Senior Building Inspector

JOB SUMMARY

Under the general direction of the Building Official, performs advanced and complex residential and commercial inspections and plan reviews to protect public health, safety, and welfare and to verify compliance with adopted building codes, City ordinances, and applicable state and federal requirements. Serves as a technical resource to inspection and permit staff, provides guidance on difficult code issues, and coordinates with applicants, design professionals, contractors, other City departments, and outside agencies.

Work requires substantial independent judgment and field decision-making within established authority.

The following duties are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or logically assigned to the position.

• Conducts and documents advanced residential and commercial inspections of new construction, alterations, repairs, and existing structures—including building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, energy, fuel gas, accessibility, fire/life-safety, and property-maintenance components—to identify unsafe or noncompliant conditions, protect public health and safety, and determine whether work may proceed.
• Reviews complex construction plans, specifications, engineering documents, calculations, and permit submittals to verify compliance with adopted requirements, identify deficiencies before construction, and provide clear written correction comments that support timely and consistent permitting decisions.
• Interprets and applies adopted building codes, zoning and sign regulations, local amendments, City ordinances, and applicable laws; issues inspection results, correction notices, and other authorized documentation; and performs follow-up inspections to obtain compliance and protect the community.
• Serves as a technical resource on difficult or unusual projects by advising inspectors and permit staff, resolving conflicting or ambiguous code issues within delegated authority, and escalating matters to the Building Official when necessary to promote consistent and defensible decisions.
• Trains, coaches, and mentors less-experienced inspectors and staff and may coordinate inspection and plan-review assignments or review work products to improve technical accuracy, consistency, and service delivery; does not exercise formal supervisory authority unless separately assigned.
• Assists permitting staff by answering customer questions about building permits, evaluating submittals for completeness, verifying required forms and supporting documents, and issuing permits within delegated authority to help applicants understand requirements and move complete, compliant projects through the permitting process.
• Coordinates with the City’s Fire Marshal during plan review and inspections to align building and fire/life-safety requirements, resolve overlapping code issues, and support consistent code compliance decisions.
• Coordinates plan reviews, inspections, and compliance matters with Planning, Engineering, Public Works, third-party service providers, utility or transportation agencies, and other jurisdictions to resolve overlapping requirements and prevent gaps or duplication in regulatory review.
• Maintains complete and accurate electronic and written records of plan reviews, inspections, permits, contacts, and enforcement activities and prepares operational, management, and City Council reports as requested to support legal documentation, workload tracking, transparency, and informed decision-making.
• Monitors changes in model codes, state and federal law, and local conditions; researches technical issues; recommends code amendments and procedural updates; and assists with departmental goals and priorities to keep City practices current, effective, and consistent.
• Provides technical information and staff support to boards, commissions, public meetings, and appeals proceedings as assigned to explain code requirements, document findings, and support fair and informed decisions.
• Operates a City vehicle and performs inspections using required…