Housing/Building Inspector

City of Columbia Heights•Columbia Heights, MN

About The Position

The Housing/Building Inspector reports to the Building Official and manages the City's Time of Sale program, conducts inspections, and ensures compliance with building, plumbing, and mechanical codes. The role coordinates with homeowners, contractors, and other stakeholders to enforce code requirements and technical standards, supports and works closely with the Administrative Assistant II Permits and Licensing, and coordinates with the City Planner to ensure building permit applications comply with applicable zoning regulations. The position conducts inspections of property transfers, construction sites, rental housing, and building systems; reviews permits; investigates code violations and complaints; and helps ensure deficiencies are corrected. It also supports permit and license administration, provides assistance to the Fire Department and with zoning and sign code enforcement, maintains records and reports, communicates building requirements to the public, and participates in community meetings and events as assigned by the Building Official.

Requirements

A combination substantially equivalent to high school graduation and post-secondary training in the building trades, plus considerable experience involving a wide variety of residential, commercial, and industrial construction.
Certified Minnesota Building Official, Limited, or the ability to obtain certification within the first six months of employment.
Valid Minnesota Driver's License.
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with contractors, architects, engineers, and residents.
Ability to work effectively with people from diverse cultural, economic, and ethnic backgrounds.
Knowledge of building construction materials and methods.
Knowledge of building codes and regulations.
Knowledge of modern developments, current literature, and sources of information in municipal building inspection.
Ability to enforce ordinances and regulations firmly, tactfully, and impartially.
Ability to express ideas effectively, orally and in writing.

Nice To Haves

Three years of experience as a Housing/Building Inspector or five years of supervisory experience in the general construction trades.
Certified Minnesota Building Official, or the ability to obtain certification within the first six months of employment.
ICC Certificate as a Building Inspector and/or Plan Examiner.
Delegation Authority from the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry to perform plan reviews and inspections of Public Buildings and State Licensed Facilities.
Fluency in a second language.

Responsibilities

Manage the City's Time of Sale program, including conducting property-transfer inspections and ensuring compliance with relevant codes and ordinances.
Maintain records, files, and reports related to the Time of Sale program and inspections.
Inspect building sites before and during construction for compliance with zoning and building code requirements.
Conduct field inspections for the department's initial rental housing inspection program.
Conduct foundation, framing, insulation, drywall, heating, plumbing, mechanical completion, and other construction inspections; take appropriate action on deficiencies and issue correction instructions.
Advise homeowners, contractors, architects, and others on construction code requirements and technical standards.
Assist with building permit reviews, identify discrepancies between permitted and actual work, and initiate corrective action to ensure compliance with approved permits.
Provide copies of building, plumbing, and heating permits with valuation information to appropriate departments.
Investigate building and housing code violations and complaints, and initiate appropriate corrective action.
Assist the Fire Department with building code enforcement, requirements, and technical standards.
Assist with zoning and sign code-related inspections and enforcement.
Oversee and assist with issuing licenses and permits, obtaining license approvals required by City Code, and receiving payments.
Stay informed about new materials, equipment, practices, and changes to codes.
Participate in community events and meetings, including Planning Commission and City Council meetings, as assigned by the Building Official.
Provide building requirement information through the City newsletter, website, cable television, and seminars.
Prepare and maintain necessary records, files, and reports.
Provide backup assistance to customers in the office.
Perform other duties as apparent or assigned.