Code Enforcement Officer

Job Description

Do you have the passion and experience to enforce the North Carolina General Statutes and the City of Burlington's Code of Ordinances while helping maintain safe, clean, and healthy neighborhoods? If so, we'd love to have you join our team as a Code Enforcement Officer! In this role, you'll make a meaningful impact by helping ensure that Burlington remains a great place to live, work, and play for residents and visitors alike.

About us:

The Planning Department is responsible for the land use management and regulations pertaining to development and growth in the City of Burlington and its Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction. Through daily management involving a range of activities, the Code Enforcement Division seeks to maximize the health, safety, and economic well-being of Burlington.

What you will do:

Performs technical work enforcing City codes pertaining to land use, zoning, nuisance abatement, and minimum housing. Must be able to work independently and collaboratively.

Code Interpretation and Enforcement:

• Enforces municipal ordinances and state statutes with a focus on public safety, health, and welfare.
• Interprets and applies technical knowledge to address ordinance violations, including dilapidated buildings, high grass, junk vehicles, illegal home occupations and minimum housing codes.

Inspections and Assessments:

• Inspects houses and buildings for disrepair or hazardous conditions.
• Evaluates all dwellings to determine fitness for human habitation.
• Investigates complaints on nuisances or code violations related to minimum housing, zoning, and other regulations.

Advisory and Public Interaction:

• Provides guidance to contractors, engineers, architects, lawyers, and citizens on zoning, housing, and code compliance requirements.
• Responds to inquiries from the public, contractors, and builders regarding codes and compliance processes.

Research and Documentation:

• Researches property details, including tax records, GIS maps, and deeds, to verify locations and ownership.
• Documents complaints through interviews, photographs, and collected evidence for accurate assessments.

Enforcement Actions:

• Advises property owners on land use restrictions, violations, appeals, and re-inspection deadlines.
• Consults supervisors on enforcement actions and testifies in court as necessary.

Proactive Monitoring:

• Patrols assigned areas to identify and initiate cases for code violations.

General Duties:

• Performs related tasks and responsibilities as required and assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Effective Communication:
  Mastery of oral and written communication techniques for engaging with the public, contractors, and other stakeholders including verbal de-escalation techniques.
• Technology Proficiency:
  Expertise in office-based tools, including word processing, printing, and database management programs.
• Analytical Reporting:
  Skilled in preparing detailed and comprehensive inspection reports.

Minimum Requirements:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalency and a minimum of two (2) years' work experience in code enforcement, construction, or inspections.
• Valid North Carolina Driver's License

Special Requirements:

• Ability to obtain CZO certification within one year.
• Ability to obtain NCAHCO, CHCO certification within one year.

Physical Requirements and

Working Conditions:

• Work in this class is described as light using a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects and may occasionally require some physical exertion to complete tasks.
• Work typically involves the ability to physically perform the basic life operational functions of stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, walking, pushing, pulling, fingering, grasping, feeling, and repetitive motions.
• Employee is required to have close visual acuity to prepare and analyze data and figures, operate a computer terminal, perform extensive reading, perform visual inspection of small defects and parts, and use measurement devices.
• Employee is subject to both inside and outside environmental working conditions.
• The employee is subject to extreme weather conditions, noise and frequently works in close quarters, crawl space, shafts, manholes, small, enclosed rooms, small sewage and water line pipes, and other areas which could cause claustrophobia.

FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt Inclement Weather Classification:
Non-Essential