The Cheyenne City Council is considering an administrative warrant ordinance that would allow city building and fire officials to inspect properties for safety and code violations without the traditional probable cause requirement. The Institute for Justice, a public interest law firm, argues that the proposal violates the Wyoming Constitution by permitting warrants based on vague “legislative or administrative standards” rather than concrete evidence of violations. Despite revisions limiting warrant issuance to certain officials and specific inspection purposes, the Institute contends these changes fail to close loopholes, particularly because the ordinance references the broad International Fire Code, which covers nearly all residential and commercial properties.

Mayor Patrick Collins has defended the revised ordinance, highlighting new restrictions such as prohibiting no-knock warrants, defining abandoned buildings, and imposing a 10-day warrant limit. The proposal has sparked public opposition over privacy and property rights concerns, and the Wyoming Freedom Caucus has also expressed skepticism. While supporters emphasize the ordinance’s role in public safety, the Institute for Justice maintains that the constitutional issues remain unresolved, urging the council to reconsider the warrant standards to require probable cause supported by specific facts.