21 USC § 879 - Search warrants

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t21/s879"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "21 USC § 879 - Search warrants"
title_number: 21
title_name: "FOOD AND DRUGS"
section_number: "879"
section_name: "Search warrants"
chapter_number: 13
chapter_name: "DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONTROL"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT"
part_number: "E"
part_name: "Administrative and Enforcement Provisions"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 91–513, title II, § 509, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1274; Pub. L. 93–481, § 3, Oct. 26, 1974, 88 Stat. 1455; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117.)"
---


# § 879. Search warrants

A search warrant relating to offenses involving controlled substances may be served at any time of the day or night if the judge or United States magistrate judge issuing the warrant is satisfied that there is probable cause to believe that grounds exist for the warrant and for its service at such time.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 91–513, title II, § 509, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1274; Pub. L. 93–481, § 3, Oct. 26, 1974, 88 Stat. 1455; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1974— struck out designation “(a)” before “A search warrant”, and struck out subsec. (b) which permitted officers authorized to execute search warrants to break open and enter premises under certain circumstances and which required that such officers identify themselves and give reasons and authority for their entry after such entry.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“United States magistrate judge” substituted in text for “United States magistrate” pursuant to , set out as a note under , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.