Building Inspector Combination/Certified I/II/III/Senior - PBCE, Building Division

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees plays a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work.

About The Department

The City of San Jose’s Department of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement ensures the orderly and safe development of private properties, compliance with all applicable building, zoning, and quality-of-life ordinances, and promotes healthy and safe community standards. This is accomplished by:

• Assisting and guiding land use and development to promote long-term goals and objectives that render safe, beneficial, and more sustainable communities
• Providing orderly administration and compliance of building codes to ensure construction meets life safety and structural requirements
• Investigating and resolving citizen complaints of municipal code violations on private property to maintain and improve quality of life

The Department seeks applicants committed to understanding, executing, and improving the customer experience to achieve these goals. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as the department values building positive relationships and fostering collaboration with residents, business owners, developers, and other stakeholders. Knowledge of planning principles, building codes, and regulatory requirements is highly valued.

About The Division

The Building Division provides oversight and assistance for the City's growth and development related to construction activity on private property. The goal is to ensure the safety of buildings and support the health and well-being of all persons in San Jose through implementation of the State of California’s current building codes and laws. The division is organized into four sections:

• Permit Center: Plan intake and routing, over-the-counter permit processing, permit issuance, addressing, assistance desk, and ADU Ally
• Plan Review: Review of private development project plans for compliance with California Building Codes and state laws
• Inspection: Inspection of active private construction projects for compliance with approved plans and adopted building codes
• Support Services: Development Services call center, document imaging, records requests, and general support

The Building Division annually handles:

• 30,000 building permits
• 6,000 plan reviews
• 110,000 inspections
• 21,000 customers assisted
• 52,000 calls answered

Responsibilities

• Conducts inspections of residential, industrial, commercial, and manufacturing facilities to ensure compliance with codes, regulations, ordinances, standards, and contract agreements, including:
  • Setting up inspection schedules
  • Gathering information and evidence
  • Ensuring conformance to plans, specifications, and safety regulations
• Investigates building, construction, and land use changes in the field by gathering factual data, conducting background research, and preparing reports
• Provides technical assistance for development of codes and policies
• Generates written reports and enforcement orders, noting deficiencies and submitting final documentation
• Reviews plans and specifications for code compliance, assisting projects in complying with regulations and preparing timetables
• Provides technical support to agencies and the public, including inputting data for public access
• Meets with architects, engineers, City officials, and building contractors to discuss construction projects
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level

Specialty Areas

The Building Division is recruiting for multiple full-time Building Inspector Combination/Certified positions across three specialty areas:

• Building Inspectors: Focus on structural and architectural elements such as foundations, framing, roofs, walls, fire separation assemblies, accessibility features, and energy efficiency compliance
• Electrical Inspectors: Evaluate wiring, panels, devices, and system installations to ensure safe and code-compliant electrical systems
• Plumbing/Mechanical Inspectors: Examine water supply, drainage, gas piping, HVAC, and associated systems for proper installation and operation

All inspectors serve as combination inspectors for single-family residential construction projects. The Building Division provides a comprehensive Combination Building Inspection Academy to train inspectors across all three trades (building, electrical, plumbing/mechanical) for single-family residential projects. For multi-family, commercial/industrial, and complex projects, inspectors are assigned according to their specialty certification.

Building Inspector Combination (BIC) positions review plans, issue permits, and perform field inspections on new construction, alterations, and repairs, assessing compliance with building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical codes, as well as applicable Federal, State, and local regulations.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Building Inspector Combination: High school diploma or equivalent and four (4) years of construction experience equivalent to a journey-level carpenter, electrician, plumber, air conditioning mechanic, or related contractor, including one (1) year of lead experience, or two (2) years of combination inspection experience for a public agency and two (2) years of related construction experience
• Building Inspector Combination Certified I: High school diploma or equivalent and four (4) years of construction experience equivalent to a journey-level carpenter, electrician, plumber, air conditioning mechanic, or related contractor, including one (1) year of lead experience, or two (2) years of inspection experience for a public agency and two (2) years of related construction experience
• Building Inspector Combination Certified II: High school diploma or equivalent and four (4) years of construction experience equivalent to a journey-level carpenter, electrician, plumber, air conditioning mechanic, or related contractor, including one (1) year of lead experience and one (1) year of inspection experience for a public agency. Two (2) additional years of inspection experience may substitute for two (2) years of construction experience
• Building Inspector Combination Certified III: High school diploma or equivalent and four (4) years of construction experience equivalent to a journey-level carpenter, electrician, plumber, air conditioning mechanic, or related contractor, including one (1) year of lead experience

Pay

Salary ranges include an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary is determined by qualifications and experience.

• Building Inspector Combination: $114,769.20 - $139,579.44 annually
• Building Inspector Combination Certified I: $118,154.40 - $143,554.32 annually
• Building Inspector Combination Certified II: $121,321.20 - $147,878.64 annually
• Building Inspector Combination Certified III: $126,169.68 - $153,709.92 annually
• Building Inspector Combination Certified Senior: $143,073.84 - $174,370.56 annually

Skills

The ideal candidates will possess:

• High level of professionalism and excellent customer service skills
• Strong work ethic, judgment, initiative, perseverance, and integrity
• Excellent organizational, flexibility, written, and verbal communication skills
• Relevant certifications and construction trade experience