Originally Posted by
Traveler
Interesting issue. Some States and local government have crafted ordinances to discourage "tent cities" of homeless people using tents and boxes as domiciles. These ordinances are constantly being challenged in court, though these do not impact recreational camping.
Typically, 4th Amendment protections exist for tents used in recreational, legal camping in defined/approved areas and public lands for the most part ("stealth" camping on private property absent permission being a huge gray area). Where some people get tangled up in the legalities is being engaged in illegal/illicit activities that can be seen from outside the tent or in communal shelters where the expectation of privacy does not exist. The only exceptions for are exigent circumstances that allow LEO entry without warrant, such as the destruction of evidence, imminent violence to persons, fleeing from arrest, or if the tent is open for anyone to casually see inside and can see behaviors or illegal/illicit substances (plain view doctrine).
Fortunately, the 4th amendment of the Constitution exists in all States and has been repeatedly upheld by the US Supreme Court.