Plan Checker

Building Plans Examiner

Are you passionate about building safe, innovative, and thriving communities? Join our team as a Building Plans Examiner and play a critical role in shaping the development of our city.

Under general direction, this position performs advanced professional engineering and plan review work for a wide variety of residential, commercial, industrial, and mixed-use development projects. The successful candidate will review complex construction plans, calculations, specifications, and technical reports to ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local building codes, ordinances, and regulations while helping projects move efficiently through the development process.

This is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented professional who enjoys solving complex technical challenges and collaborating with a diverse group of stakeholders. You will work closely with architects, engineers, contractors, developers, inspectors, and community members to provide guidance on code requirements, interpret regulations, and support successful project outcomes.

As a valued member of the Community Development team, you will serve as a trusted technical resource, providing expert recommendations and professional support to the Community Development Director and other staff. Your work will directly contribute to public safety, quality development, and the continued growth and vitality of the community.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical expertise with exceptional customer service, communication, and problem-solving skills, and is committed to helping create a safe, sustainable, and well-designed built environment.

Supervision received and exercised:
Receives general supervision from the Community Development Director. Class characteristics:
This is a professional-level single-position classification performing all routine and complex structural plan checks. Responsibilities include performing professional field and office engineering work and coordinating work with those of other City departments and public agencies and dealing with the public. Responsibilities include interpreting policies and procedures relating to building and construction activities and enforcing building codes.

Expected salary increases:
Fiscal Year 2027-28 4% increase Fiscal Year 2028-29 4% increase

Examples of duties:
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.

• Performs difficult structural analysis and reviews plan check submittal documents for permit applications for complex construction, alteration, or repair of residential, commercial, and industrial buildings for compliance with the Westminster Municipal Code, California State Building Code, disabled access requirements, energy conservation requirements, Uniform Building Code requirements for size, occupancy, exits, and construction methods and materials, and National Electrical, Uniform Plumbing, and Uniform Mechanical Code requirements;
  
  investigates building violations requiring citations or legal complaints.
• Reviews and evaluates construction documents including plans, drawings, blueprints, specifications, engineering calculations, and energy calculations for compliance; makes judgments as to whether structural designs or plans conform to applicable codes.
• Confers with architects, engineers, contractors, homeowners, and others relative to construction or building projects; coordinates plan examining activities with City departments and other agencies; confers and corresponds with other professional personnel in connection with building code interpretation and application; acts as an information source in person or by phone by answering related technical or code questions; discusses complicated issues with engineers and architects in terms of structural engineering items, building codes, etc.;
  
  responds to questions and concerns and resolves disputes.
• May visit construction sites and assist building inspectors in the field where engineering problems are encountered; advises on engineering matters and technical judgments.
• Prepares plan review reports or comment sheets noting plan deficiencies.
• Coordinates project approvals with staff, other departments, and outside agencies.
• Oversees coordination for building permits and plan reviews by other departments, divisions, or agencies.
• Responds to public inquiries over the telephone or at the counter concerning questions regarding permit processing, building, or other construction-related questions; calculates permit fees; assists applicants in achieving compliance with various codes and regulations.
• Attends meetings to review and discuss plans, documents, and code requirements; performs field reviews as necessary.
• Prepares reports and correspondence pertaining to structural engineering problems and building code enforcement; maintains records of plan checking…