Permit Technician

Permit Technician

The Permit Technician serves as the front-line contact and the face and voice of Development Services. This position provides direct customer service to residents, contractors, business owners, design professionals, and other departments by assisting with permit applications, answering questions, routing requests, maintaining records, and supporting the day-to-day permit process. The work is dynamic, fast-paced, and engaging, and the City will provide training for the specific tasks, systems, and procedures involved.

The ideal candidate is friendly, organized, dependable, and comfortable working with the public in person, by phone, and by email. Successful performance in this role requires strong customer service skills, attention to detail, good follow-up, willingness to learn new things, and the ability to follow documented standard operating procedures while handling a high volume of changing priorities.

Examples of Duties

Greet customers at the front counter and provide courteous, professional assistance regarding permits, inspections, development processes, and general department procedures.

Answer incoming phone calls and monitor department email accounts; return calls and email messages promptly and accurately.

Receive, review, and process permit applications and related documents for completeness in accordance with documented SOPs, adopted procedures, and departmental requirements.

Create, update, and maintain permit records, customer information, inspection requests, fees, comments, statuses, and scanned documents within the permitting software and related filing systems.

Accept applications, supporting documents, revisions, and resubmittals; route materials to the appropriate reviewers, inspectors, or departments.

Provide applicants with clear information about submittal requirements, review status, corrections, inspection scheduling, and next steps in the process.

Schedule inspections and coordinate inspection requests between applicants, contractors, inspectors, and other involved staff.

Issue permits, receipts, and related documents after required approvals, payments, and conditions have been satisfied.

Assist with certificates of occupancy, contractor registration, address verification support, and permit close-out tasks as assigned.

Maintain accurate electronic and hard-copy records, including permit files, correspondence, reports, receipts, and other departmental documentation.

Assist with cash handling, payment intake, balancing support, and related administrative tracking in accordance with City financial procedures, if assigned.

Follow documented standard operating procedures and maintain consistency in customer service, recordkeeping, routing, and communication.

Identify incomplete submittals, missing information, or process issues early and communicate clearly with applicants and staff to help move cases forward efficiently.

Coordinate professionally with Building, Planning, Engineering, Fire, Public Works, Code Enforcement, Finance, and other departments as needed.

Prepare routine correspondence, notices, logs, reports, and other administrative documents related to departmental operations.

Maintain a clean, professional, and organized front counter and work area.

Participate in training and professional development to improve knowledge of permitting processes, software systems, customer service practices, and department procedures.

All other duties, as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

•High school diploma or GED required. •Minimum one (1) year of experience in administrative support, customer service, clerical processing, front-counter operations, records management, permit processing, or a closely related field. •Experience using computers, office software, email, and data-entry systems. •Ability to learn permitting software, departmental procedures, and municipal development processes. •Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with the public and coworkers. •Ability to follow written and verbal instructions and work within established procedures. •Ability to maintain regular and reliable attendance in accordance with City policy.

Supplemental Information

Preferred:

• Municipal permit technician or development services experience.
• Experience working with permitting, licensing, work order, or case management software.
• Experience with cashiering, issuing receipts, or payment processing.
• Experience in a construction, inspection, planning, code enforcement, or local government environment.
• Bilingual.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Customer service principles and public-facing communication practices.
• Modern office practices, records management, and general administrative procedures.
• Standard business software, email systems, permitting systems, scanners, copiers, and related office technology.
• Basic development services terminology related to permits, inspections, plan review, addresses, certificates of occupancy, and departmental routing.
• Departmental SOPs, filing practices, and workflow coordination methods.

Skill in:

• Providing friendly, professional, and effective customer service in person, by phone, and by email.
• Organizing multiple tasks, deadlines, applications, and follow-up items in a fast-paced environment.
• Reviewing forms and submittals for completeness and accuracy.
• Entering and maintaining accurate records in computer systems.
• Preparing clear, concise correspondence and maintaining organized files.
• Using computers, permitting software, and standard office equipment efficiently.
• Managing difficult or frustrated customer interactions with patience, professionalism, and composure.

Ability to:

• Serve as a positive and professional first point of contact for Development Services.
• Learn and apply departmental procedures, permit workflows, and software systems.
• Follow documented SOPs with consistency and attention to detail.
• Communicate technical or procedural information in clear, practical language.
• Maintain strong follow-up and follow-through on customer requests and internal tasks.
• Work cooperatively with supervisors, coworkers, contractors, applicants, and the public.
• Handle changing priorities, interruptions, and a high-volume workload while maintaining accuracy.
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in handling records and customer information.
• Adapt to changing software, procedures, regulations, and department needs.

Physical Requirements

Requires the ability to perform primarily office-based work involving extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, speaking, reading, and computer use; frequent interaction with the public at a service counter; occasional lifting of files, plans, boxes, or office supplies; and occasional reaching, bending, and carrying in the normal performance of office duties.

Environmental Requirements

Tasks are primarily performed in a standard office environment with frequent public interaction and occasional exposure to outdoor weather conditions when assisting with site-related coordination, posting, deliveries, or related departmental tasks.

Sensory Requirements

Tasks require visual perception, reading comprehension, hearing, oral and written communication ability, and sufficient manual dexterity to operate computers, office equipment, telephones, scanners, and related technology.