Permit Technician I/II

City of Galt; Galt (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Home Buying Program

Tuition Reimbursement

Holiday Pay

Vacation Leave

Sick Leave

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Long-Term Disability

EAP

Job summary

The City of Galt is seeking qualified candidates for Permit Technician I/II within the Community Development Department. This on-site role supports the issuance of building permits, explains city codes, and assists contractors, architects, and the public with land development and permit processes.

Positions are represented by IUOE Local 39. Competitive benefits and a structured pay scale apply to this entry- to journey-level series.

Qualifications

• Public contact in municipal or county building department.
• Explain building codes and permit procedures to the public.
• Ability to read plans and schedules.

Responsibilities

• Process building permit applications and issue permits per guidelines.
• Prepare fee estimates and collect permit fees.
• Review plans for compliance with codes.
• Provide information on zoning and building regulations to the public.

Skills

Public interaction

Customer service

Attention to detail

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Supplemental coursework in building or planning (desirable)

Job description

Base Pay Increases:

Effective July 1, 2027:

• Permit Technician I - $26.26 - $32.23
• Permit Technician II - $28.96 - $35.55

ADDITIONAL PAY (UPON ASSIGNMENT AND ELIGIBILITY):

• Longevity Pay- beginning at 10 years of service, 5%; 15 years of service, 7.5%.
• Bilingual Pay- $100 per month.
• Medical-in-lieu- Employees who waive the City's medical coverage shall receive $200 per month for employee only, $350 per month for employee plus one, and $500 per month for family.
• Incentives- education incentive can be earned between 2.5% - 10%
• On-Call Pay- Two hours for every normal workday and four hours for every holiday weekend.
• Standby Pay- Two hours for each standby shift of 8 hours or less.

BENEFITS:

• Home Buying Program- $25,000 interest-free loan to assist with the purchase of a home in Galt city limits.
• Tuition Reimbursement- Up to $4,000 per fiscal year.
• Holiday Pay- 14 holidays; thirteen (13) paid holidays and one (1) floating holiday. Thirteen (13) fixed holidays observed: New Year’s Day, MLK Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Farmworkers Day (Formerly Cesar Chavez Day,) Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
• Vacation Leave- 80 hours per year; after 4 years- 120 hours; after 10 years- 160 hours; after 15 years- 200 hours; and after 22 years- 220 hours.
• Vacation Credit- Those with 4+ years of prior public agency experience may request to accrue at a rate of 120 hours.
• Vacation Cash Out- Cash out up to forty (40) hours of vacation per year.
• Sick Leave- 96 hours per year.
• Health Insurance- City pays a generous portion of the CalPERS medical premium, including 100% for employee-only for 5 of the health plans. City pays 100% of dental and vision premiums.
• Life Insurance- City pays a $50,000 policy and a $1,500 policy for dependents.
• Long-Term Disability- City-paid policy benefit is up to 60% of base salary.
• EAP- Confidential employee assistance plan.

IUOE Local 39 REPRESENTED POSITION

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt/Hourly

ABOUT GALT

The City of Galt, located in the heart of California's Central Valley, offers the perfect blend of small-town charm and modern convenience. Known for its friendly community, excellent schools, and beautiful parks, Galt is an ideal place to live, work, and play. Conveniently situated along Highway 99, Galt provides easy access to both Sacramento and the Bay Area, making it a desirable location for families and professionals alike. The city hosts popular events such as the Galt Market, a vibrant open‑air market that draws visitors from across the region. With a strong sense of community, affordable housing, and plenty of recreational opportunities, Galt is a growing city that still holds on to its welcoming, hometown feel. Join us in Galt — the Great American Little Town!

Under general supervision, performs a variety of routine to complex administrative and technical support duties related to the issuance of building permits and in support of related services and activities of the Community Development Department; explains ordinances, requirements, City codes, and department procedures to building contractors, architects, engineers, builders, and the general public pertaining to land development and improvement, permit requests, and concerns; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from the Permit Services Supervisor and may receive direction from other Community Development Department staff. Exercises no direct supervision over staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

Permit Technician I: This is the entry-level class in the Permit Technician series. Incumbents work initially under direct supervision and receive detailed instructions and training on assignments and are expected to demonstrate technical skills in addition to office support; will perform the most basic and routine tasks to assist the department. Incumbents generally work within an established framework of set procedures in performing assigned tasks. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied and are performed with greater independence. Positions at this level usually perform most of the duties required of the positions at the II level, but are not expected to function at the same skill level and usually exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods. Work is usually supervised while in progress and fits an established structure or pattern. Exceptions or changes in procedures are explained in detail as they arise.

Permit Technician II: This is the journey-level class in the Permit Technician series that is fully competent to perform a variety of responsible duties to assist in the provision of City services for the public. Incumbents with well-developed office support skills are expected to learn technical and specialized rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and activities related to the Community Development Department and to apply them independently. These classes are distinguished from other office support classes by the performance of technical and/or specialized duties that require application of a larger base of technical knowledge and skill in addition to standard office support skills.

These classes are distinguished from other office support classes by the performance of technical and/or specialized duties that require application of a larger base of technical knowledge and skill in addition to standard office support skills.

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

• Conductsbuilding permit processing; reviews permit applications, plans, specifications, and supporting documents for completeness and compliance with legal standards and City requirements; calculates permit fees; prepares bills, collects fees, and issues receipts; issuesbuilding, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits following established guidelines.
• Prepares and provides permit fee estimates, verifies fee calculations and assessments for accuracy before payment and permit issuance.
• Completes building review approval process on plot and site 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, such as water heaters, re‑roofing, HVAC, and similar projects; assists in processing construction plans for industrial, commercial and residential projects; files or routes information to appropriate City departments.
• Routes submittals to the appropriate City departments and reviewing disciplines, including Building, Planning, and Engineering; tracks plan review progress, comments, corrections, outstanding items, and approvals; coordinates with reviewing staff and follows up on pending reviews; organizes and communicates review comments and correction requests to applicants; monitors resubmittals; and verifies that required corrections, clearances, and approvals have been received before permit issuance. Maintains records of plan review activity, comments, correspondence, and approvals.
• Provides appropriate information regarding zoning, subdivision plans, and building ordinances, procedures, and requirements to the public including homeowners, developers, contractors, engineers, and architects, in person and over the counter and telephone; assists the public in the application process for building permits.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for the Building Division, public counter, and incoming telephone calls; responds to general permit inquiries, explains application requirements, plan review status, permit fees, inspection procedures and Building Division processes; assists customers and directs them to appropriate City staff or departments where needed.
• 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; establishes and maintains filing systems; creates and modifies forms as necessary; prepares and proofreads a wide variety of correspondence, letters, memoranda, reports, statistical charts, and other written material; distributes reports internally and to various governmental offices; organizes and assembles documents; files and catalogues maps, photos, and other planning exhibits and documents; verifies accuracy of information; researches discrepancies and records information.
• Compiles information and data for statistical and financial reports; maintains a variety of statistical records; checks and tabulates statistical data.
• Scans applications, plans, approved plans, and supporting documents; maintains organized electronic and physical permit files; indexes, retrieves, and distributes digital records; and ensures permit documents and records are accurately maintained and accessible.
• Assists with requests for building permits, approved plans, inspection records, and other permit‑related documents; researches and retrieves applicable permit files; prepares copies of plans and related documents; and coordinates with appropriate City departments and the City Clerk’s Office in accordance with City procedures and applicable public records disclosure requirements.
• Contacts the public and outside agencies in acquiring and providing information and making referrals.
• Clears and releases utility services; manages and tracks all release for other internal departments.
• Checks status of state contractors’ licenses, business licenses, and verification of workers’ compensation insurance.
• Provides needed information and demonstrations concerning how to perform certain work tasks to new employees in the same or similar class of positions.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge of:

• Organization, procedures, and operating details of the Community Development Department.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and organizational policies and proceduresrelevant tobuilding and\/or urban planning, sufficient to answer questions and provide information to the public; applicable zoning and related laws and regulations.
• Business letter writing and basic report preparation.
• Business arithmetic and basic statistical techniques.
• Recordkeeping principles and procedures.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• 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.
• Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Ability to:

• Understand and explain City policies, procedures, fees and basic planning and building codes and regulations to the general public, permit applicants, and City staff.
• Interpret, apply, explain and ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Read and interpret plans, specifications, related construction documents and maps.
• Calculate square footage, fees and\/or penalties from plans, and fees for zoning permit applications.
• Prepare and provide permit fee estimates, verify fee assessments and calculations, and identify discrepancies.
• Perform detailed, technical, and specialized planning and zoning and\/or permit support work.
• Perform the full range of office and administrative support duties and tasks.
• Respond to and effectively prioritize multiple phone calls, walk‑up traffic and other requests and interruptions.
• Provide professional customer service at the public counter and over the phone; explain permit processes and requirements clearly and direct customers to the appropriate staff or department.
• Compose correspondence and reports independently or from brief instructions.
• Maintain accurate logs, records and basic written and\/or electronic records of work performed.
• Maintain accurate physical and electronic permit files, scan and organize documents and retrieve and distribute records as needed.
• Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy to perform assigned work.
• Make accurate arithmetic, financial and statistical computations.
• Operate office equipment and computer applications related to the work.
• Make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Organize 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 effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience

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:

Education

Technician I: High School diploma or equivalent.

Technician II: High School diploma or equivalent. Supplemental course work in building or planning is desirable.

Experience

Permit Technician I: One year of experience with public contact in a municipal or county building, engineering, or planning department or equivalent private sector experience such as construction or related fields, including a high level of public contact and customer service.

Permit Technician II: At least two (2) years of experience with public contact in a municipal or county building, engineering, or planning department or equivalent private sector experience such as construction or related fields, including a high level of public contact and customer service. A typical way to obtain experience is having one year of experience prior to Technician I, and then a year performing work as a Technician I (combined two (2) years of experience).

Licenses and Certifications

Permit Technician I: Must obtain and maintain an active ICC Certified Permit Technician certification within the probationary period.

Permit Technician II: Certified Permit Technician Certification; the certification shall be maintained in a current status as a condition of employment with the City or promotion to the Permit Technician II classification and continued employment in that classification.

Licenses and certificates listed below are desirable, but not required at the time of appointment.

Possession of Certified Plans Examiner Certification.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed material and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. Standing and walking in work areas if frequently required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and\/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Must be able to pass a pre‑employment physical and background investigation, including fingerprinting.