Zoning Inspector II-(Regulation Inspector II)-Planning & Zoning, Public Service & Zoning Admin.

Howard County:
Conveniently located in the heart of central Maryland between Baltimore and Washington, Howard County offers the charm of a historic past mixed with the excitement of a cosmopolitan community.
 
Howard County Government:
Howard County Government is a leader in innovation, best practices and sustainability. It is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the country. In 2024, Howard County Government received a record-breaking 63 Achievement Awards from the National Association of Counties (NACo) – the most awards in the state of Maryland, and the fifth highest in the nation, as compared to more than 3000 counties. NACo Achievement Awards are the premier national honor to recognize innovative and transformative programs that provide new services for county residents, improve existing programs, upgrade working conditions, and enhance citizen participation and public policy making. 
 
What are we looking for?
We are looking for outstanding individuals to join our team and contribute to excellence in Howard County operations.
 
What you'll like most about working at Howard County Government:

• We are committed to workplace excellence in every area of County government.  
• We have a highly talented, diverse, and inclusive workplace. Your input will not only be heard, but it will be encouraged!  
• We offer competitive compensation and great benefits including medical, retirement, and wellness programs. 
• As a member of the Howard County Government team, you'll be helping drive our culture and directly impact what makes us an amazing place to work.

POSITION SUMMARY:
This is professional code enforcement work at the intermediate technical level under the general supervision of an administrative or technical superior. This position requires advanced independent evaluation and management skills and an extensive knowledge of zoning regulation, interpretation and implementation. This position requires a thorough understanding of the various steps involved in the overall process of taking a code enforcement case through inspection, issuance of Notice of Violation and Citation, Hearing Examiner consideration, fine collection, injunctive relief court proceedings and case closure. 

STARTING SALARY HIRING RANGE:
$28.44 - $36.14
$59,155 - $75,171

CLASS DESCRIPTION: 
Performs senior technical level licensing, inspections and regulations work under general supervision from an administrative or technical superior.

Include the following. Other related duties may be assigned. 

• Independently investigates complex code violations and formulates appropriate action plans for enforcement activities.   Manages assigned cases to ensure timeliness relative to: the completion of site inspections; the issuance of appropriate Notice of Violations and Citations; the initiation of court proceedings for injunctive relief; the tracking of payment of fines; and case closure. 

• Maintains code enforcement files, including case tracking software.

• Assists the Office of Law in case preparation and testifies in District/Circuit Court for assigned cases.   

• Assist other inspectors with the management of their cases and assist the Enforcement Supervisor in mentoring other staff. 

• As necessary, assists the Enforcement Supervisor in serving as a division liaison with other departments involved in the enforcement process (e.g. Finance, Law, Police, Fire, Hearing Examiner, Courts).

• Interacts extensively with the public in investigating zoning complaints.

• Assists customers with planning and zoning inquiries at the DPZ Front Counter, over the phone, and via email.

• Has ability to read, understand, and interpret zoning regulations and implementation in accordance with the law. 

• Assists in the formulation of policies and the production of written interpretations applicable to the Division's enforcement duties. 

• Attends Division meetings and provides status updates on code enforcement cases.

• Interprets subdivision plats, road construction drawings, Site Development Plans, Final Development Plans, etc., reads and understands legal documents such as deeds, easement agreements, etc. which are relevant to the Division's enforcement duties. 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities. High School Diploma or GED with six (6) years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Extensive knowledge of Howard County Zoning Regulations, their interpretation, and the policies governing their implementation. 

• Computer skills relevant to the use of email, database management and word processing techniques in Microsoft Office. 

• Knowledge of the principles of the zoning and subdivision processes and enforcement of the related regulations. 

• Ability to express ideas effectively both orally and in writing. 

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the general public. 

• Ability to respond to complaints from the general public and provide outstanding customer service. 

• Ability to maintain records and prepare technical reports. 

• Ability to use technical equipment such as digital cameras and light meters. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
 
The employee must be able to successfully navigate uneven or irregular terrain while conducting on-site inspections.
 
While performing the duties of the job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. This is a field/technical position requiring the ability to maneuver in and around such settings.

LANGUAGE SKILLS, MATHEMATICAL SKILLS, AND REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to read, analyze and interpret court decisions, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from the County Executive, County Council, Hearing Authorities, clients, customers, and the general public. 
 
 Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. 

Class C Maryland Driver's License. 

Salary : $59,155 - $114,046