Bad news is that the Building & Safety Code gives inspectors jurisdiction to inspect your property for code violations in most California cities. Tresspassing laws do not apply. Interfering with their duties IS a seperate violation. And you can't lock them out once a notice of violation or inspection has been given. Single family dwellings are exempt from interior inspections while apartments are not. For now anyway.
You can forget about asking the City inspectors to pay for ANYTHING. You do not have to drive around the block nor do you have to stand on one leg while singing Dixie. The burdon of proof is on them. Your word that the vehicles run or that they await repair is good enough.
Good news is that the inspectors are often dimwitted or outright idiots that cite the code incorrectly. Read it. There is and must be a reference to the code section they claim you are violating. The section dealing with working at home on your own vehicles is just an eyelash away from violating your Civil Rights under Federal Law.
In my case: Eight motor vehicles on my drive or in my garage. Two MB turbos, two motorcycles, three Porsches, one Chevy pick up (and a partridge in a pear tree
All but the Porsche in the garage are in perfect running order. They are each either currently registered or have a valid non-operation slip on DMV file. The code section describing derilict vehicles is vague and ambiguous on it's face. Make sure the code section refers to your situation.
There is no law that prevents you from storing your own vehicle on your own property even if you are waiting to have it towed to a repair shop (when you can afford it, eh?
That section is in place to prohibit commercial repair done at a private residence.
The Administration "hearing officer" sided with the inspector even though my case was bullit proof. That clown even wanted to be called "your honor"
I filed a Motion for Reconsideration along with a copy of the Federal Complaint I had drawn up. It seems that their "implied immunity" evaporates on the Federal Courthouse steps when civil rights are ignored or denied "under color of law". The violations were dropped with prejudice.
We need to abolish ALL the implied imunity protections for our civil servants. I.E., make everyone responsible for their actions. Especially trigger happy cops and power hungry idiots.
Rant over unless it happens again.
A final piont. Be courtious and business like. Do not be abusive in any manner. And remember that anything you say may be written down and used against you later.