Section 81 – Powers of entry: supplementary
225.This section supplements sections 79 and 80. Subsection (1) provides that a right to enter land under section 79 (with or without a warrant under section 80) includes a right to enter adjacent land and a right to survey or examine the land.
226.Subsection (2) entitles those entering land under section 79 (with or without a warrant) to take other persons, materials and equipment onto the land. This includes vehicles. The subsection also enables them to do anything else reasonably required to fulfil the purpose of entering the land.
227.Subsection (3) sets notice periods which must be complied with except in the urgent cases defined in subsection (5). A seven day notice period applies where the power under section 79 is to be exercised without a warrant in order to enter a house or to take heavy equipment onto land (subsection (3)(a)). “Heavy equipment” and “house” are defined in subsection (7).
228.A twenty four hour notice period applies where the power under section 79 is to be exercised without a warrant, without entering a house and without taking heavy equipment onto the land (subsection (3)(b)). A twenty four hour notice period also applies to all cases where the power under section 79 is to be exercised with a warrant (subsection (3)(b)).
229.Subsection (4) requires that, except in the urgent cases set out in subsection (5), people entering land under section 79 (with or without a warrant) may only do so at a reasonable time.
230.In all cases, subsection (6) requires those entering land to be able to produce written evidence that they have been authorised to enter.
