Powers of entry
109.—(1) A person authorised in writing by a collecting authority may at any reasonable hour enter the relevant land—
(a)to ascertain whether a chargeable development has been commenced;
(b)to determine whether any of the powers conferred on a collecting authority by this Part should be exercised in relation to a chargeable development or the relevant land;
(c)to ascertain whether there has been compliance with any requirement imposed as a result of any such power having been exercised in relation to a chargeable development or the relevant land;
(d)to display any notice required to be displayed on land in accordance with these Regulations; or
(e)where a person has submitted a notice of chargeable development, for the purposes of gathering information required by the collecting authority in order for it to calculate the chargeable amount payable in respect of the chargeable development.
(2) Paragraph (1) is subject to the following provisions of this regulation.
(3) A person may not enter the relevant land for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (1)(e) unless the collecting authority has first requested the information referred to in that paragraph in accordance with regulation 64(8).
(4) A person may not enter any part of the relevant land which is used as a private dwelling unless a justice of the peace has issued a warrant authorising the person to do so.
(5) A justice of the peace may only issue such a warrant if satisfied that there is good reason to believe that the collecting authority will not be able to enforce CIL without the warrant.
(6) A warrant issued under paragraph (4) remains in force—
(a)for one month; or
(b)until the purpose for which it is issued has been fulfilled,
whichever is the sooner.
(7) A person authorised in accordance with this regulation to enter the relevant land—
(a)must, if so required, produce evidence of the person’s authority, and state the purpose of the person’s entry, before entering; and
(b)may take such other persons as may be necessary.
(8) A person commits an offence if the person wilfully obstructs a person acting in the exercise of powers under this regulation.
(9) A person guilty of an offence under paragraph (8) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level three on the standard scale.