About the position
The Building Permit Technician I/II position is a vital role within the Building and Safety Department, responsible for reviewing and processing building permits for new construction and modifications. Under supervision for the Technician I level and general supervision for the Technician II level, the incumbent will provide essential information to the public, calculate and collect fees, route plans for review, and offer administrative support within the department. The role involves coordinating plan check information from various departments and preparing comprehensive plan check reports. Additionally, the technician will assist the public with inquiries related to planning, zoning, land use, and development questions, guiding developers through the approval process and performing other related duties as required. As a Building Permit Technician I, the position serves as an entry-level class, allowing incumbents to develop journey-level knowledge and abilities in building and planning permit processing and review. Initially, under immediate supervision, incumbents will learn to perform a variety of tasks related to building and planning permit processing. This classification may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency. In contrast, the Building Permit Technician II is a journey-level class where incumbents are expected to perform the full scope of permit processing and related support duties with minimal supervision. This includes occasionally accompanying building inspectors on site inspections. The assignments are characterized by clear guidelines for decision-making and the availability of supervision when required. Positions in this class are typically filled by advancement from the Technician I level or require prior experience when filled externally. Advancement to the II level is based on management judgment and/or certification or testing that validates the performance of the full range of job duties.
Responsibilities
- Provide customer service by responding to public and agency inquiries by phone and at the counter.
- Interpret and apply building, planning, and other City codes for members of the public.
- Calculate and record permit application and plan check fees; take various forms of payment and issue permits.
- Perform minor plan checks and process minor applications; recommend corrections to violations.
- Maintain department logs, including the status of plan checks and residential activity; prepare statistical reports.
- Assist the public with planning, zoning, land use, permit use, and development questions; guide developers through their approval process.
- Review projects for compliance with CEQA; prepare environmental documentation for processing and recording with proper agencies.
- Write staff reports for the City Council, including the status of plan checks, permits issued, and projects that are incomplete.
- Maintain department records, files, and other reference materials; attend staff review meetings.
Requirements
- Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.
- For Technician I: Two years of responsible specialized clerical experience involving a high level of public contact, preferably in the building or construction industry.
- For Technician II: Three years of experience in reviewing and processing building, planning, grading improvement plans and/or permits.
- Possession of a Building Technician Certificate from International Code Council (ICC) required within one year of employment for Technician I; required for Technician II.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience in the building or construction industry.
- Knowledge of various construction methods, materials, and terminology for both residential and commercial projects.
- Familiarity with local zoning practices and property descriptions.
Benefits
- Health insurance coverage
- Dental insurance coverage
- Vision insurance coverage
- Paid holidays
- Flexible scheduling
- Professional development opportunities
- Tuition reimbursement
- 401k retirement savings plan
- Paid volunteer time
