THE TOWN CODE PROVISION WHICH REQUIRES A PROPERTY INSPECTION BEFORE ISSUANCE OF A RENTAL PERMIT DOES NOT VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION AGAINST UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES BECAUSE THE PROVISION ALLOWS THE LANDLORD TO HAVE THE INSPECTION DONE BY A STATE-LICENSED ENGINEER, AS OPPOSED TO THE TOWN BUILDING INSPECTOR (SECOND DEPT). ​

The Second Department, reversing Supreme Court, determined the town code provision which required a property inspection before issuance of a rental permit is not unconstitutional. Although the provision would be unconstitutional if an inspection by the town building inspector was required (a mandatory warrantless search), the provision also allows the landlord to have the property inspected by a state-licensed engineer:

It is well-settled that “the imposition of a penalty upon a landlord for renting his [or her] premises without first consenting to a warrantless search violates the property owner’s Fourth Amendment rights” … . Here, however, the Town’s rental permit law does not “expressly require . . . an inspection before the issuance or renewal of a permit” … , since a property owner who is applying for a rental permit has the option of obtaining a certification from a state-licensed professional engineer in lieu of submitting to an inspection by a Town building inspector … . Accordingly, the provisions did not violate constitutional provisions against unreasonable searches and seizures … . Infinite Green, Inc. v Town of Babylon, 2022 NY Slip Op 00407, Second Dept 1-26-22