Code Enforcement Officer Jobs in Columbia, SC (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $54,366.00 - $67,932.00 Annually
Location : Richland County, SC
Job Type: FTE - Full-Time
Job Number: 180824
Agency: Department of Public Safety
Opening Date: 10/01/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
Residency Requirement: Yes
Class Code:: JC20 - JC30
Position Number:: 00000000
Normal Work Schedule:: Other
Normal Work Schedule (Other):: Permanent Shifts
Pay Grade: LAW04
LAW06
Hiring Range - Min.: $59,386.00
Hiring Range - Max.: $78,766.00
EEO Statement: Equal Opportunity Employer
Agency Specific Application Procedures:: ****THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY WILL NOT SPONSOR EMPLOYMENT VISAS FOR THIS POSITION. ALL APPLICANTS MUST APPLY ONLINE. ALL CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES WILL BE THROUGH ELECTRONIC MAIL.****
Residency Requirement (specifics):: If offered employment as a Bureau of Protective Services Officer, the officer shall establish residence at a location that will allow them to respond to the Richland County line within 45 minutes.
Veteran Preference Statement: South Carolina is making our Veterans a priority for employment in state agencies and institutions.
Job Responsibilities
PLEASE BE ADVISED THESE POSITIONS ARE FOR CERTIFIED CLASS I LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ONLY
Patrols assigned areas to deter and/or detect violations; maintains order and enforces state statutes and regulations. Exercises arrests powers and testifies in court. Investigates disturbances and determines causes and participants.
Provides administrative duties to include proper use of radio and telephone collection and dissemination of information. Completing necessary reports and documents. Has a working knowledge and understanding of the requirements of state statutes and policies and procedures of the Department of Public Safety.
Maintains security for all properties promulgated by statutes and regulations. Provides protective services and eliminates safety hazards for all persons including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, their families and other persons in designated locations patrolled by the Bureau of Protective Services.
Assists with order and proper discipline at the Chambers of the Legislature, Governor's Mansion, and other state buildings or facilities.
Observes all visitors and makes determinations of their needs and requirements, then directs them to individual(s) most capable of assisting them.
Assists supervisors in basic training of new officers to include scenario-based incidents, applicable state laws with DPS policies and procedures.
Minimum and Additional Requirements
State Minimum Requirements:
A high school diploma and experience performing patrol or investigative duties with a public law enforcement agency. A bachelor's degree may be substituted for the required law enforcement experience.
Agency Minimum Requirements:

• Must be a US Citizen and at least 21 years of age.
• Must have at least a high school diploma.
• Must be a resident of South Carolina and have a valid South Carolina driver's license prior to effective date of hire.
• Minimum years of active Certified law enforcement experience with a law enforcement agency.

Additional Requirements - Selected applicants will be required to submit to an extensive background investigation to include:

• Credit check
• Criminal History
• Driver's Record
• History of drug use
• Polygraph examination
• All applicants will be required to submit to a mandatory urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use.
• Contacting ALL former employers, and your current employer.

Please note that if you answer "NO" on the state application to the question asking, "May we contact this employer?" this will not allow DPS to conduct a thorough background investigation and you will not move forward in the process.
Candidates must meet 20/20 vision standards OR no more than 20/200 corrected to 20/100 or below. Candidates must also be capable of distinguishing, without corrections, three colors: green, yellow and red.
Selected Candidates must complete a Psychological Exam and Medical Exam
Salary Breakdown by years of Certified Law Enforcement Experience
Certified with less than eighteen (18) months of active law enforcement experience ($59,386).Certified with eighteen (18) months, but less than 3 years of law enforcement experience
($60,263)Certified with a minimum of three (3) years of active law enforcement experience
($61,733)Certified with a minimum of five (5) years of active law enforcement experience ($66,055)Certified with a minimum of eight (8) years of active law enforcement experience ($68,695)Certified with a minimum of ten (10) years of active law enforcement experience ($71,444)Certified with a minimum of thirteen (13) years of active law enforcement experience ($75,016)Certified with a minimum of fifteen (15) years of active law enforcement experience ($78,766)
NOTE:If any additional requirements are listed above applicants must also meet those additional requirements to be considered for the position.
Sign-On Bonus:
New employees may be awarded a sign-on bonus with BPS. Only FTE Class 1 Law Enforcement Officer positions in the state job classification series (JC20 and JC30) are eligible to receive a sign-on bonus.
Rehires who have been separated from employment with the department for a period of two (2) years or longer are eligible for the sign-on bonus once they have completed the established training requirements or have met all regulations and protocols to begin performing duties, unless they have previously received a sign-on bonus.
The sign-on bonus for BPS shall be paid over a series of two (2) payments in the total amount of no more than $5,000 as described below:
First Payment: The employee will be paid $2,500 upon successful completion of all basic training, Criminal Justice Academy Class 1 certification training, field training, and any applicable law enforcement training requirements. Pre-certified officers will receive their first payment once they have completed the established training requirements or met all regulations and protocols to begin performing duties individually.
Second Payment: The employee will be paid $2,500 after successful completion of eighteen (18) months of continuous service with the department.
Additional Comments
All BPS assignments are located in Richland County, SC. All applicants will adhere to the residency requirement on this posting.
The next step after submitting this application will be an administrative review (Credit/Criminal/Driving Checks). We will require the following documents.

• A copy of your high school diploma,
• A copy of your DD-214 (member 4) military discharge (if applicable),
• A copy of your birth certificate (or naturalization certificate) and
• A copy of your South Carolina driver's license (you will also need the official original copies of any out of state driver's license records you have held in any other state within the past five (5) years).

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), or national origin. The department prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical conditions), or national origin.
Benefits for State Employees
The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies.
Insurance Benefits
Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses.
Retirement Benefits
State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options.
Workplace Benefits
State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more.
Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.
01
Are you a US Citizen?

• Yes
• No

02
Are you at least 21 years of age? If not, when will you be 21 years of age?
03
Based on you current years of experience, Are you willing to accept a salary between $59,386 - $78,766, respectively?

• Yes
• No

04
Do you understand that the annual salary for a BPS Officer listed in this vacancy announcement is NOT negotiable?

• Yes
• No

05
Have you been employed with SCDPS in the past 6 months?

• Yes
• No

06
Have you ever been employed with SCDPS?

• Yes
• No

07
If you answered yes, please list the Agency/Division, your title, and dates of employment. If you answered no, please write N/A.
08
Have you ever applied to any of the three SCDPS Law Enforcement Divisions: SC Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, and/or Bureau of Protective Services?

• Yes
• No

09
If you answered yes, please list the DPS division(s) that you have applied to and date(s) applied. If you answered no, please write N/A.
10
Do you authorize the South Carolina Department of Public Safety to obtain your consumer credit report, and do you understand that it is part of the employment process.

• Yes
• No

11
Have you read the SCDPS' automatic disqualifiers regarding tattoos at www.scdps.sc.gov/careers/disqualifiers ?

• Yes
• No

12
For criminal history purposes, please list the city and state in which you were born.
13
Have you ever used any name(s) other than what is listed on the application, such as a maiden name, nicknames, or name changes?

• Yes
• No

14
If you answered yes, please list the name(s). If you answered no, please write N/A.
15
Are you currently or have you ever been certified by any Law Enforcement agency as a Certified Law Enforcement Officer? (Police Officer/Sheriff's Deputy)

• Yes
• No

16
If you answered "yes" to the question above, please select your years of experience below.

• Less than 18 months of active law enforcement experience
• Minimum 18 months, but less than 3 years of active law enforcement experience
• Minimum 3 years of active law enforcement experience
• Minimum 5 years of active law enforcement experience
• Minimum 8 years of active law enforcement experience
• Minimum 10 years of active law enforcement experience
• Minimum 13 years of active law enforcement experience
• Minimum 15 years of active law enforcement experience
• None of the above

17
If you answered yes, please list the date of your Criminal Justice Academy graduation. If you answered no, please write N/A.
18
Have you ever worked for any law enforcement agency outside of South Carolina?

• Yes
• No

19
If you answered yes, please list agency and date(s). If you answered no, please write N/A.
20
Did you ever receive or solicit anything for overlooking a violation?

• Yes
• No
• N/A

21
If you answered yes, please explain in detail and include date(s). If you answered no or N/A, please write N/A.
22
Did you ever use your official position for your own personal gain?

• Yes
• No
• N/A

23
If you answered yes, please explain in detail and include date(s). If you answered no or N/A, please write N/A.
24
Did you ever perjure yourself in court?

• Yes
• No

25
If you answered yes, please explain in detail and include date(s). If you answered no, please write N/A.
26
Have you ever engaged in any sexual activity with an inmate or prisoner?

• Yes
• No
• N/A

27
If you answered yes, please explain in detail and include date(s). If you answered no or N/A, please write N/A.
28
Have you ever applied to any other city, county, state, or federal law enforcement agency ANYWHERE?

• Yes
• No

29
If you answered yes, list ALL to include agency, date(s) applied, and status of application. If you answered no, please write N/A.
30
Do you have at least a high school diploma?

• Yes
• No

31
Please state your highest grade level of education COMPLETED.
32
Have you ever served in the military?

• Yes
• No

33