Permit Technician

About the Role

Under regular supervision, performs specialized technical tasks associated with the permitting process and clerical duties in support of the Building Department. Responsibilities include issuing permits, distributing and receiving review comments, scheduling inspections, researching property data using GIS, and maintaining electronic permit records. The position works at the permit service counter in a fast‑paced environment, advising and assisting owners, engineers, architects, attorneys, and contractors on building permit requirements and procedures, collecting permit and impact fees, and reconciling cash and credit‑card transactions daily. The role coordinates and communicates with a variety of internal departments and agencies and reports to the Development Services Coordinator.

Responsibilities

• Work at the public counter in a fast‑paced environment, issuing permits and answering telephones.
• Transfer calls to appropriate departments and advise the public, architects, attorneys, and contractors/owners on building and mobile‑home permit requirements and procedures.
• Collect fees, write receipts, reconcile cash drawer daily, and make daily deposits.
• Accept and write inspections by fax and telephone; retrieve permits; enter inspection data into permitting software to coordinate next‑day inspections.
• Process itineraries for inspectors and perform mathematical computations for permit fees.
• Maintain logs of plans and applications submitted; check and approve simple and routine construction plans.
• Gather required documents for the permitting process to ensure compliance with local and state codes before review.
• Issue permits for new construction, general, electrical, plumbing, gas, mechanical, signs, mobile homes, alarms, etc., and key permit data into permitting software.
• Act as liaison between inspectors, plan checkers, contractors, architects, developers, owners, the public, and other county departments.
• Maintain contacts with county consultants and provide plan‑check and permit‑status information to the public.
• Organize and maintain Building Division files, plans, permits, inspections, and miscellaneous documents.
• Facilitate address issuance for new residential construction.
• Communicate with outside county agencies such as fire, utilities, and public works.
• Receive and process permits and licenses for county and state agencies outside the Building Department.
• Process and maintain a list of South Carolina State‑licensed contractors through the South Carolina Department of Labor License and Regulations; verify contractor licenses are current.
• Log and record outstanding re‑inspection fees, correspond with contractors to ensure payment, and apply fees to applicable permits.
• Notify applicants when plans or permits are ready for pickup or issuance and provide updates as required.
• Stay in contact with inspectors by telephone or radio.
• Receive, review, prepare, and process various records and reports, including timesheets, building applications, purchase orders, building reports, receipts, and permits.
• Utilize equipment such as computers, typewriters, adding machines, copiers, postage machines, and recorders.
• Interact and communicate with co‑workers, supervisors, departmental personnel, customers, inspectors, contractors, and attorneys.

Qualifications

• Must be able to achieve Permit Technician certification within 12 months.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• One to two years of experience in a secretarial or clerical position that involved direct public interaction and basic computer skills, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and Internet Explorer.
• Basic computer and data‑entry skills; ability to use permitting software.
• Ability to perform mathematical computations related to permit fees.
• Effective communication and customer‑service skills.
• Ability to coordinate with multiple internal departments and external agencies.
• Familiarity with GIS for property data research is advantageous.