Code Enforcement Inspector Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The City of Bellflower is seeking a Code Enforcement Inspector I in the Public Safety department to perform a variety of routine to complex technical and public contact duties related to the City's code compliance and enforcement program including the identification, investigation, and correction of violations of the City's municipal, zoning, housing, development, and signage codes; investigates citizen complaints of public nuisances and quality of life issues and seeks voluntary compliance or issues citations and initiates abatement procedures; and performs related work as required.

Receives general supervision from the Code Enforcement Manager. Exercises no direct supervision of staff. Code Enforcement Inspector II may provide technical and functional direction and training to assigned staff.

This is the first experienced-level class in the code enforcement inspector series. Initially under close supervision, incumbents with basic inspection and code enforcement experience perform technical code enforcement and inspection activities including the City's municipal, zoning, housing, development, and signage codes. Responsibilities include the authority to cite violators and initiate court proceedings for compliance. Successful performance of the work requires the frequent use of tact, discretion, and independent judgment, knowledge of departmental and City activities, and extensive staff, public, and organizational contact. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied and are performed with greater independence. Positions at this level usually perform most of the duties required of the positions at the level II, but are not expected to function at the same skill level and usually exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods. Work is usually supervised while in progress and fits an established structure or pattern. Exceptions or changes in procedures are explained in detail as they arise.

Examples of typical job functions include:

• Receiving, recording, and investigating complaints from the public and staff regarding violations of municipal, building, and zoning codes, ordinances, housing standards, and health and safety regulations; documenting violations by securing photographs and other pertinent data; research ownership records, prior complaints, municipal codes and ordinances, and State regulations to establish whether a violation has occurred.
• Initiating contacts with residents, business representatives, and other parties to explain the nature of incurred violations and to encourage compliance with municipal codes, ordinances, and community standards; initiating abatement of dangerous properties and vector control issues of vacant properties; providing confirmation regarding code regulations to the public by telephone and in person.
• Preparing and issuing notices of violation or noncompliance, final notices, and misdemeanor and parking citations and other correspondence according to applicable codes and regulations; issuing letters to property owners notifying them of violation; as appropriate, affixing a notice of violation on property to abate fire and public safety hazards and nuisances.
• Meeting with City planning, building, engineering, and public works staff, Sheriff's Office, and legal counsel regarding complaints; coordinating activities with other code compliance personnel and departments.
• Coordinating and conducting follow-up abatement procedures including the preparation of additional correspondence, site visits, and communication with property owners and attorneys; conducting follow-up investigations to ensure compliance with applicable codes and ordinances; preparing non-compliance cases for legal action; presenting testimony at hearings.
• Making drive-by or on-site inspections of residential, industrial, and/or commercial areas; noting possible violations at other property sites during the course of field investigations.
• Providing information to violators, the general public, business community, and other government agencies regarding codes, laws, and ordinances; responding to questions, complaints, and inquiries.
• Drafting and recommending revisions to City code enforcement policies, procedures, and standards.
• Participating in recommending, developing, and administering policies, procedures, and projects to ensure efficient and effective code enforcement activities in compliance with City guidelines, standards, goals, and objectives.
• Performing a variety of public relations and outreach work related to assigned activities.
• Maintaining files, databases, and records related to citations and violations; preparing a variety of written reports, memoranda, and correspondence.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

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.
• Practices for documenting inspections, correcting violations, and carrying through on court procedures.
• Basic requirements of zoning and related codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations and administrative and departmental policies.
• 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.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping, technical report writing and preparation of correspondence and presentations.
• Safety equipment and practices related to the work, including safe driving rules and practices.
• Modern office practices, methods, computer equipment and computer applications.
• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, educational, and regulatory organizations and with property owners, developers, contractors, and the public.
• Techniques 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.
• Techniques 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.
• 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.

Education and Experience: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade supplemented by some college-level coursework or technical training in code compliance and one (1) year of experience in municipal code compliance.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license and insurability at regular rates for the City's automobile insurance.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a PC832 Certificate, within one (1) year of hire.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a First Aid and CPR certificates, within one (1) year of hire.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a California Association of Code Enforcement Officers (CACEO) Certification, within one (1) year of hire.

Physical Demands: Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, to inspect City development sites, including traversing uneven terrain, climbing ladders, stairs, and other temporary or construction access points, and to operate a motor vehicle; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking in operational areas to conduct inspections. 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 bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb to perform work and inspect work sites. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 40 pounds with the use of proper equipment.

Environmental Elements: Employees partly work in the office and partly in the field and are exposed