Housing Inspector

Salary: $22.30 Hourly
Location : Shelby, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Department: Planning & Development Services
Division: Building Inspections
Opening Date: 06/05/2026
FLSA: Non-Exempt


General Description


The Housing Inspector completes inspection and/or enforcement activities for the City's Minimum Housing Ordinance and Building Inspections Division, performing inspections of new and existing buildings and structures to ensure conformance with housing codes, building codes, and occasionally public nuisance and zoning codes. Inspections ensure that minimum standards are met, wherein work includes property ownership research, initiating and updating enforcement cases, and conferring with property owners and contractors. Work also includes inspections of new residential construction, response to minimum housing complaints, and similar inspection related tasks. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Chief Building Inspector.

Essential Functions

• Performs field inspections and reinspections of residential structures for compliance with State building codes and City ordinances.
• Inspects new and existing building structures to ensure conformance with minimum housing and building codes, public nuisance and zoning codes, and interprets state codes and city ordinances to determine compliance. Verifies that minimum standards of health, safety and environmental welfare for the general public are adhered to and issues violation notices for non-compliance.
• Performs property and ownership research related to code enforcement cases; establishes contact with property owners and/or professional organizations and other representatives of properties.
• Gathers information and compiles periodic inspection reports; facilitates hearings; establishes timelines for corrective actions; confers with property owners, contractors, property managers, attorneys and governmental agencies regarding code-related actions, oversees abatement and demolitions when necessary.
• Prepares, updates and maintains code enforcement case files; organizes and maintains electronic and paper files and related documentation.
• Administers civil citations for non-compliance issues; attends and provides testimony related to civil and criminal court proceedings, as needed. Identifies, develops, implement and maintains processes and practices that encourage, support and promote effective, comprehensive and meaningful citizen engagement. Where construction is not being made in compliance with regulations as to methods and/or materials, issues warnings and stop-work orders if necessary.
• Supports property and structure inspections and makes damage assessments resulting from weather events; evaluates and identifies safety issues and repair needs.
• Responds to questions from citizens, contractors, design professionals, and developers.
• Receives complaints in regard to defective construction and handles enforcement problems.
• Inspects existing buildings for hazardous conditions, structural failures, or improper uses.
• Stays current on code changes and amendments and relays changes to necessary parties.
• Participates in standard and continuing education classes to maintain the necessary inspection certificates.
• Assists other departments with projects within the City.

Typical Qualifications


High school diploma or GED and moderate experience in the building construction trades, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Possession or acquisition of Level I Probationary certifications in building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical as required by the North Carolina Code Officials Qualifications Board upon hire. Obtain Level I Standard certification in all fields within three years of hire. Valid driver's license in the State of North Carolina.

General knowledge of all types of building construction materials and methods, and of stages of construction when possible violations and defects may be easily observed and corrected; general knowledge of State building and related codes, laws, and ordinances; skill in the use of personal computers, associated software packages, hardware, and peripheral equipment; ability to detect poor workmanship, inferior materials, and hazards of fire and collapse; ability to read and interpret plans, specifications, and blueprints accurately and to compare them with construction in process; ability to enforce ordinances and regulations with firmness, tact, and impartiality; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, engineers, architects, County inspection staff, associates, and the general public.

Physical Demands


To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This work requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 25 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and reaching with hands and arms, frequently requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, climbing or balancing and pushing or pulling and occasionally requires sitting, tasting or smelling, lifting and repetitive motions; work requires standard vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions and exposure to the risk of electrical shock, frequently requires working near moving mechanical parts and occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working in high, precarious places, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather), exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), working with explosives and exposure to vibration; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).
This full-time position qualifies for benefits, which include; Health, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life Insurance, 401k and NC Retirement. Please visit the link below for details.