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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58342</law_id><section_number>27-98.4</section_number><catch_line>Conduct of inspections, examinations, testing, or collection of samples</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="27">Fire Protection</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="9">Statewide Fire Prevention Code Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>No warrant shall be executed in the absence of the owner, operator or agent in charge of the particular building, structure, property or premises unless specifically authorized by the issuing judicial officer upon showing that such authority is reasonably necessary to effect the purposes of a <span class="dictionary">statute</span> or regulation being enforced. An entry pursuant to this warrant shall not be made forcibly, except that the issuing officer may expressly authorize a forcible entry (i) where <span class="dictionary">facts</span> are shown sufficient to create a reasonable suspicion of an immediate threat to an occupant of the particular building, structure, property, or premises, or, to the general safety and welfare of the public, or, to adjacent buildings, structures, properties or premises, or (ii) where <span class="dictionary">facts</span> are shown establishing that reasonable attempts to serve a previous warrant have been unsuccessful. If forcible entry is authorized, the warrant shall be issued jointly to the fire official and to a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer who shall accompany the fire official during the execution.</p></section></text><history>1988, c. 549.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
