Code Enforcement Officer I/II

City of San Mateo; California (MO); On-site; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

CalPERS retirement

Deferred compensation

Job summary

The City of San Mateo is seeking a Code Enforcement Officer I/II to perform investigative abatement and enforcement of state and city codes, ordinances, and approval conditions related to land and property use and safety. You will receive supervision from the Code Enforcement Manager and may supervise lower-level staff depending on assignment.

Responsibilities include handling complaints, reviewing case files, conducting interviews and site surveillance, and preparing case information for

Qualifications

• Knowledge of investigation principles and practices, customer service, and public education.
• Ability to learn and apply city codes and procedures; read maps; communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Receive and investigate complaints about property violations and enforce city codes.
• Review planning documents and maps; conduct interviews and site visits.
• Prepare reports and present evidence at hearings or proceedings.
• Coordinate with other agencies and enforce compliance.

Skills

Investigation principles

Customer service

Public education

Building safety inspection

Education

Undergraduate coursework

Tools

Word processing

Databases

Job description

The Community Development Department, also known as CDD, is organized into four divisions — Building, Code Enforcement, Housing, and Planning. CDD has broad responsibilities including, but not limited to, long-range planning, review of applications for new developments, implementation of the City’s housing programs, and maintenance of neighborhoods. You will be joining a talented team in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment dedicated to serving the San Mateo community. The Community Development Department’s core function is to ensure a quality-built environment, healthy neighborhoods, and a strong economic base in the City. Collaboration, innovation, respect, accountability, creativity, transparency, thoughtfulness, and informed risk-taking are attributes and competencies that we are seeking in the candidates.

The Position

The Code Enforcement Officer I/II performs investigative abatement work and enforcement work for State and City codes, ordinances, and approval conditions related to use, maintenance and safety of land and structures. The position receives supervision from the Code Enforcement Manager or Senior Code Enforcement Officer or higher-level department personnel. The Code Enforcement Officer II may exercise technical and functional supervision over lower level staff.

The current vacancy may be filled at either level based on experience. Depending upon class level and assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Receives complaints of violations of city codes and ordinances for residential, commercial and industrial property.
• Reviews case files, zoning, general plan and tract maps and other documentation relating to property involved in complaint.
• Conducts interviews, field investigations and site surveillance.
• Determines compliance requirements.
• Generates reports and conducts research using computer.
• May review planning applications for enforceability of variances and use permit conditions.
• Explains violations and alternative mitigation measures.
• Issues warning notices.
• Prepares case information for and present evidence at appeal hearings and other legal proceedings.
• Refs cases to other agencies or coordinates enforcement activities with other agencies.
• Provides technical expertise and participates in the training of other staff.
• Assists processing of abatement orders.
• May review planning applications, draft ordinance amendments, variances and development proposals for enforceability of conditions of approval.
• Prepares written reports, legal documents, memos and letters.

For a complete list of duties, reference our job specifications at www.cityofsanmateo.org

Knowledge and Abilities

Code Enforcement Officer I:

• Knowledge of investigation principles and practices, principles of customer service, effective public education, and community relations, basic principles, practices and techniques of building and safety inspection, working in a diverse community, safe and efficient work practices as they relate to code enforcement, basic computer knowledge regarding word processing and data bases.
• Ability to learn and apply City codes, ordinances and procedures, interviewing, investigatory and safety techniques and practices; conduct research; read and follow maps; explain the provisions of codes and ordinances to the general public; inspect property with unknown hazardous conditions; analyze and evaluate observations and information; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with individuals from a variety of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds; use protective clothing and apparatus; write technical reports; exercise sound judgment in potentially hazardous or dangerous situations; learn land use planning principles and practices; learn to take photographs and measurements; learn to prepare and present evidence and cases at hearings and judicial proceedings.

Code Enforcement Officer II

• Knowledge of State and City codes and ordinances related to land use and zoning; investigation and safety techniques and practices; evidence collection and preservation; basic principles of land use planning; property owner rights; photography; property descriptions; assessor's map systems; court systems and legal procedures; construction materials and methods; conflict resolution techniques; research practices and techniques; technical report writing; public speaking techniques; practices and techniques of public contact with individuals from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds; map reading; practices of supervision. International Property Maintenance, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Building Codes.
• Ability to apply interviewing, investigatory and safety techniques and practices; read, understand and enforce codes and ordinances; perform research; read and follow maps; make sound judgments in stressful situations; explain the provisions of codes and ordinances to the general public; identify different materials, other conditions which might result in immediate or potential health, safety or fire hazards; analyze and evaluate observations and information; direct and determine compliance; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with individuals from a variety of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds; use protective clothing and apparatus; write technical reports; inspect property with unknown hazardous conditions, including uneven terrain; take photographs and measurements; maintain accurate records. Work independently without supervision.

Minimum Qualifications

Code Enforcement Officer I:

• Two years of undergraduate course work from an accredited college or university and one year of experience with the public in enforcement, inspection, investigative or public relations work, or six months of experience enforcing codes and ordinances relating to planning, zoning, building, or health and safety.

Code Enforcement Officer II:

• Two years of undergraduate course work from an accredited college and two years of experience enforcing codes and ordinances relating to planning, zoning, building, or health and safety.

Licenses

• Ability to obtain a valid Class C California Driver’s License by date of hire is required. A valid required license shall be maintained.

Certificate/Special Requirements

• ICC Certification Property Maintenance and Housing or Zoning Inspector within one year of hire.
• Certified Code Enforcement Officer with California Association of Code Enforcement Officers (CACEO) within one year of hire.
• Successful Completion of a POST 832PC class required within one year of hire.

Bonus Points (highly desirable)

• ICC Building Inspector Certification (Residential or Commercial).

Work Environment:

Works indoors, works outdoors, driving required, use of computer, iPad or other mobile devices, works around others, works alone. Uniform required (provided by the Department), certain field work will require the use of personal protective equipment.

ADA Special Requirement:

Essential duties require the following physical abilities and work environment: Ability to sit, stand, walk, kneel, crouch, squat, stoop, reach, crawl, twist and climb; exposure to cold, heat, outdoors, electrical hazards, vibration, chemicals, dust, toxic waste and mechanical hazards, exposure to slippery or uneven walking surfaces.

• Comprehensive benefits package including generous paid leave and health benefits
• CalPERS retirement (2% @ 55 for classic members; 2% @ 62 for new members). Classic employees contribute 8.34% to CalPERS and New members contribute 7.50% to CalPERS.
• Participation in the Social Security Program
• Programs: Deferred Compensation plan with City match up to 0.5% of base salary, City will contribute 0.5% of base salary to the deferred compensation plan, and 1% city contribution to a Retirement Health Savings Account
• Free Fitness classes through City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation, Employee Assistance Program
• Bilingual Diff: $90 bi-weekly (if applicable)
• This classification is represented by the San Mateo City Employees’ Association

Application Deadline

Recruitment will close by Tuesday, August 25, 2026 @ 5:00 p.m. OR upon receipt of the first 50 applications, résumés, and supplemental questionnaires, whichever occurs first.

Examination Process

All applications, résumés (required), and supplemental questionnaires received will be reviewed for minimum qualifications. Résumés are required but do not take the place of a completed employment application. A fully completed application is required; a resume does not replace the information required on the employment application, including work history. Applications with "see resume" as a substitution for the work experience description, those with unclear past employment information, or those with insufficient information to evaluate possession of minimum qualifications will not be considered; missing information cannot be assumed. A limited number of the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may consist of an oral panel interview, written exercise, or in the form of a practical demonstration of skill and ability, or any combination of these; a Microsoft Teams oral board is tentatively scheduled for September 9, 2026.