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County Building Inspector Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Building Inspector II

Hayward, CA ยท On-site

$51.13 - $61.61/hr

For more information about the Alameda County Public Works Agency, please visit their website at www.acgov.org/pwa. THE POSITION This series specification describes two Building Inspector classes ...

Two (2) years full-time experience as a Building Inspector for a municipal or county building department, OR four (4) years of responsible experience in the building, construction, or maintenance ...

For more information about Kern County Public Works, please view their website, here Full Building Inspector About Kern County Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our ...

Building Inspector

Bakersfield, CA ยท On-site

$5.7K - $6.8K/mo

Building Inspector must obtain Certification in one (1) of the following categories within twelve ... Full About Kern County Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our ...

Building Inspector

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$45 - $65/hr

Experience working for a city, county, or public agency Building & Safety Department. * Experience performing both field inspections and plan reviews. * Active ICC certifications are highly desirable ...

Building Inspector

Vacaville, CA ยท On-site

$86K - $105K/yr

The City of Vacaville is located within Solano County. Measuring 29.09 square miles and equipped ... The Building Inspector is an exciting and dynamic position. It is responsible for inspecting all ...

Building Inspector II

Newark, CA ยท On-site

$38.08 - $47.60/hr

... Clara County, California. Candidates must be qualified to perform technical building inspections to enforce compliance with building codes, regulations, and ordinances. Five years of industry ...

Building Inspector II

Pleasanton, CA ยท On-site

$38.08 - $47.60/hr

... Clara County, California. Candidates must be qualified to perform technical building inspections to enforce compliance with building codes, regulations, and ordinances. Five years of industry ...

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County Building Inspector information

See California salary details

$35.5K

$68K

$101.7K

How much do county building inspector jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average yearly pay for county building inspector in California is $67,979.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,300.00 and $79,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a county building inspector do?

A County Building Inspector is responsible for inspecting construction projects to ensure they comply with local building codes, zoning regulations, and safety standards. They review building plans, conduct site inspections at various stages of construction, and issue permits and approvals as needed. Their role is critical for public safety, as they help prevent unsafe structures and enforce regulations that protect occupants and the community. Additionally, they may answer questions from builders and the public regarding code requirements and construction practices.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a county building inspector, and why are they important?

To thrive as a County Building Inspector, you need a solid understanding of building codes, construction techniques, and safety regulations, often supported by relevant certifications or a background in construction or engineering. Familiarity with inspection management software, digital report tools, and knowledge of local, state, and federal building codes is crucial. Strong attention to detail, effective communication, and problem-solving skills help inspectors work with contractors and the public while upholding safety standards. These skills and qualities ensure that structures are safe, compliant, and built to code, protecting both residents and the community.

How to become a County Building Inspector with no experience?

To become a County Building Inspector with no experience, candidates typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and should pursue relevant training or certification in building codes and inspection procedures. Gaining experience through entry-level positions or apprenticeships in construction or building trades can also help build necessary skills for the role.

How does a county building inspector typically collaborate with contractors and other local officials during the inspection process?

County Building Inspectors work closely with contractors, architects, and local government officials to ensure that construction projects comply with building codes and safety regulations. They regularly communicate with contractors to schedule inspections, clarify code requirements, and address any violations or deficiencies found during site visits. Collaboration with planning and zoning departments, as well as fire and safety officials, is also common to resolve complex compliance issues. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential for effectively coordinating with these stakeholders and facilitating smooth project progress.

Is there a demand for county building inspectors?

County building inspectors are in steady demand due to ongoing construction, renovation projects, and the need for building code enforcement. Employment opportunities often increase with growth in local development and infrastructure projects, and inspectors typically need relevant certifications and knowledge of building codes. Job prospects are generally favorable in regions experiencing growth or urban development.

What are popular job titles related to County Building Inspector jobs in California?

For County Building Inspector jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching County Building Inspector jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for County Building Inspector jobs in California are:

Infographic showing various County Building Inspector job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $67,979 per year, or $32.7 per hour.

Building Inspector II

County of Alameda

Hayward, CA โ€ข On-site

$51.13 - $61.61/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post hasย expired today.ย Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Introduction
THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended.
Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Failure to submit the Application or Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.
Applications and supplemental questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.
APPLICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE FOR THIS RECRUITMENT WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ONLINE.
DESCRIPTION
THE AGENCY
The mission of Public Works is to enhance the quality of life for the people of Alameda County by providing a safe, well-maintained, and lasting public works infrastructure through accessible, responsive and effective services. Public services provided by the Alameda County Public Works Agency include flood control planning and design, storm water pollution control, transportation planning and design, roadway and flood control maintenance and inspection, and construction and building inspections.
The goals of the Agency are to keep roads safe and well maintained, provide the highest level of flood protection, provide service levels that optimize infrastructure life cycles, minimize deferred maintenance, ensure that development and construction adhere to applicable State and County rules, optimize disaster preparedness, response and recover, ensure that the Agency's operations and services minimize negative impacts on the environment, and sustain and advance County and Agency programs through a vital business and administrative support system.
For more information about the Alameda County Public Works Agency, please visit their website at www.acgov.org/pwa.
THE POSITION
This series specification describes two Building Inspector classes which, under general supervision at the lower level and under direction at the higher level, examines dwellings and commercial buildings under construction or alteration for conformity to the Alameda County Building, Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical Codes, the Zoning Ordinance, the California Energy Conservation Regulations, Green Buildings, and Disabled Access, and the Alameda County Housing Code; and to perform other related duties.
The class of Building Inspector II is responsible for the examination of all types of building construction, including commercial, high rise, apartments, condominiums and subdivision tracts. This class is distinguished from the next higher class of Supervising Building Inspector in that the latter class has supervisory authority over the Building Inspectors and program responsibility for the Building Regulations Section of the Building Inspection Department.
For more detailed information about the job classification, visit: Building Inspector II (#8310)
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
TO QUALIFY FOR THE COMPETITIVE ASSESSMENT PROCESS, YOU MUST MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS BY FULFILLING ONE OF THE PATTERNS LISTED BELOW (I or II).
EITHER I
The equivalent of one year of experience in the class of Building Inspector I or Plans Checker in the Alameda County classified service. (Non-classified includes District Attorney's Office, Hospital Authority, and the Consolidated Courts.)
OR II
The equivalent of four years full-time journey-level experience in a building trade and the equivalent of three years of experience as an inspector in a public building inspection department.
License:
โ€ข Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
โ€ข Possession of certification as an Inspector or Plan Reviewer by the International Code Council (ICC) is desirable.
โ€ข Possession of certification as a California Access Specialist (CASp) is desirable.
Special Requirement: As a condition of employment, the State law requires that a Building Inspector must qualify for a certification in at least one of the building codes (Plumbing, Electrical, Building or Mechanical) or combination of all four codes by the International Code Council (ICC) by the end of two years of employment. Not obtaining a certificate in at least one of the building codes after two years of employment will result in termination.
NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:
Knowledge of:
  • California Building Code, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical Code.
  • California Energy Conservation Regulations, Green Buildings, and Disabled Access.
  • County Zoning Ordinances.
  • Construction and installation practices and methods.
  • Materials and tools of the building trades.
  • Principles of supervision.
Ability to:
Read and interpret plans of complex design.
Estimate structural requirements without benefit of plans.
Develop training topics and talks.
Detect substandard materials and workmanship.
Maintain effective working relationships with the public and members of the building industry, sometimes under stressful conditions.
Perform mathematical calculations related to the building trades.
  • Write clearly and concisely. Read and interpret plans of complex design.
  • Estimate structural requirements without benefit of plans.
  • Develop training topics and talks.
  • Detect substandard materials and workmanship.
  • Maintain effective working relationships with the public and members of the building industry, sometimes under stressful conditions.
  • Perform mathematical calculations related to the building trades.
  • Write clearly and concisely.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS
THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
  1. A review of applicants' application and supplemental questionnaire to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
  2. An oral examination which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral examination may be administered virtually and may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.
Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.
For more information on the Civil Service Selection process, please visit the "What You Need to Know" section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.
RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN
Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.
The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT PLAN Deadline for Filing: 5:00:00 p.m., Friday, August 14, 2026 Review of Applications & Questionnaires for Minimum Qualifications: August 19, 2026 Notification to applicants: August 25, 2026 Civil Service Oral Examination: * Week September 28, 2026 Notification of Exam Results: 1-2 weeks after oral exam TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN Department Selection Process: TBD
*The combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification. Candidates selected to participate in the oral exam will receive an email notification at least 10 business days in advance of the exam date.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Alameda County's Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement no later than the recruitment filing deadline. If this is a continuous open recruitment without a filing deadline, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement within ten (10) business days of submitting your application. Unless your disability is readily apparent (for example, you use a wheelchair and need wheelchair-accessible spaces), Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.
For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, Reasonable Accommodation | HRS.
BENEFITS
The County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall wellbeing. These benefits include but are not limited to*:
For your Health & Well-Being
  • Medical - HMO & PPO Plans
  • Dental - HMO & PPO Plans
  • Vision or Vision Reimbursement
  • Share the Savings
  • Basic Life Insurance
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
  • County Allowance Credit
  • Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
  • Short-Term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
  • Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future
  • Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance
  • 12 paid holidays
  • Floating Holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Catastrophic Sick Leave
  • Pet Insurance
  • Commuter Benefits Program
  • Guaranteed Ride Home
  • Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
  • Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
  • Child Care Resources
  • 1st United Services Credit Union

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement. This provides a summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.
Conclusion
All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org, @jobaps.com, acgov.org and Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.
Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.
NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box Noreply@jobaps.com and Noreplyalamedacountyhr@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions, please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.
Erika Beams, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda
Analyst Email Address Link: Erika.Beams@acgov.org
www.acgov.org/hrs
DISASTER SERVICE WORKER
All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an