Code Compliance Officer

The City of Poway is seeking a knowledgeable and community-oriented Code Compliance Officer to help protect public health, safety, and neighborhood quality through the fair enforcement of municipal codes and standards. This position conducts inspections, investigates complaints, and works directly with residents, businesses, and property owners to resolve violations and support voluntary compliance. The role involves a balance of fieldwork and office responsibilities, collaboration with multiple City departments and external agencies, and participation in programs such as vegetation management, wildfire defensible space, responsible beverage service, and nuisance abatement.

The ideal candidate is organized, professional, and customer-focused, with strong communication skills and a commitment to maintaining a safe, well-kept community.

Under general supervision, performs a variety of routine to complex duties related to the City’s code compliance program, including the identification, investigation, and correction of violations of the City’s municipal, building, and zoning codes, and of State and City Health and Safety Codes and Ordinances; investigates citizen complaints of public nuisances and quality of life issues and seeks voluntary compliance or issues citations and initiates abatement procedures;

and performs related work as required.

Receives general supervision from the City Planner or Senior Code Compliance Officer. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Receives, records, and investigates complaints from the public and staff regarding violations of municipal codes, ordinances, standards, and health and safety regulations; documents violations by securing photographs and other pertinent data; researches ownership records, development plans, prior complaints, municipal codes and ordinances, and state regulations to establish whether a violation has occurred.
• Collaborates and initiates contact 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; initiates abatement of dangerous properties and vector control issues of vacant properties; provides confirmation to public by telephone and in person regarding code regulations.
• Prepares courtesy notices, notices of violation or noncompliance and citations according to applicable codes and regulations; issues letters to property owners notifying them of violation; as appropriate, affixes a notice of violation on property to abate fire and public safety hazards and public nuisances.
• Meets with City planning, building, engineering, fire, sheriff, public works staff and legal counsel regarding complaints; coordinates activities with other staff and code compliance personnel.
• Coordinates and conducts follow-up abatement procedures including the preparation of additional correspondence, site visits, and communication with property owners and attorneys; conducts follow-up investigations to ensure compliance with applicable codes and ordinances; prepares non-compliance cases for legal action; presents testimony at nuisance abatement hearings.
• Coordinates and enforces the City’s vegetation management program and Wildfire Defensible Space Program, including identification of properties in violation, notification to property owners, and follow-up inspections and recordkeeping.
• Makes drive‑by or on‑site inspections of residential, industrial, and/or commercial areas; notes possible violations…