Building and Code Officer

Crafton Borough; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Crafton Borough seeks a Building Code Official, Residential Building Inspector, and Zoning Code Officer to administer and enforce local building and zoning codes with a focus on customer service. This role may also serve as Fire Marshal if trained and will use permitting software to manage inspections and reports.

Responsibilities include plan review, property inspections, and preparing enforcement actions. Strong communication, organization, and knowledge of UCC/MPC are essential for success.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; associate's or bachelor's degree preferred.
• Certified Building Code Official and Certified Residential Building Inspector with PA.
• Experience with Pennsylvania UCC and MPC.
• Valid PA driver's license or ability to obtain one.
• Three years of local code official experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as knowledgeable contact for property owners to facilitate reinvestment.
• Examine plans to residential construction for code compliance.
• Use permitting and code enforcement software to manage applications, inspections, and records.
• Inspect residential buildings during construction for code compliance.
• Administer the Borough's rental inspection program.
• Issue notices of violation and stop-work orders as needed to achieve compliance.
• Prepare enforcement cases and testify at hearings.
• Prepare monthly/annual reports and present findings to boards.
• Attend trainings to stay current on building, code enforcement, and permitting practices.
• If acting as Fire Marshal, assist with safety surveys and inspections.

Skills

Code enforcement knowledge

Planning and zoning

Communication skills

Tech/software proficiency

Plan review and interpretation

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Confidentiality

Customer service mindset

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate or Bachelor's degree preferred

Certified Building Code Official

Certified Residential Building Inspector (PA)

Experience with PA UCC & MPC

Valid PA driver's license

3 years local code official experience

Tools

Permitting and code enforcement software

Field tablets/phones software

Job description

Position Purpose:

Carry out the duties of the Borough's Building Code Official (BCO), Residential Building Inspector, and Zoning Code Officer applying codes fairly and consistently with a focus on excellent customer service. Could also serve as Fire Marshal if qualified or interested in completing additional training.

Position Summary

Serves as the Borough's Building Code Official, Residential Building Inspector, and Zoning Code Officer, carrying out the administration and enforcement of all applicable building and zoning codes and if applicable, fire codes. The Building and Code Officer, is expected to pair strong technical code knowledge with genuine customer service. This includes the use of the tools available to the position - including the Borough's rental inspection program, building and fire codes, and the Borough's new permitting and code enforcement software - to encourage reinvestment and support a rising standard of property conditions Borough-wide.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a knowledgeable and approachable point of contact for property owners to ensure reinvestment moves forward smoothly.
• Examine plans and specifications of proposed construction to residential buildings to determine compliance with applicable construction codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Utilize the Borough's permitting and code enforcement software to manage applications, inspections, correspondence, and case records, ensuring timely, well
• documented service to applicants and work with software developers to improve the application's effectiveness.
• Inspect residential buildings during construction to ensure compliance with applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Conduct investigations of properties or developments for compliance with Borough Codes. Prepare and provide investigation and inspection reports.
• Inspect existing properties for change of use, occupancy, or compliance with applicable codes and ordinances as required.
• Administer the Borough's rental inspection program as a proactive tool for maintaining safe, well-kept rental housing.
• Disseminate information and requirements to contractors, architects, engineers, and/or the public in a clear manner, translating code and permitting requirements into plain language.
• Issue warnings, notices of violation, enforcement notices, or stop-work orders for Code violations, using enforcement as one tool among several to bring properties into compliance and support improvement.
• Prepare cases for enforcement action and testify at hearings.
• Prepare monthly and annual reports and conduct presentations before the Planning Commission, Zoning Hearing Board, and Borough Council as required, including customer service-related information gleaned from customer surveys.
• Attend and participate in meetings, classes, and conferences to stay abreast of new trends in the field of building inspection, code enforcement, and permitting practices.
• If acting as Fire Marshal - Assist residential occupancies with safety surveys, conduct Fire and Life Safety Inspections in public, commercial, and industrial occupancies, and supervise fire drills when requested.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Education, Certifications, and Licensing:

• High school diploma/GED required and associate's or bachelor's degree preferred.
• Certified Building Code Official and Certified Residential Building Inspector with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industries.
• Experience working with Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) and the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (MPC).
• Valid state issued driver's license or the ability to obtain one prior to employment.
• Three years of experience as a local code official or similar role.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Principles and practices of community planning and zoning.
• General purpose knowledge of building design and construction.
• Basic/technical computer proficiency and experience working with field-based tablet or phone-based software applications.
• Comfort learning and using permitting and code enforcement software systems for case management, documentation, and applicant communication.
• Reading and interpreting construction plans, site plans, and maps.
• Effective communication skills including conveying complicated code interpretations in a manner that is simple to understand with patience and a genuine customer-service mindset.
• Problem solving skills such as finding equitable solutions to potentially conflicting code interpretations.
• Consistently use code enforcement, permitting, and inspection tools - including rental inspection programs and building and fire codes - in ways that support property owners and encourage reinvestment.
• Planning and organizing skills such as managing and prioritizing tasks, meeting assigned deadlines, and accurately maintaining records and files.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times.