting frank rather remarkable premise inspections kind considering fact jeopardize interests property owner like regulatory laws fire health housing codes enforced criminal processes cities discovery violation inspector leads criminal complaint even cities discovery violation produces administrative compliance order refusal comply criminal offense fact compliance verified second inspection without warrant finally case demonstrates refusal permit inspection crime punishable fine even jail sentence frank majority suggested appellee reasserts two justifications permitting administrative health safety inspections without warrant first argued inspections designed make least possible demand individual occupant ordinances authorizing inspections hedged safeguards rate inspector particular decision enter must comply constitutional standard reasonableness even may enter without warrant addition argument proceeds warrant process function effectively field decision inspect entire municipal area based upon legislative administrative assessment broad factors area age condition unless magistrate review policy matters must issue rubber stamp warrant provides protection property owner opinion arguments unduly discount purposes behind warrant machinery contemplated fourth amendment present system inspector demands entry occupant way knowing whether enforcement municipal code involved requires inspection premises way knowing lawful limits inspector power search way knowing whether inspector acting proper authorization questions may reviewed neutral magistrate without reassessment basic agency decision canvass area yet refusing entry risking criminal conviction occupant present challenge inspector decision search even occupant possesses sufficient fortitude take risk appellant may never learn reason inspection law generally allows housing inspectors gain entry practical effect system leave occupant subject discretion official field precisely discretion invade private property consistently circumscribed requirement disinterested party warrant need search see cases cited supra simply say protections provided warrant procedure needed context broad statutory safeguards substitute individualized review particularly safeguards may invoked risk criminal penalty final justification suggested warrantless administrative searches public interest demands rule vigorously argued health safety entire urban populations dependent upon enforcement minimum fire housing sanitation standards effective means enforcing codes routine systematized inspection physical structures course applying reasonableness standard including one constitutional dimension argument public interest demands particular rule must receive careful consideration think argument misses mark question stage least whether inspections may made whether may made without warrant example say gambling raids may made discretion police without warrant necessarily say gambling raids may never made assessing whether public interest demands creation general exception fourth amendment warrant requirement question whether public interest justifies type search question whether authority search evidenced warrant turn depends part upon whether burden obtaining warrant likely frustrate governmental purpose behind search see schmerber california nowhere urged fire health housing code inspection programs achieve goals within confines reasonable search warrant requirement thus find public need argument dispositive summary hold administrative searches kind issue significant intrusions upon interests protected fourth amendment searches authorized conducted without warrant procedure lack traditional safeguards fourth amendment guarantees individual reasons put forth frank maryland cases upholding warrantless searches insufficient justify substantial weakening fourth amendment protections nature municipal programs consideration however conclusions must beginning end inquiry frank majority gave recognition unique character inspection programs refusing require search warrants reject disposition justify ignoring question whether accommodation public need individual rights essential ii cases fourth amendment requires warrant search obtained probable cause standard particular decision search tested constitutional mandate reasonableness apply standard obviously necessary first focus upon governmental interest allegedly justifies official intrusion upon constitutionally protected interests private citizen example criminal investigation police may undertake recover specific stolen contraband goods public interest hardly justify sweeping search entire city conducted hope goods might found consequently search goods even warrant reasonable probable cause believe uncovered particular dwelling unlike search pursuant criminal investigation inspection programs issue aimed securing compliance minimum physical standards private property primary governmental interest stake prevent even unintentional development conditions hazardous public health safety fires epidemics may ravage large urban areas unsightly conditions adversely affect economic values neighboring structures numerous courts upheld police power municipalities impose enforce minimum standards even upon existing structures determining whether particular inspection reasonable thus determining whether probable cause issue warrant inspection need inspection must weighed terms reasonable goals code enforcement unanimous agreement among familiar field effective way seek universal compliance minimum standards required municipal codes routine periodic inspections structures probable cause debate focused agency decision conduct area inspection unavoidably based appraisal conditions area whole knowledge conditions particular building appellee contends probable cause standard urged appellant adopted area inspection eliminated means seeking compliance code standards reasonable goals code enforcement dealt crushing blow meeting contention appellant argues first probable cause standard jeopardize area inspection programs minute portion population refuse consent inspections second individual privacy event given preference public interest conducting inspections first argument even true irrelevant question whether area inspection reasonable within meaning fourth amendment second argument effect assertion area inspection unreasonable search unfortunately ready test determining reasonableness balancing need search invasion search entails think number persuasive factors combine support reasonableness area inspections first programs long history judicial public acceptance see frank maryland second public interest demands dangerous conditions prevented abated yet doubtful canvassing technique achieve acceptable results many conditions faulty wiring obvious example observable outside building indeed may apparent inexpert occupant finally inspections neither personal nature aimed discovery evidence crime involve relatively limited invasion urban citizen privacy majority dissent frank emphatically supported conclusion time experience forcefully taught power inspect dwelling places either matter systematic search treat specific problem indispensable importance maintenance community health power greatly hobbled blanket requirement safeguards necessary search evidence criminal acts need preventive action great city city seen need granted power inspection health officials inspections apparently welcomed insignificant certainly nature society vitiated need inspections first thought necessary years ago experience revealed abuse inroad freedom meeting need means history dominant public opinion sanctioned suggest health official need show kind proof magistrate obtain warrant one must search fruits instrumentalities crime considerations health safety involved facts justify inference probable cause make inspection clearly different justify inference criminal investigation undertaken experience may show need periodic inspections certain facilities without showing cause believe substandard conditions dangerous public maintained passage certain period without inspection might sufficient given situation justify issuance warrant test probable cause required fourth amendment take account nature search sought justice douglas dissenting iii iv judgment vacated case remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered footnotes sec penalty violation person owner authorized agent violates disobeys omits neglects refuses comply resists opposes execution provisions code order superintendent director public works director public health made pursuant code shall guilty misdemeanor upon conviction thereof shall punished fine exceeding five hundred dollars imprisonment exceeding six months fine imprisonment unless otherwise provided code shall deemed guilty separate offense every day violation disobedience omission neglect refusal shall continue givner state md city louis evans mo state ex rel eaton price ohio aff equally divided see also state rees iowa commonwealth hadley mass appeal docketed people laverne frank baltimore ordinance required health inspector cause suspect nuisance exists house cellar enclosure demand entry without warrant requirement obviously met frank inspector observed extreme structural decay pile rodent feces appellant premises section san francisco housing code cause requirement neither ohio ordinance issue eaton price case four justices thought controlled frank opinion justice brennan see boyd compare schmerber california see abel justice brennan dissenting district columbia little app aff see new york administrative code see washington housing regulations prevalent enforcement procedure see note enforcement municipal housing codes harv rev san francisco code requires inspector display proper credentials inspect reasonable times obtain entry force least emergency baltimore ordinance frank required inspector cause suspect nuisance exists cities notify residents advance mail posted notice impending area inspections state courts upholding inspections without warrants imposed general reasonableness requirement see cases cited supra see abbate city chicago city louisville thompson adamec post paquette city fall river mass richards city columbia boden city milwaukee see osgood zwerner rehabilitation conservation law contemp prob schwartz crucial areas administrative law geo rev comment rent withholding improvement substandard housing rev note enforcement municipal housing codes harv rev note municipal housing codes harv rev section housing urban development act stat supp authorizes grants federal funds cities municipalities counties purpose assisting localities carrying programs concentrated code enforcement deteriorated deteriorating areas enforcement together public improvements provided locality may expected arrest decline area