Code Compliance Officer

Overview

Under general supervision, performs field inspections and investigations to enforce City and State codes and ordinances regarding land use issues and public nuisances; investigate complaints; document investigations; prepare reports, notices of violation, and citations; and assist residents with voluntary compliance procedures and citations. Work activities involve multiple skills and may include, but are not limited to, any of the following depending on area of assignment, business needs, emergency services, special projects, and seasonal factors.

• Receive, record, and investigate complaints regarding violations of municipal codes, ordinances, standards, health and safety regulations, and water quality regulations; document violations by securing photographs, writing reports, and recording other pertinent data; research ownership records, prior complaints, municipal codes and ordinances, and state regulations to establish whether a violation has occurred.
• Patrol (on foot and/or by vehicle) and identify nuisance conditions and code violations.
• Conduct drive-by or on-site inspections of residential, industrial, and/or commercial areas in compliance with requirements of law; note possible violations at other property sites during field investigations.
• Initiate contacts with residents, business representatives and other parties to explain the nature of violations and to encourage compliance with municipal codes, ordinances, and community standards.
• Meet with City staff, police, and legal counsel regarding complaints and coordinate how to address same.
• Prepare notices of violation or noncompliance and/or citations according to applicable codes and regulations.
• Prepare and issue letters to property owners notifying them of violations and facilitate voluntary compliance.
• As appropriate, post or serve notices on property to abate fire and public safety hazards and public nuisances.
• Assist with posting stop work orders and securing compliance with applicable regulations.
• Coordinate and conduct follow-up abatement procedures including the preparation of additional correspondence, site visits, and communication with property owners, City staff, and attorneys; conduct follow-up investigations to ensure compliance with applicable codes and ordinances; prepare non-compliance cases for legal action; present testimony at hearings.
• Provide information to violators, witnesses and the public, business community and other government agencies regarding codes, laws and ordinances; respond to questions, complaints and inquiries.
• Maintain files and records related to citations and violations; prepare a variety of written reports, memoranda, and correspondence.
• Testify and support the City Attorney in appeal proceedings or civil enforcement litigation.
• Assist with the collection of civil fines and penalties arising from infractions or notices.
• Input and retrieve a variety of information using a computer terminal.
• Take photographs of various nuisance conditions and code violations.
• Maintain and update records, logs and reports utilizing knowledge of principles of record keeping and reporting.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Communicate effectively with the public in a courteous, fair, tactful, timely and helpful manner in situations that are sometimes stressful.
• Provide Director with monthly and annual reports of code compliance activities.

• Attend various continuing education meetings, seminars, and workshops.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

No direct supervisory responsibilities.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Ability to interpret and apply applicable Federal, State, and City codes, laws, statutes, and ordinances.
• Principles, practices, methods and techniques of code violation investigation and enforcement.
• Permitting practices.
• Methods and procedures used in code enforcement including citation issuance procedures, methods used to obtain various types of inspection warrants, and principles used to prepare legal documents.
• Code enforcement occupational hazards and safety practices.
• Knowledge of basic inspection methods to identify deviations from building plans and safety codes.
• Ability to handle stressful situations and difficult or angry residents or business/property owners.
• Principles of basic mathematical principles, record keeping, and reporting.

• Operating cellular phone, camera, tape recorder and a variety of tools and field-testing equipment including small hand tools, pole pruner with saw attachment.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Communicate clearly and…