Permit Technician (Community Development)

City Of Pismo Beach; California (MO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

City Of Pismo Beach is seeking a Permit Technician to support the Community Development Department in processing building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits. The role involves reviewing applications, guiding applicants, and coordinating plan reviews and inspections.

The ideal candidate will be organized, detail-oriented, and customer-focused, with strong communication skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED, plus two years of college coursework in construction management or a related field.
• Three years of paraprofessional experience with customer service and administrative support.

Responsibilities

• Reviews permit applications and supporting documents for completeness and compliance.
• Issues building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits per guidelines.
• Coordinates plan check, inspections, and certificate of occupancy releases.
• Provides information on codes, ordinances, and City procedures to the public.
• Maintains records, reports, and data for departmental operations.
• Answers phones and assists walk-in customers; maintains files and documents.
• Notifies applicants when permits are ready for delivery or issuance.

Skills

Customer service

Telephone handling

Records management

Plan reviews

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Two years college coursework in construction management

Job description

Join our Community Development team as the Permit Technician

and help shape a safe, thriving community by providing exceptional customer service and technical support throughout the permitting process.

In this role, you will review permit applications; issue building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits; coordinate plan reviews and inspections; and help ensure compliance with applicable codes and regulations. As a key point of contact for homeowners, contractors, architects, developers, and the public, you will provide guidance on permit requirements and City procedures while performing a variety of administrative and technical duties that support the department's operations and keep development projects moving forward.

The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, and customer-focused, with strong communication skills, the ability to manage multiple priorities, and a commitment to providing accurate, efficient, and responsive service in a collaborative environment.

Under general supervision, performs a variety of routine to complex administrative and technical support duties related to the issuance of building, encroachment, engineering, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits and in support of related services and activities of the Community Development and Public Works Departments. Explains ordinances, requirements, and City codes, and department procedures to building contractors, consultants, architects, engineers, developers, and the general public pertaining to capital improvement projects, engineering, land development and improvement, permit requests, and concerns.

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

When performing within the Community Development Department:

• Conducts building and land use permit processing; reviews permit applications and supporting documents for completeness and compliance with legal standards and City requirements; calculates fees and credits; issues building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits following established guidelines.
• Completes planning and building review approval process on plans to ensure code compliance; resolves moderately complex issues of compliance; reviews and approves plans and accompanying documents on over-the-counter permits for routine or less complex projects; coordinates final inspections, utility clearances, and certificate of occupancy releases; coordinates plan check process for commercial and residential projects and files or routes information to appropriate City personnel.
• Provides appropriate information and support regarding building codes/ordinances, procedures, and requirements to the public including homeowners, developers, contractors, engineers, and architects, in person and over the counter and telephone.
• Notifies applicants when plans or permits are ready for delivery or issuance; provides status updates.
• Performs a wide variety of routine to complex administrative duties in support of the Community Development Department; distributes reports internally and to various governmental offices; organizes and assembles documents; files and catalogues maps, photos, and documents; verifies accuracy of information; researches discrepancies and records information.
• Monitors and coordinates office paperwork and activities, including preparing inspection schedules, preparing and maintaining purchase orders, maintaining inventory of supplies, answering phones, printing flyers, and conducting a variety of special projects of an administrative nature.
• Applies departmental policies and procedures in determining completeness of applications, records, and reports; provides information and forms to the public; processes appropriate information.
• Compiles information and data for statistical and financial reports, including revenue and expenditure information; maintains a variety of statistical records; checks and tabulates statistical data.
• Contacts the public and outside agencies in acquiring and providing information and making referrals.
• Operates standard office equipment, including job-related computer hardware and software applications, facsimile equipment, and multi-line telephones.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of:

• Organization, procedures, and operating details of the assigned Department.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned Department and job duties.
• Business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Business arithmetic and basic statistical techniques.
• Record keeping principles and procedures.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Ability to:

• Understand and explain City policies, procedures, fees and basic regulations to the general public, permit applicants, and City staff.
• Analyze, interpret, and explain applicable Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, regulations, codes, and departmental policies.
• Read and interpret plans, specifications, related construction documents, and maps.
• Calculate square footage, fees and/or penalties from plans.
• Perform detailed, technical, and specialized permit support work.
• Perform the full range of office and administrative support duties and tasks.
• Respond to and effectively prioritise multiple phone calls, walk-up traffic, and other requests and interruptions.
• Compose correspondence and reports independently or from brief instructions.
• Maintain accurate logs, records, and basic written records of work performed.
• Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform assigned work.
• Make accurate arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer and related word processing, database, and spreadsheet software and applications.
• Make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Organise own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: High School Diploma or GED, supplemented by two (2) years of college level coursework in construction management, engineering, architecture, planning, or a related field and three (3) years of paraprofessional experience with support responsibilities, including customer service.

Licenses and Certifications

• When assigned to Community Development: Possession of, or ability to obtain, International Code Council (ICC) Permit Technician certificate within twelve (12) months of employment or date of entry into the position.