Chief Building Official

City of American Canyon; American Canyon (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of American Canyon seeks a Chief Building Official to lead building inspections, plan review, code enforcement, and complex code matters. This executive role collaborates with residents, contractors, architects, engineers, and City staff to ensure safe, compliant development for American Canyon.

Candidates should bring strong leadership and broad technical expertise in building construction and local codes, with a commitment to excellent public service and staff mentorship.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience as a Building Inspector II or five years in building inspections with supervisory/lead capacity.
• Bachelor's degree substitution: a related degree may substitute for two years of required experience.
• Certification: ICC Certified Building Official within nine months of employment; California driver license required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise building inspectors, plan review, and code enforcement activities.
• Interpret and apply local, state, and national codes and regulations.
• Investigate code violations and nuisance complaints; issue notices as needed.

Job description

The City of American Canyon is looking for its next Chief Building Official! We are seeking a skilled and service-minded professional who is ready to lead, collaborate, and help support safe and successful development throughout our community. In this key leadership role, you will oversee building inspection activities, plan review, code enforcement, and complex building and code matters while working closely with residents, contractors, architects, engineers, and City staff. Bring your experience, leadership, and commitment to excellent public service and help us continue building the future of American Canyon. This is an opportunity for a motivated building professional to take on a meaningful leadership role, strengthen operations, mentor staff, and help shape a responsive, forward-thinking approach to building services in American Canyon.

THE POSITION

The Chief Building Official plays an important role in protecting public health and safety, supporting responsible development, and ensuring compliance with applicable building codes, zoning regulations, and municipal ordinances. Working collaboratively with internal departments, contractors, design professionals, property owners, and the public, the Chief Building Official helps ensure that building services are delivered consistently, efficiently, and with a strong commitment to customer service. The Chief Building Official provides day-to-day leadership and oversight of building inspectors, code enforcement officers, and other assigned personnel.

Key responsibilities include: overseeing building inspections and plan review, interpreting and applying complex codes and regulations, investigating code violations and nuisance complaints, coordinating enforcement activities, and resolving challenging technical and customer service issues.

The position also supports consistent application of codes and policies, staff training and development, and the continuous improvement of departmental procedures and service delivery. The Chief Building Official must balance regulatory compliance and risk management with practical problem-solving and responsiveness to the needs of the community. Success requires sound professional judgment, effective communication, and the ability to navigate complex construction and enforcement matters while fostering productive working relationships.

The Chief Building Official is the supervisory/management level responsible for the administration and management of the building inspections work unit and performs the more difficult and complex inspections using professional judgment to make sound decisions based on a broad level of knowledge of code requirements and City policies and procedures. This class is responsible for first line supervision, works more independently, and exercises a greater degree of discretion in execution of duties.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Customer-Focused Leader: Provides responsive, practical, and solution-oriented building services while clearly communicating complex technical and regulatory requirements to customers, staff, contractors, and design professionals.
• Experienced Building Professional: Brings strong technical expertise with complex development, including master-planned communities, multifamily housing, industrial and manufacturing facilities, wineries, food-processing operations, distribution centers, and major tenant improvements.
• Collaborative Team Builder: Leads and mentors a high-performing team through clear expectations, accountability, professional development, and strong partnerships across City departments and with community stakeholders.
• Sound and Consistent Decision-Maker: Exercises professional judgment to address complex building and safety issues, develops and consistently applies policies and code interpretations, and appropriately balances public safety, risk management, and customer service.
• Innovative & Improvement-Oriented: Embraces technology, process improvement, and continuous innovation to increase consistency and transparency, reduce review times, streamline service delivery, and enhance the overall customer experience.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Supervise and participate in the work of building inspectors engaged in plan reviews and/or inspection of residential, commercial, and industrial structures under construction or alteration.
• Review and interpret existing local, state, and national codes and regulations.
• Investigate code and ordinance violations including building, zoning, weed abatement, vehicle abatement, and business licensing; issue citations as necessary.
• Investigate nuisance complaints by taking pictures, posting compliance notices, meeting with owners; and preparing correspondence.
• Coordinate the work of the building inspection work unit with other agencies, engineers, contractors, architects, and other concerned people to provide maximum service.
• Investigate and inspect very difficult and complex building and code enforcement problems.
• Issue notices to comply on violations; maintain records of history of facts for possible legal actions.
• Evaluate the work of building inspectors, code enforcement officers, and other assigned staff.
• Oversee the maintenance and preparation of job records, contractor progress payments, change orders, and all other records necessary to document construction contracts and inspections.
• Research and resolve difficult customer service problems which include internal and external customers, applying rules, laws, ordinances, regulations, policies, and procedures and appropriate judgment to meet customer needs.
• Maintain files and records and prepare reports, legal forms, and correspondence.
• Implement and correlate policies and procedures to establish uniformity of residential and commercial building codes.
• Inspect foundations, framing, plastering, plumbing, heating, electrical installations, and a large variety of other building elements in commercial and residential construction.
• Confer with architects, contractors, builders, engineers, and the general public in the field and office and respond to general questions on building and zoning.
• Accept building plans for plan check; conduct non-structural plan checks; issue building permits as appropriate.
• Develop and conduct in-service training programs for building inspectors and code enforcement officers on proper inspection/enforcement techniques, work procedures, and construction/zoning, nuisance codes interpretation.
• Participate in hearings and appeals of citations.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Practices, tools, equipment, and materials used in the general construction trades.
• Accepted safety standards and methods of building construction.
• Qualities of various construction materials.
• Municipal building and related codes and ordinances; Uniform Building, Plumbing, and Electrical Codes; State Housing Act of California.
• Zoning and land use ordinances.
• Inspection methods and techniques.
• Mathematics related to the building trades.
• Weed, Vehicle, and Public Nuisance Abatement regulations and procedures.
• Industrial Safety Regulations related to the work of the unit.

Ability to:

• Plan, supervise, train, and monitor the work of staff engaged in a variety of code inspection and enforcement activities.
• Read and interpret plans, specifications, and blueprints of construction projects.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with architects, builders, contractors, suppliers, other public officials, employees, and the general public, particularly in situations that might involve adversarial situations.
• Prepare reports and draft ordinances for approval by the City Council and prepare complaints for legal action.
• Prepare and present clear and concise written and oral reports.
• Read, write, and speak English at a level necessary for satisfactory job performance.
• Operate a variety of vehicles and mechanical equipment safely and effectively.

Minimum Qualifications:

Experience and/or Education

EITHER: Three years of experience as a Building Inspector II with the City of American Canyon; -OR- Five years of building inspections experience in a public agency with at least two of the required years of experience in a supervisory or lead capacity.

Note: A bachelor’s degree in construction management, civil engineering, architecture, or a closely related field may substitute for two of the five years of required outside experience.

Certificate

Possession of a valid certificate as a Certified Building Official from the International Code Council is required within the first nine (9) months of employment.

License Requirement

Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a physical disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Physical Requirements

Work is performed in a typical outdoor environment on a year-round basis. (1) Mobility: frequent performance of heavy manual labor; frequent standing for long periods of time; frequent bending and squatting. (2) Lifting: frequent lifting up to 50 pounds; occasional lifting up to 75 pounds. (3) Vision: constant use of overall vision. (4) Dexterity: frequent grasping, holding, and reaching. (5) Hearing/Talking: frequent hearing and talking in person. (6) Emotional/Psychological: frequent coworker contact; occasional working alone. (7) Environmental: frequent exposure to loud noise; frequent exposure to chemicals, fumes, and other environmental substances.

Other Requirements

Evening, weekend, or holiday work may be required.