Permit Technician

Permit Technician

The City of Westminster is looking for a Permit Technician to join our Community Development Department.

Under general supervision, performs a variety of responsible clerical and office administration duties related to the issuance of building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits and in support of related services and activities of the Community Development Department; explains ordinances, requirements, and City codes, and department procedures to building contractors, architects, engineers, builders, and the general public pertaining to land development and improvement, permit requests, and concerns; and performs related work as required.

Receives general supervision from the Community Development Director. Exercises no supervision of staff.

This is a journey-level classification that is fully competent to perform a variety of responsible duties to assist in the provision of City services for the public. Incumbents with well-developed office support skills are expected to learn technical and specialized rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and activities related to the Community Development Department and to apply them independently. This class is distinguished from other office support classes by the performance of specialized duties that require application of a larger base of technical knowledge and skill in addition to standard office support skills.

Examples of typical job functions (illustrative only):

• Conducts building, land use, and engineering permit processing; reviews permit applications, plans, specifications, and supporting documents for completeness and compliance with legal standards and City requirements; calculates permit fees; prepares bills, collects fees, and issues receipts; issues building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits following established guidelines.
• Reviews and approves plans and accompanying documents on over-the-counter permits for routine or less complex projects, such as patio covers, room additions, and minor tenant improvements; assists in processing construction plans for commercial and residential projects; files or routes information to appropriate City departments.
• Provides appropriate information regarding zoning, subdivision plans, and building ordinances, procedures, and requirements to the public including homeowners, developers, contractors, engineers, and architects, in person and over the counter and telephone; assists the public in the application process for building, land use, and engineering permits and other developmental processes.
• Accepts applications for business licenses, assesses business license tax, prints and mails out licenses, and balances business license receipts.
• Enters scheduled inspection dates into database for both City and contractor inspections.
• Performs a wide variety of routine to complex administrative duties in support of the Community Development Department; establishes and maintains filing systems; creates and modifies forms as necessary; prepares and proofreads a wide variety of correspondence, letters, memoranda, reports, statistical charts, and other written materials; distributes reports internally and to various governmental offices; organizes and assembles documents; files and catalogues maps, photos, and other planning exhibits and documents; verifies accuracy of information; researches discrepancies and records information.
• Applies departmental policies and procedures in determining completeness of applications, records, and reports; provides information and forms to the public; processes appropriate information.
• Compiles information and data for statistical and financial reports; maintains a variety of statistical records; checks and tabulates statistical data.
• Contacts the public and outside agencies in acquiring and providing information and making referrals.
• Clears and releases utility services; manages and tracks all releases for other internal departments.
• Checks status of State contractors' licenses, business licenses, and verification of worker's compensation insurance.
• Provides technical support for special events and special promotions programs.
• Operates standard office equipment, including job-related computer hardware and software applications, facsimile equipment, and multi-line telephones.
• Provides needed information and demonstrations concerning how to perform certain work tasks to new employees in the same or similar class of positions.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Knowledge of:

• Organization, procedures, and operating details of the Community Development Department.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and organizational policies and procedures relevant to building, engineering, land use, and/or urban planning, sufficient to answer questions and provide information to the public; applicable zoning and related laws and regulations.
• Business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Business arithmetic and basic statistical techniques.
• Record keeping principles and procedures.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Ability to:

• Understand and explain City policies, procedures, fees, and basic planning and building codes and regulations to the general public, permit applicants, and City staff.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Read and interpret plans, specifications, related construction documents, and maps.
• Perform detailed, technical, and specialized planning and zoning and/or permit support work.
• Perform the full range of office and administrative support duties and tasks.
• Respond to and effectively prioritizing multiple phone calls, walk-up traffic, and other requests and interruptions.
• Compose correspondence and reports independently or from brief instructions.
• Maintain accurate logs, records, and basic written records of work performed.
• Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform assigned work.
• Make accurate arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations.
• Make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping, and tracking systems.
• Organize own work, set priorities and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade and two (2) years of increasingly responsible administrative experience in a municipal, engineering, or planning department or equivalent private sector experience, including a high level of public contact and customer service.

Licenses and Certifications: None.

Physical Demands: Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing and walking in work areas if frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Environmental Elements: Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

The City of Westminster offers a comprehensive benefit package to Westminster Municipal Employees' Association (WMEA) members, including:

Retirement Benefits: The City participates in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). The City's contract provides for the following retirement tiers: Tier 2 (Classic Members hired on or after July 28, 2011): 2.0% @ 60 formula; employees contribute 7.0% of salary towards retirement costs. Tier 3/PEPRA (New Members hired on or after January 1, 2013): 2.0% @ 62 formula; employees contribute 8.25% of salary towards retirement costs. The City of Westminster does not participate in Social Security.

Insurance Benefits: Effective January 1, 2024, the City's cafeteria benefits plan provides $1,600 per month toward the purchase of health, dental, vision and life insurance, as well as additional voluntary products. Employees who participate in the CalPERS health insurance program and are enrolled in a Family plan will receive an additional $400 per month towards the purchase of medical benefits