Electrical Inspector / Combination Inspector
City of Bellingham
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
City of Bellingham seeks Electrical or Combination Inspector in the Planning and Community Development Department to inspect electrical systems, review plans for code compliance, and guide contractors and residents to safe, compliant buildings.
The role progresses with certifications (E1, E2, M1/M2, P1/P2, B1/B2) and involves thorough documentation, inspections, and collaboration with partner agencies to uphold life safety and structural integrity.
Qualifications
- High school graduation or GED required.
- Four (4) years of journey-level electrician experience as defined by RCW 19.28.321.
- Possess and maintain a journey-level electrician license (WA).
- Must secure ICC Residential Electrical Inspector (E1) Certification within 1 year of hire.
- Must secure ICC Commercial Electrical Inspector (E2) Certification within 2 years of hire.
- Must secure ICC Residential and Commercial Mechanical Inspector (M1 & M2) within 3 years of hire.
- Must secure ICC Residential and Commercial Plumbing Inspector (P1 & P2) or IAPMO UPC Plumbing Inspector Certification within 4 years of hire.
- Must secure ICC Residential and Commercial Building Inspector (B1 & B2) within 5 years of hire.
Responsibilities
- Inspect electrical, mechanical, plumbing and building installations to ensure compliance with codes and safety standards.
- Review construction plans for compliance with the National Electrical Code and related regulations.
- Investigate compliance complaints and approve or disapprove contractor work with recommended corrections.
- Provide clear guidance to contractors, residents, and partner agencies to achieve safe, compliant buildings.
Education
Job description
Join the City of Bellingham as an Electrical or Combination Inspector in the Planning and Community Development Department and apply your technical expertise to ensure that construction projects meet strict safety and code requirements. This role supports high-quality development through thorough inspections, accurate documentation, and clear guidance to contractors, residents, and partner agencies. Inspectors help maintain the City’s commitment to safe, compliant, and well-constructed buildings across our community.
This series performs progressively responsible and complex inspections of new and existing industrial, commercial, multi-family, and single-family buildings evaluating electrical system installations. As additional experience and certifications are gained, this position is also responsible for inspecting building construction; mechanical systems; plumbing systems; to ensure minimum standards exist for fire and life safety; structural integrity and public welfare as well as ensuring compliance with laws, codes and regulations. Reviews construction plans to ensure compliance with the National Electrical Code and related codes, laws and regulations. Investigates compliance complaints. Approves or disapproves the work completed by a contractor or builder and makes recommendations to the contractor for making corrections to meet applicable codes.
Joining the City of Bellingham means becoming a part of a team that believes our greatest impact comes from working together with purpose, humility and a shared commitment to our community. Every employee contributes to delivering meaningful results for the people who live, work and visit here. We value people who approach challenges with curiosity, respect and collaboration. If you are motivated by building a career in public service, we encourage you to apply.
This position will start at Step 1 ($44.97/hr). Employees receive step increases annually in accordance with the Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 Collective Bargaining Agreement and City policy. The full hourly range for this position is $44.97 - $58.69. For internal candidates, placement within the range is based on City Pay Placement Procedures.
- 10 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
- 12 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday per year
- 8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
- Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
- Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
- Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match
Leave accruals are based on 1.0 FTE, accruals are pro-rated if part-time and require employees to be in paid status at least 120 hours/month.
Closing Date/Time: Fri. 08/28/2026 4:30 PM Pacific Time
- High school graduation or equivalency (GED).
- Four (4) years of experience as a journey-level electrician or equivalent experience as defined by RCW 19.28.321.
- Possess and maintain a journey-level electrician license (or temporary license) issued by the State of Washington.
- Experience and/or training as an electrical inspector with a municipality preferred.
- Must secure and maintain International Code Council Residential Electrical Inspector (E1) Certification within one (1) year of hire
- Must secure and maintain International Code Council Commercial Electrical Inspector (E2) Certification within two (2) years of hire
- Must secure and maintain International Code Council Residential and Commercial Mechanical Inspector Certification (M1 & M2) within three (3) years of hire.
- Must secure and maintain International Code Council Residential and Commercial Plumbing Inspector (P1 & P2) or International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) Plumbing Inspector Certification within four (4) years of hire.
- Must secure and maintain International Code Council Residential and Commercial Building Inspector Certification (B1 & B2) within five (5) years of hire.
- High school graduation or equivalency (GED).
- Four (4) years of experience as a journey-level electrician or equivalent experience as defined by RCW 19.28.321.
- Possess and maintain a journey-level electrician license (or temporary license) issued by the State of Washington.
- Three (3) years of experience as an Electrical Inspector with the City of Bellingham or an equivalent position with another jurisdiction subsequent to obtaining ICC Residential Electrical Inspector (E1) Certification. (ex: an incumbent Electrical Inspector who obtains ICC Residential Electrical Inspector (E1) Certification within six (6) months of hire into the position would be eligible for promotion to the Combination Inspector level within three (3) years and six (6) months provided the certifications required at the Combination Inspector level are obtained)
- ICC Residential and Commercial Electrical Inspector (E1 and E2) certification
- ICC Residential and Commercial Building Inspector (B1 and B2) certification,
- ICC Residential and Commercial Mechanical Inspector (M1 and M2) certification and International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) Plumbing Inspector Certification or ICC Residential and Commercial Plumbing Inspector (P1 and P2) certification.
- Other recognized certifications from ICC, Washington Association of Building Officials (WABO), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), etc., preferred.
- Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check, child and adult abuse records check and local background check (see Fair Hiring Practices below).
- Verification of ability to work in the United States by date of hire.
- Valid Washington State driver’s license at time of hire and good driving record. A three-year driving record abstract must be submitted at time of hire.
- Failure to secure required certifications or skill standards within established time limits will result in dismissal.
- Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must provide specific, detailed information so an initial determination can be made regarding your level of qualifications for this position. Applicant status will be updated on or around August 31, 2026.
- If there are seven (7) or more qualified candidates;
- Experience and Training Rating: Applicants that meet minimum qualifications will go through an Experience and Training Rating. Applicant status will be updated on or around September 10, 2026.
- The top six (6) scoring applicants from the Experience and Training Rating will be invited to participate in an Oral Board Interview, tentatively scheduled for the week of September 21, 2026.
- If six (6) or less candidates meet the minimum qualifications, all will be invited to the Oral Board Interviews, tentatively scheduled for the week of September 07, 2026.
- Applicants will be notified via email of Final Scores & Ranks. The final ranking of the register will be based on total scores for the following:
- If there are seven (7) applicants that meet minimum qualifications, the Experience and Training Rating will be 40% of overall score and Oral Board Interview will be 60% of overall score. Candidates scoring a 60% or higher on the Oral Board Interview will be placed on the eligibility list.
- If six (6) or less candidates meet the minimum qualifications, the Oral Board Interview will be 100% of overall score. Candidates scoring a 60% or higher on the Oral Board Interview will be placed on the eligibility list.
Final candidates will be referred to the department for additional examination, assessment, or test.
This recruitment process will create a Civil Service eligibility register that will be used to fill current and future vacancies as they become available. There is currently 1 full-time vacancy in the Planning and Community Development department. This position is represented by a union.
The City of Bellingham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not make decisions on the basis of an individual's race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, age (40+), disability, retaliation, sexual orientation or gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. All are encouraged to apply for employment.
- The City provides individuals who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense an equal and fair opportunity to obtain employment.
- The City will not inquire about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made.
- The City will disregard the prior arrest and conviction record of an otherwise qualified individual unless the offense is directly related to the job position for which the individual has applied.
- The City will notify an otherwise qualified applicant about a potentially disqualifying conviction and give the applicant an opportunity to submit information regarding the accuracy of the criminal records as well as evidence of mitigation or rehabilitation, as appropriate.
There are many good reasons for working at the City of Bellingham. The work is rewarding and you have an opportunity to serve your community. Another good reason is the great benefits that the City offers its employees. See our benefits section for additional information.
This position is represented by The Guild of Pacific Northwest Employees, Local 1937 bargaining unit. Specific benefit information including Holidays, Vacation Accruals, Health, Dental and Vision Plans with cost sharing and Deferred Compensation Match can be found in the Local 1937 labor agreement.
This position is covered by the State of Washington Department of Retirement Systems PERS plan. PERS requires mandatory employee and City contributions. Please visit the DRS website for more information on PERS.
This position is subject to the Bellingham Civil Service Commission. When a vacancy occurs, the top fifteen candidates or the top 25% of the register will be forwarded to the department for further consideration. All new Civil Service employees are subject to a one-year probationary period. A candidate may challenge the scope, content, or method of an examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days following the date of the challenged examination. A candidate may also challenge the scoring of an examination or test, failure of the candidate on any part of an examination, or clerical error in examination results of any examination or test, and a protest may be filed in writing with the Examiner within five (5) days of notification of the challenged result. The Examiner shall consider all timely filed protests and make appropriate corrections if an error is demonstrated.
Applicants who have been honorably discharged from active military duty may be eligible to receive veteran's scoring criteria points as provided by Washington State Law (RCW 41.04.010). If you wish to claim Veterans’ Preference Points, please complete the Veterans Scoring Criteria Declaration Form and upload it to your application with your DD214.
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