Code Enforcement Officer

Responsibilities

• Conducts inspections and investigations to enforce municipal and regulatory codes and ensure compliance with code enforcement programs.
• Receives, records, and investigates complaints from the public and staff regarding violations of municipal, building, and zoning codes, ordinances, housing standards, and health and safety regulations, noise standards, signage, business licenses, and environmental ordinances such as water conservation and NPDES violations.
• Documents violations by securing photographs and other pertinent data; researches ownership records, prior complaints, municipal codes and ordinances, and State regulations to establish whether a violation has occurred.
• Inspects properties for compliance with state housing law maintenance requirements, including, but not limited to, minimum light, ventilation, and occupancy requirements; fire and life safety components; and plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems; reviews conditions of onsite drainage, weatherproofing, garage, weed and rubbish control, and rodent and insect infestation.
• Coordinates and conducts follow-up abatement procedures including the preparation of additional correspondence, site visits, and communication with property owners and attorneys; conducts follow-up investigations to ensure compliance with applicable codes and ordinances; prepares non-compliance cases for legal action; presents testimony at hearings.
• Maintains files, databases, and records related to citations and violations; prepares a variety of written reports, memoranda, and correspondence.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of principles, practices, methods, and techniques of code violation investigation and compliance.
• Methods and procedures used in code compliance including citation issuance procedures, methods used to obtain various types of inspection warrants, and principles used to prepare legal documents.
• Basic requirements of zoning and related codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Legal descriptions and boundary maps of real property and legal terminology as used in code compliance.
• Occupational hazards and standard safety practices necessary in the area of code compliance.
• Research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Tactics for dealing with and solving the problems presented by a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, in person and over the telephone.
• Safety equipment and practices related to the work, including safe driving rules and practices.
• Record keeping principles and procedures.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
• Tactics for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Tactics for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
• Ability to explain codes and regulations to property owners, residents, and others.
• Analyze, interpret, apply, and enforce applicable Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, regulations, codes, and departmental policies.
• Understand and explain occupational hazards and standard safety practices related to code compliance.
• Identify and respond to issues and concerns of management, City government, a variety of professional groups, commissions, and committees, and the general public.
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations and in meetings with individuals.
• Respond to inquiries, complaints, and requests for service in a fair, tactful, and timely manner.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Make accurate arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping, and tracking systems.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• 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.
• Work Night and weekend shifts as needed.