BUILDING INSPECTOR I

Salary : $87,126.00 - $105,924.00 Annually
Location : Shafter, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 25/06
Department: Building
Opening Date: 02/06/2025
Closing Date: 2/20/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Objective
Under general supervision, perform routine to complex combination inspections of residential, commercial, and industrial building sites to enforce building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, housing and environmental codes, and other governing laws and ordinances including basic zoning, grading, and flood zone regulations. Perform plan checking on a variety of residential construction and modification. Provide a variety of information to property owners, developers, architects, engineers, and contractors. Issue building permits. Perform related duties as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Building Inspector I: This is the entry-level class in the building inspection series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents perform a variety of routine inspections and plan reviews to determine building code compliance. As knowledge and experience are gained, the work becomes broader in scope, assignments are more varied and are performed under more general supervision.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this class.

• Perform field inspections and plan review of new and existing commercial, industrial, and residential properties for conformance to codes, regulations, plans, specifications, and standards related to foundations, framing, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, housing, access, life safety, and other functional elements.
• Confer with legal, fire, code enforcement, and planning staff regarding building, fire, life safety, zoning, and other code interpretations and applications.
• Perform plan checking for completeness, accuracy, and code compliance for new construction, alterations, or remodeling for existing structures; ensure compliance with applicable codes and accepted engineering practices.
• Review energy calculations to ensure compliance with State codes.
• Review plans and applications for building permits; issue building permits; make final inspections and issues certificates of occupancy.
• Investigate complaints regarding existing buildings or new construction to determine if code violations or problem conditions exist.
• Review damaged buildings for safe occupancy after fires or other occurrences.
• Consult with the Chief Building Official and City legal staff regarding legal aspects of code compliance and building matters.
• Write "stop work" notices for work being done without permits or in an unsafe manner.
• Perform grading inspections with an emphasis on drainable systems, compaction, subdrainage, and environmental protection.
• Confer with and provide information to developers, engineers, architects, property owners, contractors, and others regarding code requirements and alternatives; attend pre-construction site meetings; resolve complaints and problems.
• Receive, record, and investigate complaints from the public and staff regarding violations of housing codes, ordinances, standards, health and safety regulations; document violations by securing photographs and other pertinent data; research ownership records, prior complaints, housing codes and ordinances, and state regulations to establish whether a violation has occurred.
• Initiate contacts with residents, business representatives, and other parties to explain the nature of incurred violations and to encourage compliance with municipal codes, ordinances, and community standards; initiate abatement of dangerous properties and vector control issues of vacant properties; provide confirmation to the public by telephone and in person regarding code regulations.
• Prepare notices of violation or noncompliance and citations according to applicable codes and regulations; issue letters to property owners notifying them of violations.
• Coordinate and conduct follow-up abatement procedures including the preparation of additional correspondence, site visits, and communication with property owners and attorneys; conduct follow-up investigations to ensure compliance with applicable codes and ordinances; prepare non-compliance cases for legal action; present testimony at nuisance abatement hearings.
• Establish and maintain accurate and complete case files; prepare documents and evidence for court proceedings and testify in hearings and court proceedings, as necessary.
• Prepare a variety of correspondence, reports, correction notices, and other written materials.
• Represent the City in meetings with members of other public and private organizations, community groups, contractors, developers, and the public.
• Assist the public at the Building department counter for questions and assistance.
• Assist the code enforcement officer in the field or at the public counter for questions and assistance.

• Perform duties of a disaster services worker in the event of an emergency.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience that may provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:
Building Inspector I

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Successful completion of an acceptable course in building codes.
• Three (3) years of journey-level experience in building inspection, building construction (electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or carpentry), architecture, or related field.
• Valid California Class C driver's license with a good driving record.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid International Code Council (ICC) or International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) Certificate related to building inspection within twelve (12) months of employment as approved by the Chief Building Official.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, methods, materials, and tools used in building construction.
• Building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, life safety, energy, and related codes.
• Construction methods, materials, tools, and equipment used for current residential, commercial, and industrial construction.
• Concepts and practices of plan review.
• Methods and procedures used in code enforcement, including citation issuance procedures, methods used to obtain various types of inspection warrants, and principles used to prepare legal documents.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, regulations, and departmental policies governing the construction of assigned projects, as well as enforcement of housing codes.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices necessary in the area of building inspection.
• Mathematical principles, including algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment.
• Principles and procedures of record-keeping.
• Computer applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Techniques for dealing with engineers, developers, contractors, City staff, and representatives of other agencies in an effective manner.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to the public and City staff, in person and over the telephone.

Skilled in:

• Setting priorities and being able to meet assignment deadlines.
• Good judgment, dependability, and adaptability.

Ability to:

• Interpret, apply, and explain laws, regulations, codes, and departmental policies governing the construction and maintenance of buildings, as well as code enforcement of housing codes.
• Review and authorize revisions within procedural guidelines.
• Detect and locate faulty materials and workmanship and determine the stage of construction during which defects are most easily found and remedied.
• Review and analyze construction plans, specifications and maps for conformance with City standards and policies.
• Coordinate and deal tactfully with contractors, engineers, and property owners, as well as investigate code violations and respond to inquiries and complaints in a fair, tactful and timely manner.
• Respond to complaints or inquiries from citizens, staff, and outside organizations.
• Perform the entire range of combined building inspection activities with a minimum of supervision.
• Prepare clear, effective, and accurate reports, correspondence, change orders, specifications, and other written materials.
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with other departments, public and private organizations, and individuals.
• Read, understand, and interpret construction blueprints, plans, and specifications.
• Prepare accurate and precise reports and records.
• Make accurate mathematic computations.
• Prepare clear, effective, and accurate technical reports.
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions.
• Make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet multiple deadlines.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Walk, stand, and sit for prolonged periods of time.
• Verbally communicate to exchange information.
• Hear, understand, and distinguish speech and/or other sounds in person and by telephone.
• Use hands to fingers, feel computers and standard business equipment; make repetitive hand movements in the performance of daily duties.
• Operate assigned equipment and vehicles.
• Lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 25 lbs. amounts of weight.
• Frequently bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull in the performance of daily duties.
• Visual requirements include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

MENTAL DEMANDS

• Use written and oral communication skills.
• Interpret data, information, and documents.
• Analyze and solve complex problems.
• Work under deadlines with constant interruptions.
• Interact with City management, staff, the public, and others encountered in the course of work, some of whom may be dissatisfied or quarrelsome.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is performed in an indoor and outdoor environment.
• Travel from site to site.
• Work in a diverse and potentially challenging environment, including unprotected heights, moving machinery, below ground, or around unusual fatigue factors, excessive vibration, water or other substances, and both indoor and outdoor settings, often in close proximity to others.
• Exposure to various environmental conditions and hazards, including significant temperature and humidity changes, dust, fumes, smoke, gases, excessive noise, radiant or electrical energy, solvents, grease, oils, chemical hazards, and slippery or uneven walking surfaces.

All City of Shafter employees are designated "Disaster Service Workers" through state and local laws (CA Government Code Section 3100-3109). As Disaster Service Workers, all City employees are expected to remain at work or report to work as soon as practicable following a significant emergency or disaster.
The City of Shafter is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations for disabilities may be requested from the Human Resources Department at (661) 746-5008 or

APPLICATION PROCESS
Incomplete application packets will be rejected. Application packets must contain the following:
1. City of Shafter Employment Application
2. High School Diploma or GED
3. Detailed Resume
4. Proof of completed acceptable building codes course

SELECTION PROCESS
The following are steps in the selection process. Candidates must pass each step before proceeding to the next step:
1. Submit a complete employment application as listed under the Application Process
2. Application Review
3. Panel Interview
4. Name Placed on Eligibility List
5. Conditional Offer
6. Background Investigation
7. Medical Examination
8. Formal Offer
9. Begin Employment
Comprehensive City Paid Benefit Package

• California Public Employees Retirement Plan (CalPERS) in accordance with the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act (PEPRA): Miscellaneous 2% @ 55 or 2% @ 62.
• Medical, Dental, & Vision: City pays 100% of the medical, dental, & vision premiums on the base plan for employee, spouse, registered domestic partner, and dependents.
• Life Insurance: City pays 100% of the premium for employee, spouse, registered domestic partner, and dependents. Employee benefit is equal to 12 times monthly base salary + $17,000, rounded to next $1000.
• Vacation: 10 days to start to 25 days maximum annually.
• Holidays: 10 fixed and 2 floating annually.
• Sick Leave: 96 hours annually.
• Work Schedule: 5/8 Work Schedule.
• Spanish Fluency Incentive: $120 per month for designated positions.
• Tuition Reimbursement: $3,000 annually.
• IRS 125 Tax Deferred Flexible Spending Account: voluntary
• IRS 457 Tax Deferred Retirement Plan: voluntary
• Employee Assistance Program
• Bereavement Leave
• Longevity Pay: 5 years - 2.5%, 10 years - 2.5%, 15 years - 2.5%, 20 years - 2.5%

01

Do you have at least three (3) years of journey-level experience in one of the following areas? (Select all that apply)

• Building Inspection
• Electrical Construction
• Mechanical Construction
• Plumbing Construction
• Carpentry
• Architecture
• No experience in these areas

02

Please detail your experience in the areas you selected in question 1. Include the nature of the work performed and the duration of your experience in those role/s.
03

Please indicate if you have experience in any other related field/s not listed in question 1. Include the nature of the work performed and the duration of your experience in that role/s.
04

Have you successfully completed a course in building codes?

• Yes
• No

Required Question