Permit Technician I

The option for telework may be available. Eligibility for telework is based on the position, employee, and telework environment; not every job, or every employee, will be compatible with this approach.

Under immediate supervision, receives, reviews, and processes varied building permit applications; receives plans, calculates fees, routes plans for professional review, and reviews basic plans within specific guidelines; provides information to the public at a public counter, telephone, and/or email; confers with applicants regarding County policies and procedures affecting the permit process; performs a variety of building division technical support activities; and performs related duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives immediate supervision from assigned management or supervisory personnel. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.


The job functions listed below are not inclusive or exclusive and are intended only as illustrations or examples of the various types of work that may be performed. Reasonable accommodation will be made when requested and determined by the County to be appropriate under applicable law.
 
Some duties, knowledge, and abilities may be performed by positions at the entry level in a learning capacity. 
 

• Receives, reviews, and accepts building permit applications; reviews applications for completeness; calculates and collects applicable fees; prepares and issues receipts.
• Coordinates plan review with other County units, divisions, or departments; accepts plan revisions from applicants, contractors, and others.
• Responds to questions on zoning, flood zone, building land use, permit readiness, project fees, and other issues; explains policies, codes, standards, and code enforcement violations.
• Answers questions and provides information regarding ordinances and procedures for building construction, remodeling, and repair, as well as information on building and planning submittal requirements, planning, and general information. 
• Performs research on permit history regarding parcel zoning and land use restrictions; assists in the retrieval of documents and building records.
• Creates customer and permit logs or files for various documents; enters application data into computer and manual filing systems; compiles and maintains accurate and detailed records.
• Performs administrative and clerical functions; photocopies building and planning files upon request; processes forms, documents, letters, and citations; assists with various fee collections and other related administrative matters.
• Provides technical information in-person, by phone, and in writing to developers, property owners, and the public regarding building and planning permit processes, installation and zoning requirements, variances and general building and planning policies, procedures and applicable laws and regulations.
• Applies appropriate regulations for each proposed project from a variety of planning and building regulations, codes, and ordinances, routes various plans for professional review.
• Monitors the status of applications through the permit process to ensure timely return; verifies changes or corrections; prepares plans for plan check.
• Identifies deficiencies in plans and other documents and explains process for corrections to applicants.
• Calculates and verifies square footage of construction areas; collects appropriate fees and issues receipts.
• Performs assigned duties for a variety of special projects.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Techniques, materials, and practices in the structural, plumbing, and electrical construction fields.
• Types of construction and basic building, encroachment, and grading and/or land development procedures and requirements.
• Applicable fire, zoning, and related laws and regulations as they relate to permit applications.
• Procedures for processing and issuing regulatory permits.
• Terminology, symbols, methods, techniques, and instruments used in building plans.
• Business arithmetic, including calculations of square footage.
• Recordkeeping practices.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and ordinances relevant to the area(s) of responsibility.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to the work performed.

Ability to:

• Perform detailed, technical, and specialized permit processing work; review permit applications for completeness and conformity with requisite ordinances.
• Provide interpretation and explanation to the public of the practices and procedures related to the permit process.
• Explain building and permit requirements to contractors, developers, and the general public.
• Accurately calculate square footage, fees and/or penalties, and various basic mathematical computations.
• Perform detailed administrative support work accurately.
• Assist with the preparation of various studies and reports.
• Organize and maintain accurate files and records.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, ordinances, and standards relevant to the work performed.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to the work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• 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 completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.
One (1) year of increasingly responsible experience providing administrative and customer service support in a position with heavy public contact.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain by the time of appointment, an appropriate California driver’s license.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain within twelve (12) months of appointment, a valid International Code Conference (I.C.C.) Permit Technician certificate.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, and to operate a motor vehicle to visit various County and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing in and walking between work areas is 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 frequently bend, stoop, kneel, and reach to perform assigned duties, as well as 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 up to 25 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

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 application review process will include screening to ensure applications are complete and meet all minimum qualifications.   In addition to the application, the applicant is required to complete the Supplemental Questions to further evaluate their education, training and experience relative to the required knowledge and abilities for the position. Applicants must submit answers that are as complete as possible.

Only the most qualified applicants, who pass the minimum qualifications review, will be invited to the examination process which may be administered by a written examination, oral interview, or any combination of qualifications appraisal determined by the Department of Human Resources to be appropriate. The Department of Human Resources will make reasonable accommodation in the examination process for disabled applicants. If you have an accommodation request, please indicate such on your application. 

Depending upon the number of applicants meeting the minimum qualifications, applicants may be scheduled for one or more of the assessments listed below. Of those passing the initial assessment, only the top 15 will move forward to the appraisal panel. Passing score is 70% out of 100% on each assessment section.  If only one assessment is conducted, the weight for that assessment will be 100%.

THE WRITTEN EXAM (100%) IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025.

To move forward in the application process, you must complete an online application through our websitehttps://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/maderacountyca. All job postings are also included via the TDD phone at 559-675-8970 and the 24-hour job line at 559-675-7697. Please attach a copy of your unofficial transcripts (indicating when degree was awarded), licenses and certificates to your application or your application may be considered incomplete.   Resumes may be uploaded but cannot be used in place of a completed application.  

Those applicants claiming veteran's preference must submit a copy of their DD-214 form along with the application. Candidates who attain ranking on an eligible list and are involuntarily called to active duty may be considered for eligibility reinstatement upon their return.

Placement on Eligible List: 

The Civil Service Commission may limit the number of qualified applicants eligible to participate in the examination process. If two or more candidates have the same total final score on an examination, they shall be ranked in order of their scores in that portion of the examination which has the greatest weight.  The names of two or more eligibles having final ratings which are identical shall be grouped on the eligible list as tie names with equal rank for certification and appointment purposes.
 
 Candidates who are successful in all phases of the examination process will be placed on an eligible list, in rank order based on a calculation of their total score from the examination process. The eligible list established by this recruitment will be active for a minimum of six (6) months or one (1) year, unless otherwise determined by the Director pursuant to section 6-4 (b) and may be extended for up to an additional year by the Commission.

Salary : $42,463 - $52,224