Community Service Inspector

City of La Porte; La Porte (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of La Porte is seeking a Code Enforcement Officer to investigate violations of local and state laws, issue notices and citations, and perform pool and field inspections. The role emphasizes maintaining records, enforcing ordinances, and coordinating abatement efforts in accordance with municipal codes.

Qualifications include a high school diploma or GED, two years of code enforcement experience preferred, and a Texas driver's license. Equal opportunity employer statement included.

Qualifications

• Two years of governmental or municipal code enforcement experience preferred.
• High School Diploma or GED are required.
• Texas Driver's License is required or must be obtained.

Responsibilities

• Investigate violations of local and State laws, ordinances, or codes related to nuisance, health and safety, zoning, signs, and dangerous buildings.
• Issue notices of violations and abatement; follow up for compliance and issue citations.
• Perform pool inspections for annual licenses and field inspections for alcohol licenses.
• Identify abandoned or inoperable vehicles and issue abatement citations.
• Process documentation for impounding vehicles and coordinate auctions.
• Prepare reports and court documentation; maintain records of enforcement activities.

Skills

Clear communication

Record keeping

Relationship building

Code enforcement

Public communication

Response to inquiries

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

DEFINITION

To investigate potential violations of municipal and State laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations including junk vehicles ordinance, weed and rubbish ordinance, sign ordinance, and dangerous buildings abatement code.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from the Chief Building Official & Deputy Building Official

May receive technical supervision from higher-level Inspection staff.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Investigate complaints of violations of local and State laws, ordinances, or codes relating to public nuisance or health and safety including junk vehicle, weeds, brush and rubbish ordinances, zoning violations, sign ordinance, and dangerous and dilapidated buildings.
• Issue notices of violations and notices of abatement; conduct follow-up investigations to secure compliance with codes or ordinances, and issue abatement citations.
• Perform pool inspections to ensure code compliance for the issuance of annual pool licenses.
• Perform field inspections to provide required information for issuance of alcohol licenses.
• Identify abandoned or inoperable vehicles and issue abatement citations.
• Process appropriate documentation for impounding vehicles; maintain detailed inventory of personal property impounded; coordinate auction and sale of vehicles through other City departments.
• Process code enforcement violation cases in order to achieve abatement. Processing includes identification, documentation, and notice of violations, citation issuance, courtroom testimony, and oversight of abatement achieved by means of contractor clean-up.
• Prepare a variety of written reports, monthly reports, memos, correspondence, and appropriate documentation for court cases.
• Document and maintain records of code enforcement activities.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

For indefinite periods of time - mobility within a office and field environment; exposure to extreme cold, heat, heights, and noise; writing; walking; typing; twisting body; stooping; standing; squatting; sitting; seeing; kneeling; grasping; crawling; climbing; cleaning; lifting and carrying up to 25 pounds; reading; decision making; speaking; interfacing with the public; keen vision; clarity of hearing; communicating clearly and effectively, in person and by telephone; operation of a personal computer and calculator; operating a motor vehicle through city traffic.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of: City codes, adopted ordinances, laws and regulations pertaining to junk vehicles, weed abatement, and dangerous buildings and any other unsafe or unsanitary violations etc. Principles, practices, methods, and techniques of code enforcement. City services and municipal organizational structures as they relate to code enforcement.

Ability to:

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Maintain and update records, logs and reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Enforce pertinent codes, ordinances, State laws, and regulations with impartiality and efficiency.
• Respond to inquiries, complaints, and requests for service in a fair, tactful, and firm manner.
• Identify code and ordinance sections, State Law which pertain to potential violations.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

Two years of experience in governmental or municipal code enforcement experience, is preferred. A High School Diploma or GED is required.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES

Possession of a valid Texas Driver's License, possession of or the ability to obtain a Texas Code Enforcement Officer Registration within 18 months and an ICC Property Maintenance and Housing Inspector Certification preferred within 2 years of date of hire.

*Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.

*Duties, responsibilities and actions may change at any time with or without notice.

The City of La Porte is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Qualified Individuals.