On April 15, the City of Norfolk posted this press release which announced the start of a five-year review plan of the real estate in Norfolk. Except for the fact that the first reviews were scheduled to start five days later, the notice seemed to me to be relatively benign:
Prior to initiating the inspection of a particular property, the appraiser will make the appropriate introduction at the door. If the owner/occupant is not home, an exterior review will be conducted and a notice will be left informing the owner of the visit.
That wasn’t the take of a reader, whose neighborhood is one of the first affected, and who emailed me last week. By permission, here’s part of what she said:
I am hugely concerned that this is government overreaching. They can stand in the public right of way and refer to building/contractor permits for assessments, as is done across Hampton Roads assessor offices. Coming onto private property smacks of intrusiveness and overstepping bounds. My home is my sanctuary from the rest of the world; I am a law abiding, prominent Norfolk citizen who just likes to be at peace where I live. I love my house and my neighborhood, but am seriously troubled by the thought someone can come uninvited to my property, connected to the city assessor’s office, which is thus connected to planning, codes, etc. They are not permitted in my home nor should they be allowed on my property. Having done nothing wrong (but possibly owning a home in Norfolk), I am shocked to see this piece in the CPRV newsletter. There are enough attorneys reading this who own homes as well and I would imagine they are already mounting a legal challenge that says “overstepping” in big red letters.
In a followup, she continued:
The assessors are leaving cards on door handles because they want “in” into homes that badly. All they need to do is stand in the street and take a picture of the structure; they must remain in the public right of way, according to all accepted practices, to do this. My guess is that they are after residents who do magnificent home improvements on their own. There is nothing by law that gives them entry into a private dwelling without a warrant. It’s a real reach to suggest they can waltz into a home and assess. I would have to say, given what friends of mine in other city governments are saying, that Norfolk is overreaching.
Having served on the Board of Review for Real Estate Assessments (the local equalization board), I have seen the cards maintained by the Assessor’s office (now on computer) on properties across the city. The information is often inaccurate, since work on homes without building permits is pretty pervasive. Even when permits are obtained, there is no guarantee that the home improvement winds up on the card. (My neighbor across the lake, for example, has an inground pool that was not on his card.)
So I can understand the need to update the information. But the writer has a valid point.
So my question, dear readers, is would you let the assessor’s representative into your home? Or would you politely ask them to leave your property?
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
My home is private..PERIOD!!! I see Norfolk city officals in their cars driving around all the time. They pass house after house with outdoor swimming pools that are not properly fenced in per state law. These pools remain like that. So if Norfolk needs to make more money.. start by ensuring the saftey of young children and fining the people endangering lives and violating the law, and stay out of my house. Seriously how hard is it going to be for someone to impersonate a city official to gain access to easy prey homes?? Lets just open the door for some burglary and home invasion. Yep good job city of Norfolk! This one is right up there with “If we build a professional stadium, a pro team will come here” Hah.. that worked out well, as I imagine this will too.
Chesapeake left a note on my door, telling me they wanted to come in and note the “improvements” I had made to my house. I guess they saw the flooring, cabinets and other construction debris put for pick up.
I called the person back and asked them if it was normal for them to come into a house to assess its value. “Why yes it is of course.” When I told the person that I would require a warrant for search and seizure as well as a copy of the affidavit filed to get the warrant, much back-peddling occurred.
Uh. No. No government agent is coming into my home without a warrant. There will be much gnashing of teeth were this to happen.
Oh yeah. And I’m a government agent that has to file the above paperwork to go into people’s homes.
I have worked for and with assessors and appraisers all my life and have never heard of anything like this before. If you had an addition or added a shed or pool that is different. What if your renovations were not all that great, would they reduce your assessment and then your taxes?
Well said, Scott!
Definitely ask your assessor for a warrant!