BUILDING CODE PROFESSIONAL

City of Allentown; Allentown (Lehigh County); On-site; USD 78,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Allentown is seeking a Building Code Professional to inspect buildings and review plans for compliance with the Uniform Construction Code and local codes. You will enforce structural, fire, electrical, plumbing, and accessibility requirements for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.

Under the Building Official, you will prepare inspection reports, advise owners and contractors, and participate in ongoing training to maintain required certifications.

Qualifications

• Valid Pennsylvania driver's license.
• High school diploma with continued education in building trades.
• Valid PA UCC inspector certifications and ability to cut-in electrical services.

Responsibilities

• Inspect and enforce building safety per codes for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
• Review drawings for compliance with codes and City ordinances.
• Prepare and maintain inspection records and reports.
• Respond to inquiries and participate in on-call rotation and training.

Skills

Building code inspection

Code enforcement

Report writing

Public communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

5 years experience in building/plumbing trades

PA Uniform Construction Code inspector certifications

Job description

Job Openings

Opens: 08/11/2026

Closes: 09/15/2026

Starts:

Salary: $86,315.84 -$86,315.84 yearly

JOB DESCRIPTION

Class Title: Building Code Professional

Grade Letter Number: 22M

Department: Community & Economic Development

Bureau: Building Standards & Safety

Union: SEIU

GENERAL PURPOSE

Under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code and the direction of the Building Official, inspects buildings and reviews plans for compliance with uniform electrical, plumbing, mechanical, accessibility and building/fire codes; according to the level of certifications held or obtained during the course of their employment with the city.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the supervision of the Building & Construction Superintendent.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

May exercise supervision over no one.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Inspects and enforces construction for structural, fire, and health safety as well as building electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and energy system requirements of adopted codes, ordinances or standards as applied to residential, commercial or industrial buildings.
• Reviews and approves drawings for proposed structures and building construction in accordance with the national and local building codes and City of Allentown ordinances
• Advises staff, contractors, architects and individual property owners with code information in fields of expertise. Enforces violations of violations of the code, including attending court as needed to follow through with enforcement actions.
• Prepares and maintains required inspection records and reports.
• Receives and responds to inquiries and requests for assistance from the public regarding hazards, illegal construction activity, code compliance inquires and safety concerns.
• Attends training seminars to enhance professional job knowledge and skills and maintains certifications.
• Responsible for assigned vehicle, reporting maintenance issues to supervisor.
• Performs various office duties as required, including answering telephone, typing reports and correspondence, copying and filing documents, entering data into the computer, scheduling, etc.
• Is part of an emergency on-call rotation schedule
• Performs related work as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• Valid Pennsylvania Driver's License
• Graduation from high school or equivalent required along with continuing education in the building trades, building materials, construction plans and the plumbing field. Must have five (5) years of experience in the building and plumbing trades or equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Must possess valid Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code certifications as a Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, Accessibility, and Energy Inspector or certification as required to meet requirements of Combination Inspector class. Must be verified, accepted and maintained through PA Labor & Industry. Throughout course of employment, must maintain ability to cut-in electrical services.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain, a valid motor vehicle opaerator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or State of residence;
• Must have ability to obtain and maintain license to cut-in electrical services.
• Must meet training, certification, licensing and continuing education requirements as established by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and International Code Council for the following trades:
• Possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain, a valid motor vehicle opaerator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or State of residence;
• Must have ability to obtain and maintain license to cut-in electrical services.
• Must meet training, certification, licensing and continuing education requirements as established by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and International Code Council for the following trades:

Building Code Professional (A) Step D

Shall possess the following certifications:

• All residential inspector certifications (B1,E1,M1,P1,79) & property maintenance(64) or equivalent (commercial/residential combination).

Building Code Professional (A) Step E

Shall possess the following certifications:

• All commercial inspector certifications (excluding commercial electric) (can also perform residential inspections exluding electric) (B2,M2,P2,77or CE,21) & property maintenance(64)

Building Code Professional (A) Step F-G

Shall possess the following certifications:

• All certifications required in previous steps with additional certifications not listed in steps D and E but excludes certs that are needed in BCP level 2 step D.

Building Code Professional (B) Step D

Shall possess the following certifications:

• All commercial inspector certifications (can also perform residential inspections including residential electric), (excluding commercial electric) (B2,E1,M2,P2,77 or CE,21) & property maintenance(64)

Building Code Professional (B) Step E

All commercial inspector certifications and electric plan examiner certification (can also perform residential inspections) (B2,E2,E3,M2,P2,(77,78 or CE),R3,21) & property maintenance(64)

-OR-

All commercial inspector certifications and residential electric and all plan examiner certifications excluding commercial electric and electric plan examiner certifications (can also perform residential inspections) (B2,B3,E1,M2,M3,P2,P3,(77,78 or CE),R3,21) & property maintenance(64)

Building Code Professional (B) Step F-G

Shall possess the following certifications:

• All certifications required in previous levels and steps with additional certifications not listed in steps D and E but excludes certs that are needed in BCP level 3 step D.

Building Code Professional (C) Step G

Shall possess the following certifications:

• All residential/commercial inspector/plan examiner certifications, including fire 1,2, and plans examiner, MCP designation, and BCO. (B1,B2,B3,R3,E1,E2,E3,M1,M2,M3,P1,P2,P3,(77,78 or CE),79,21,66,67,F3) & property maintenance(64)

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Good knowledge of City ordinances relating to building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems.
• Good physical condition. Ability to work on construction sites and climb ladders and stairs.
• Good knowledge of possible defects and faults in plumbing or mechanical systems, connections, fixtures and appliances and of standard testing devices and effective corrective measures.
• Good knowledge of the methods and practices involved in construction, installing, maintaining and operating a variety of plumbing and mechanical installations, equipment and appliances.
• Working knowledge of possible defects, faults and corrective actions in electrical wiring and appliance installations and of National Electrical Code Standard for residential and commercial installations.
• Good knowledge of possible defects and faults in all types of building construction.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise reports.
• Ability to deal courteously and tactfully with the public and establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, other employees and the public. Successful customer service experience and a proven ability to deal with the public is essential.
• Ability to respond to complaints received by various departments and/or agencies.
• Ability to consult with building owners, contractors, plumbers, mechanics, electricians and others to effect and maintain satisfactory working relationships on inspections and regulatory matters.
• Ability to understand and work from construction, electrical, plumbing and mechanical plans, blue prints, drawings and diagrams.
• Ability to detect and locate defective building, electrical, plumbing or mechanical construction or installation when defects are most easily found and remedied.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must have the ability to perform on-site field inspections including exertion of a moderate amount of physical effort to stoop, crouch, climb and lift in the performance of duties. Must be able to perceive color, shapes and forms, and operate a motor vehicle. Requires sufficient hand/eye coordination to perform semi-skilled repetitive movements, such as data entry and/or the use of general office machinery.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

SELECTION GUIDELINES

Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference check; job related tests may be required.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.