BUILDING MECHANICAL INSPECTOR (9) - 4251 (REVISED 09-03-26)

City of Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 119,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mileage reimbursement

Job summary

The City of Los Angeles is seeking a Building Mechanical Inspector to inspect residential construction and related facilities to ensure compliance with local codes and approved plans. The role includes investigation of complaints, enforcement actions, and assisting in training other inspectors.

Candidates must have extensive experience in building trades or as a contractor, plus relevant certifications and a valid CA driver’s license.

Qualifications

• Four years of full-time paid experience as a building, construction, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, housing, or combined inspector for a governmental agency engaged in residential construction.
• Four years of full-time paid experience as a licensed general, masonry, plumbing, mechanical, or electrical contractor in residential construction.
• Two years of full-time paid experience in carpentry, masonry, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work in residential construction after an apprenticeship.
• Eight years of related craft work in general residential construction.
• One year of experience as Assistant Inspector III or Inspector Trainee III with the City of Los Angeles.

Responsibilities

• Inspect residential construction of two dwellings or less, accessory buildings, signs and pools for code conformance.
• Investigate complaints and alleged code violations on buildings; enforce orders to comply and issue citations.
• Identify blight and substandard conditions; train other inspectors as required.

Skills

Residential construction experience

Carpentry

Masonry

Electrical

Plumbing

Apprenticeship background

Assistant Inspector III experience

Education

Recognized apprenticeship program

Job description

ANNUAL SALARY

$118,723 to $132,358

NOTE

Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.

A Building Mechanical Inspector inspects residential construction of two dwelling units or less, accessory buildings, signs and swimming pools to secure conformance to zoning ordinances, building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical codes and approved plans, specifications and standards; investigates all complaints and alleged code violations on all buildings; conducts surveys to identify blight, deterioration, and substandard conditions; issues appropriate orders to comply and citations; and assists in training other inspection employees as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

1. Four years of full-time paid experience as a building, construction, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, housing, or combined inspector for or on behalf of a governmental agency engaged in general residential construction; or


2. Four years of full-time paid experience as a licensed general, masonry, plumbing, mechanical, electrical contractor engaged in general residential construction; or


3. Two years of full-time paid experience in carpentry, masonry, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work, in general residential construction following the completion of a recognized apprenticeship program; or


4. Eight years of full-time paid experience in carpentry, masonry, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, or other construction related craft work in general residential construction; or


5. One year full-time paid experience, as an Assistant Inspector III or an Inspector Trainee III with the City of Los Angeles.

PROCESS NOTES

1. Applicants filing under Requirement #3 must submit proof of completion of a recognized apprenticeship program at the time of filing. The requested document(s) must be attached to the on-line application BEFORE the application is submitted. If the document(s) is attached AFTER the on-line application has been submitted, it will not be available to the City and applicants WILL NOT be credited with having submitted the document(s). Applicants who fail to submit the document(s) at the time of filing by not attaching it to the on-line application will not be considered further in this examination.


2. A valid certification from the International Code Council (ICC) per Article 5.13 of MOU #5 and Assembly Bill AB717 is required within two years from the date of appointment to the class.


3. As a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required at the time of appointment. Applicants will be disqualified or deemed ineligible for hire if their DMV record reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation within the last 36 months in any state or jurisdiction. The City of Los Angeles reserves the right to issue a notice of disqualification or ineligibility at any time before a final job offer is extended.


4. Upon appointment, a Building Mechanical Inspector will be required to furnish an automobile, properly insured, for use in City service. Mileage will be paid according to established rates.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2027 to THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2027

The examination may close without prior notice at any time after a sufficient number of applications have been received. Filling periods may change without prior notice or additional dates may be added, as needed, at a later date. For administrative purposes, filing will close periodically and reopen on the dates noted in the “Application Deadline” section of this bulletin.

In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the multiple-choice test in the following order: 1) Los Angeles City promotional applicants who meet the minimum requirements. You must have received a regular appointment to a City position or be on a reserve list to apply for this examination as a promotional candidate; 2) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles on a part-time or exempt basis who meet the minimum requirements; 3) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applicants not selected to be tested may re-apply in a subsequent filing period in order to be considered for that period's selection process.

EXAMINATION WEIGHT

Multiple-choice Test - 100%

The examination will consist entirely of a weighted multiple-choice test administered and proctored online. In the on-line multiple-choice test, the following competencies may be evaluated: Reading Comprehension; Judgment and Decision Making; Safety Focus; Customer Service; Job Knowledge, including knowledge of: symbols used in the building trades; approved building materials and equipment; proper methods of installation; terminology and materials used in the building trades; the Los Angeles Residential Building Code; the National Electrical Code; the Los Angeles City Plumbing Code; the Los Angeles City Zoning Code; the Los Angeles City Mechanical (Heating and Refrigeration) Code; the Los Angeles City Building Code; and the Los Angeles City Green Code; the ability to: work from plans while on a job site; perform basic math (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and percentages); read street maps; and other necessary skills, knowledge and abilities.

The multiple-choice test will be proctored and administered online during a single session. Candidates invited to participate in the on-line multiple-choice test will be able to take the test from a remote location (i.e., their home) using a computer with a webcam and a reliable internet connection. Candidates will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the dates and specific steps on how to take the multiple-choice test on line. Candidates who do not complete and submit the remote proctored multiple-choice test online using a computer by the specified date and time will not be considered further in this examination.

For candidates who apply between FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2027 and THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2027, it is anticipated that the on-line multiple-choice test will be held between TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 2027 and MONDAY, MARCH 22, 2027.

Additional job analysis information can be obtained by going to https://per.lacity.org/jobs/job-analyses.cfm and clicking on Competencies under Building Mechanical Inspector.

FAQs for on-line testing are available at https://per.lacity.org/faqs/employment-testing-process.html. Only candidates who demonstrate a hardship may be offered the option to take the multiple-choice test onsite at a City facility.

NOTES

1. This examination is based on a validation study and as provided by Civil Service Commission Rule 4.20, the multiple-choice test will not be subject to candidate inspection.


2. Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.


3. As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application. The Disability Accommodation Form can be obtained at http://per.lacity.org/exams/verify_disability.pdf.


4. You may take the Building Mechanical Inspector multiple-choice test only once every 365 days. If you have taken the Building Mechanical Inspector multiple-choice test within the last 12 months, you may not file for this examination at this time.


5. Names may be removed from the open competitive list after six (6) months.


6. Your rank on the eligible list may change as scores of candidates from other administrations of this examination are merged onto one list.


7. In conjunction with Civil Services Rules, applicants who have received a regular appointment to a City position or are on a reserve list will be considered Promotional candidates while all other applicants will be considered Open candidates.


8. The promotional list will ordinarily be used ahead of the open competitive list. However, if open competitive candidates receive a higher score, without military credits, than the highest available promotional candidate, after adding 0.25 of a point seniority credit for each year of continuous classified City service, the Civil Service Commission, upon request of the appointing authority, may approve certification of such open competitive candidates ahead of the promotional candidates.


9. A final average score of 70% or higher is required to be placed on the eligible list.


10. In accordance with Civil Service Rule, 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in 4.20, 4.22 and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list.

Notice: If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position. All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.

THIS EXAMINATION IS TO BE GIVEN BOTH ON AN

INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROMOTIONAL AND OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS

The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

For additional information and FAQs regarding the City's hiring process, please go to: https://per.lacity.org/faqs/employment-testing-process.html