Permit Technician I

Job Title

Under general supervision, to provide direct customer service by disseminating information concerning permit requirements, codes, ordinances, inspection procedures, compliance and abatement, surveyor maps, properties, easements, street name changes, or annexations; to process land development applications and building permits; to maintain applicable databases; to provide skilled assistance to staff with the coordination of all phases of the permit application and code compliance processes, including permit and complaint intake, application review, plan check, inspection, mapping, and surveying.

Typical Tasks

Coordinates the permit application process, while working closely with permit applicants; explains ordinances, codes, and departmental policies and procedures regarding plan reviews, permit processing, inspections, code violations, and abating building or housing violations;

Assists builders, contractors, developers, architects, engineers, department representatives, and the general public in person, on-line, or on the telephone; assists the public in researching and finding records of their properties; answers general questions regarding property lines, land surveying, and state regulations pertaining to boundary surveys; and processes abandonments and street name change requests;

Receives and reviews a variety of permit applications, construction plans, and supporting documentation for completeness and accuracy; secures missing information from customers and determines needed level of review of plans and inspections; enters detailed information into computer based systems;

Receives maps, corrected maps, and requests for abandonment of easements, street name changes and annexations and reviews them for completeness, accuracy, and conformance;

Processes, coordinates and issues various building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire, grading, and land development permits; determines required inspections, creates inspection records, and schedules inspection appointments;

Uses fee schedules and calculates fees; handles cash, checks, and other forms of payment; opens and closes a cash register and issues receipts;

Receives complaints and researches code and ordinance violations, applicable public records, land use, geologic hazard, flood plains, fire hazard zones, historical or other permit sites; confers with field investigators and other staff; develops and implements abatement plans;

Coordinates, logs, and routes plans; facilitates plan check process to ensure permits are issued in a timely manner; tracks the status of permit applications or plan reviews and updates the applicant;

Resolves a variety of problems and complaints regarding permit and plan submittals and processing, illegal construction, code and ordinance violations, and inspections;

Coordinates and performs activities related to code and ordinance violations and enforcement activities;

Organizes and maintains County surveyor maps, records, and related documents;

May train other Planning staff;

May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;

Performs other related duties, as required.

Employment Standards

Sufficient education and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks and the attainment of the knowledge and abilities listed below. Training and Experience Note: The knowledge, skills, and abilities are acquired through possession of a high school diploma or equivalent AND Three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience providing assistance to a staff in the building trades or related trade or service to the public in the area of permit processing, plan checking, mapping, surveying, building inspection, or land development. Possession of a valid California Driver's License prior to appointment and the ability to qualify for and maintain a County Driver's Permit is required for some positions. Knowledge of:

• Constructions types, plans, specifications, and legal aspects of code enforcement;
• Maps, abandonment of easements, street name change and annexation requests; property lines, land surveying, and state regulations pertaining to boundary surveys;
• Building trades, codes, ordinances, and regulations;
• Regulatory and discretionary permit application processes;
• Mathematical concepts to calculate fees;
• Building and planning office procedures and operations;
• Operation of standard office software and equipment;
• Public relations practices.

Ability to:

• Understand general information on construction plans and documents submitted with permit applications;
• Understand and effectively explain regulations, procedures, and ordinances to the public;
• Research property records; organize and maintain surveyor maps, records, and documents;
• Prioritize tasks and organize workload in order to provide efficient and effective customer service;
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with builders, contractors, developers, department representatives, the general public and staff;
• Maintain records, compile and tabulate data;
• Operate a variety of office software and equipment;
• Perform basic mathematical calculations;
• Use computers to manage data, documents, and workflow;
• Train technical and clerical staff.