Plans Examiner

Promotional Opportunity

This is an internal recruitment only for current qualified classified City of Reno Employees. The ideal candidate will perform technical reviews of building plans and specifications to verify compliance with adopted building codes, zoning regulations, and local ordinances. They will coordinate plan review activities with City departments, communicate required corrections to applicants, and provide technical guidance to architects, contractors, and property owners throughout the permitting process.

We currently have one vacancy in the Development Services Department in which hiring will begin immediately following the close of this recruitment. This recruitment will also establish a list for future vacancies, which will be filled as they occur. This is an internal recruitment to provide a promotional opportunity for all qualified current classified City of Reno employees. The City of Reno is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to everyone. This commitment is an integral part of our efforts to ensure that we have a diverse and representative workforce that serves the community of Reno.

Examples of Essential Functions

Perform plan checking activities; examine plans, specifications, and related documents for compliance with established building codes, zoning regulations, and ordinances; verify and review engineering calculations for completeness, code compliance and accuracy.

Review plans for conformance with various building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and structural codes and regulations; review plans for conformance with accessibility and energy conservation codes and regulations; review plans for building water supply and distribution, sanitary drainage systems and fuel gas supply piping.

Examine and verify accuracy of electrical load calculations, general use electrical equipment and communications systems.

Provide information and assistance to the public, contractors, and architects involving the interpretation of construction codes, ordinances and zoning regulations; recommend necessary changes to plans to obtain compliance with applicable codes.

Coordinate plan checking activities with other departments; transmit plans and specifications to appropriate departments, divisions or outside consultants; transmit other department comments to applicants as necessary.

Track plans through other departments and agencies for review; establish and maintain system of log sheets and files to track current status of projects; file approved plans and specifications.

Advise building inspectors, field inspectors, and others regarding potential field inspection problems; perform on-site inspections to help resolve difficult problems as necessary.

Maintain appropriate records on plans examining activities; prepare reports, correspondence and a variety of other written materials as requested.

Provide customer service at the front counter; respond to citizen questions and inquiries; render interpretations and applications of construction codes.

Monitor technical developments of products and materials being used in the industry as well as listings/approvals of new and currently in use products, materials, and methods of construction; stays abreast of recent as well as pending code changes as well as changes in methods of construction; recommends procedural or policy changes as appropriate.

Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

The following minimum qualifications are required to be met at the time of application. Education: Equivalent to the graduation of the twelfth grade supplemented by college level course work in planning, construction or a related field. Additional relevant work experience beyond the three year requirement will be substituted for the required college level coursework. Experience: Three years of responsible building inspection, plan review, architectural, and/or drafting experience in a municipal setting. License or Certificate: Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license. Possession of both residential and commercial certificates in the Commercial Plans Examination and/or Commercial Building Inspection series, or any combination of Commercial building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing certification. Certification must be from an accredited agency, such as the International Code Council (ICC) or another nationally recognized agency. Bilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Supplemental Information

To Apply: Submit your completed application and all additional information/documentation requested through our job board at by August 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PT. If a computer or mobile device is not available to you, suggested locations to complete an online application submittal include: the City of Reno City Hall 2nd floor computer kiosk or Civil Service Office, any Nevada Job Connect location, local libraries, or educational facilities.

If you are having difficulty logging into your governmentjobs.com profile, please call the applicant support line at View phone number on click.appcast.io.

Application Preparation: A complete application is required, including detailed work experience and education. Résumés may be submitted as supplemental information but will not be reviewed when determining minimum qualifications.

Examination Process: Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications and pass the examination for this position to be eligible for hire. The examination will consist of a Training and Experience evaluation (T&E) weighted at 100%.

Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) Details: The T&E examination consists of a Supplemental Questionnaire. The questions may be viewed online under the tab marked "QUESTIONS" on the job announcement page. The T&E must be submitted online at the time of application.

Notification: Applicants are notified by email of their examination results. Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications will also be notified within two weeks of the job posting closing.

We highly recommend opting in to receive text message notifications. Follow-up text messages may include updates about your application, next steps, and interviews. If you haven't opted in before, the option will appear before you submit your application. If you've previously opted in or out, you can update your choice anytime in account settings in your governmentjobs.com profile.

Testing Accommodation: We strive to ensure equal access for all individuals. If you require an accommodation due to a disability, you must inform the Chief Examiner by completing the Accommodation Request Form by the closing date of this announcement. All requests will be handled with confidentiality and respect.

Contact Information: Reports (Rule XV, Section 2) Applicants are responsible for keeping the Reno Civil Service Commission informed of their current contact information including phone number, email, and mailing address.

Employee/Veteran Preference in the Event of Tie Scores: Promotional Examinations (Rule VIII, Section 7): If two or more employees earn the same final score (including seniority points), veterans' preference will be applied if any of the tied employees have submitted proof of an honorable military discharge. This preference is only used to break ties. If a tie still remains, it will be broken based on seniority in the current classification. Proof of honorable discharge must be submitted with the application.

Seniority Points: Seniority Credit (Rule VIII, Section 9): Classified employees of the City of Reno shall receive seniority credit computed by adding to a passing score as follows:

The final ranking will include the applicable seniority points added to the overall grade of the examination process. For each full year of continuous service completed, 0.2 points will be added up to a maximum of ten (10) years... 2 points will be the maximum.

Appointment and Certification: Appointments to positions in the City's Civil Service system are made on the basis of examination. Scores resulting from a competitive examination are used in determining a person's rank on an eligible register. The department may hire any of the persons referred. The names of those persons not hired may be considered when the next vacancy occurs, for as long as that register is viable.

Probationary Period: Certification of Eligibles, Appointments, and Probation (Rule VII, Section 12) Classified employees who are newly hired, promoted, reclassified, transferred, or who voluntarily demote to a lower position are subject to a probation period.

The only exception is if an employee chooses to voluntarily demote back to the exact job they previously held within 24 months of being promoted.

Questions and Updates: Questions about the information on this announcement and updates to application information should be directed to Civil Service at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io.

The City of Reno is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment, hiring, assignment, training, compensation, promotion, retention, and disciplinary decisions will be made without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, political affiliation, membership in an employee association, or any other protected class status applicable under federal or state law or City Charter.