Building Plans Examiner

Building Plans Examiner

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Building Plans Examiner

Salary

$63,242.00 - $98,103.00 Annually

Location

101 City Hall Plaza, Durham, NC

Job Type

Full time with benefits

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

26-05914

Department

Building and Safety

Opening Date

04/30/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description

• Benefits

• Questions

Position Description

Work, Serve, Thrive. With the City of Durham

Advance in your career while making a real difference in the community you serve.

Hiring Range: $63,242 - $80,704 ( depending on prequalification from the NC Code Officials Qualification Board)

Hours/Schedule: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

The City-County Inspections Department helps Durham achieve its vision for a superior built environment by facilitating our customers' achievements. We strive to continually exceed customer service expectations while being a resource for N.C. code compliance success. This takes highly qualified staff with a passion for working in partnership and service with the community. If delivering quality customer service while advancing professionally interests you, join our team!

This position is devoted to providing enforcement of codes and regulations, review and approval of building plans for new or existing buildings, structures, and/or, building systems. Incumbents enforce state and local building codes, local ordinances and general statues by reviewing plans for renovations, alterations, additions, and/or field revisions.

May be responsible for overseeing jobsite inspections by traveling to sites; performing building, inspections; reviewing sites for safety regulations; interacting with contractors and homeowners; scheduling daily inspections and appointments; maintaining documentation and monitoring active projects; and enforcing safety precautions as needed.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Performs building, electrical, plumbing, and/or mechanical inspections by traveling to job sites; reviews sites for safety regulations; monitors active projects; schedules daily inspections and appointments; follows up on compliance progress; and enforces safety precautions, applicable codes and regulations.

• Prepares and maintains reports, case files, notices, correspondence, and other documentation; reviews building plans; reviews permit applications and issues permits; and maintains databases and online systems; work involves entering, researching, compiling, and/or reviewing information, ensuring informational accuracy, and compliance with applicable regulations, policies, and procedures.

• Coordinates with home and property owners, contractors, other City departments, and/or external agencies; attends project and other meetings; responds to complaints and inquiries in person, via phone or online systems; provides code information and interpretation; reports violations; sends notification letters; testifies in court; and provides public information on departmental operations. Positions assigned to cross connection control may be responsible for:

• Plan review, permitting, and conducting inspections involved in implementing the cross connection control program including enforcing plumbing code compliance; conducting inspections; performing lock/unlock of meters; performing plan review; and preparing permits and notices.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience.

• Three years of related inspections/construction experience.

• Six hours of continuing education units each year are required.

• Become a Sworn Official of City-County within the first 30 days of hire.

• A valid North Carolina Class C Driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record within 60 days of hire.

• Probationary pre-qualification certification from North Carolina Department of Insurance.

• Must obtain a Probationary Certification within one year of hire.

Additional Preferred Skills

• Knowledge of Building Code.

• Knowledge of building standards and specification of the North Carolina Building and Residential Codes.

• Building construction trade, design, plan review or inspections experience.

• Willing to abide by City of Durham Policies for positions with the privilege of taking City vehicles home and/or policies for positions eligible to work from home.

Benefits – General Full-Time Employees

• 12-13 paid holidays per year

• 13 standard work days of vacation per year

• 13 standard work days of sick leave per year, which accumulates indefinitely; sick leave may be used toward early retirement

• 2 weeks paid military leave per year

• Medical, dental, vision, and supplemental life insurance plans

• State and City retirement plans

• Short and long term disability plans

• Paid temporary disability leave for specified conditions

• City contribution of 13.6% into the N.C. State Retirement System

• Paid funeral leave

• Employee Assistance Program - personal and family counseling

• Paid life insurance equal to annual salary

• 48 hours for volunteer work each year*

• 4 hours parental leave each year

• Workman's Compensation Insurance

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plans

Benefits - Part-Time (1,000 hours or more per year)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)

• State retirement plan

Benefits Part-Time (Average 30 hours per week over 12 month period)

• 401(k) retirement plan (5.0% of salary)

• State retirement plan effective first day of the month following date of hire

• Health insurance effective first day of the month following date of hire

• Dental and life insurance, after one year of service

• Pro-rated vacation, pro-rated sick, pro-rated floating holiday, parttime holiday pay (based on scheduled hours for that day) after one year of service

01

Where did you first hear about this opportunity?

• City of Durham Website

• Walk in

• Job fair

• Employee referral

• Professional organization Please list the organization in "other" box below

• Internet posting Please list the specific web site in the "other" box below

• Craig's List

• Facebook

• LinkedIn

• GlassDoor

• governmentjobs.com

• Monster.com

• Indeed.com

• Employment Security Commission

• Magazine/Newspaper

• Other

02

If you listed "other" above please give specific web site, organization, or publication.

03

Please select your highest level of COMPLETED education.

• Less than a High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)

• High School Diploma or Equivalent (GED, HiSET, TASC)

• Associates Degree

• Bachelor's Degree

• Master's Degree

• PhD or Juris Doctorate

04

How many years of building construction trade, design, plan review or inspections experience do you have?

• No related experience

• Less than 1 year of related experience

• 1 year but less than 3 years related experience

• 3 years but less than 7 years related experience

• 7 or more years related experience

05

Do you have a valid, unrestricted, North Carolina driver's license? (If you have a valid license from a State other than North Carolina, you must be willing and able to obtain a valid, unrestricted NC driver's license within 60 days of hire).

• I have a valid, unrestricted NC driver's license.

• I have a valid license from another State and I am willing to obtain a valid, unrestricted NC driver's license within 60 days.

• I do not have a valid, unrestricted driver's license.

06

Are you familiar with the Building Code?

• Yes

• No

07

How would you rate your knowledge of construction standards and specifications for the North Carolina Building and Residential Codes?

• No experience

• Beginner Level

• Intermediate Level

• Advanced Level

• Expert Level

08

How would you rate your knowledge of construction code compliance inspections?

• No experience

• Beginner Level

• Intermediate Level

• Advanced Level

• Expert Level

09

How many years of construction-related customer service experience do you have?

• No related experience

• Less than 1 year of related experience

• 1 year but less than 3 years related experience

• 3 years but less than 5 years related experience

• 5 years or more years related experience

10

Are you willing to abide by City of Durham Policies for positions with the privilege of taking City vehicles home and/or policies for positions eligible to work from home?

• Yes

• No

11

Are you willing and able to complete six hours of continuing education units each year of employment?

• Yes

• No

12

Are you willing and able to be a Sworn Official of the City-County of Durham within the first 30 days of hire?

• Yes

• No

13

Do you currently hold a Standard or Probationary Certificate from the NC Department of Insurance, Code Officials Qualification Board?

• Yes, I currently hold a Standard or Probationary Certificate.

• No, I do not hold a certificate.

14

If you do NOT hold a Standard or Probationary Certificate from the NC Department of Insurance, Code Officials Qualification Board, have you contacted them at View phone number on click.appcast.io to obtain your level of pre-certification?

• Yes

• No

Required Question