Building Inspector II / Plan Checker

The Building Inspector/Plan Checker manages building inspection activities, performs plan reviews, provides technical assistance to staff, community members, and other stakeholders, and performs related work as required.
The Building Inspector/Plan Checker is a non-management working-level classification performed under the general direction of the Community Development Director/Building Official. Positions within this class are expected to function with considerable independence, use professional judgment, and make sound decisions.Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform essential functions of the job.

• Perform complex residential, commercial, and industrial inspections during all construction and remodeling stages to ensure compliance with applicable codes, standards, and City, County, State, and Federal ordinances and regulations;
• Provide field review of plans and specifications;
• Perform grading inspections emphasizing drainable systems, compaction, subdrainage, and environmental protection;
• Review damaged buildings for safe occupancy after fires or other occurrences;
• Coordinate inspection and compliance activities with other City departments and outside agencies as needed;
• Review construction plans, specifications, and calculations for conformance with governing codes, state regulations, and local ordinances;
• Advise and consult with engineers, architects, contractors, community members, and other stakeholders concerning code, permit, and plan review items and provide general and technical information both in the field and in the office;
• Explain planning, land use, zoning, nuisance ordinances, and environmental impact issues to engineers, architects, contractors, community members, and other stakeholders;
• Calculate and determine building permit fees, plan review deposits, fees paid to consultants, and issue permits.
• Review structural and energy design calculations for accuracy and compliance with State and local requirements;
• Review building permit applications and plans, issue building permits, make final inspections, and issue certificates of occupancy;
• Coordinate the plan review process, facilitating timely project reviews through other City departments, outside agencies, and consultants as necessary;
• Utilize standard office equipment and software and the Citys computerized permit processing system to generate and maintain accurate plan check and inspection records and schedules and to compile comprehensive plan correction lists and other correspondence;
• Investigate code violations and resolve enforcement cases as assigned by Code Enforcement staff, Community Development Director, or their designee;
• Act on behalf of the Building Official when needed and as management assigns.

Knowledge of:

• Construction methods, materials, tools, and equipment used for residential, commercial, and industrial construction.
• Building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, life safety, energy, accessibility and related codes.
• Inspection methods and techniques.
• Principles and practices of plan checking and the plan review process.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, codes, and ordinances related to building plan checks, including basic zoning, grading, and flood zone requirements.
• Building plans and construction layouts.
• Records management principles and practices.
• Business arithmetic and basic statistical techniques.
• Modern office practices, methods, computer equipment, and applications
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• How to effectively work and communicate with community members, governmental agencies, contractors, developers, business owners, coworkers, and other stakeholders verbally and in writing.
• Techniques for providing exemplary customer service.
• Purposes, policies, and procedures of zoning, housing, land use, and public planning.

Ability to:

• Learn and follow the organization, procedures, and operating details of the Community Development Department.
• Read and interpret building plans, improvement plans, specifications, and building codes.
• Learn and operate various computer programs, including permit-tracking software.
• Make arithmetical calculations quickly and accurately.
• Apply technical knowledge of building trades work.
• Advise others on standard construction methods and requirements.
• Promote and enforce safe work practices.
• Prepare reports and maintain records.
• Recognize problems and make practical recommendations for their correction.
• Enforce housing, land use, zoning, and nuisance ordinances in a firm, consistent and respectful manner.
• Observe and record findings during investigations.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships.
• Resolve difficult and complex inspection and plan review issues and conflicts
• Communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language.
• Understand and follow oral and/or written instructions, policies, and procedures.
• Prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations.
• Use logical thinking and creative thought processes to develop solutions.
• Perform various duties and responsibilities accurately and quickly under deadline and changing priorities.
• Quickly learn and use new skills and knowledge from rapidly changing information and/or technology.
• Act with the highest ethics, integrity, ingenuity, and inventiveness in performing assigned tasks.

High School diploma or GED required. ICC Building Inspector and Plan Checker certification is required. Equivalent to a Construction Technology degree or certificate desired. Any combination of training and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the requisite knowledge and skills would be a minimum of two (2) years as a building inspector/plan checker or three (3) years of journey-level experience interpreting land use regulations and building codes, performing field inspections, investigations, and related recordkeeping work.