PERMIT TECHNICIAN I/II

City-of-El-Cerrit

San Pablo (CA)

On-site

USD 63,000 - 83,000

Full time

9 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

CalPERS Retirement

Medical/Dental Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Voluntary Benefits

Holidays

Vacation

Sick Leave

Tuition Reimbursement

Bilingual Pay

Wellness Program

Job summary

The City of El Cerrito is seeking Permit Technician I or II to join the Building Division. You will be the primary contact for the public, contractors, and engineers, reviewing permit applications, issuing permits, and supporting the Building and Planning Divisions within the Community Development Department.

Successful candidates will demonstrate strong customer service, organization, and communication skills, and the ability to multitask on multiple projects with minimal supervision.

Qualifications

Knowledge of building permit processes and city codes.
Experience with office clerical tasks and customer interactions.
Ability to de-escalate and provide high level customer service.

Responsibilities

Provides information at the front counter, on the phone, and via email regarding community development, building, and permit processes; explains fees and procedures.
Receives and processes permit applications, plans, specifications, and supporting documents; collects fees and issues permits.
Performs preliminary plan review and coordinates with other City staff and departments.

Skills

Customer service

Organizational skills

Communication

Multitasking

Education

Completion of the twelfth grade

Some college coursework desirable

Job description

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

Salary Range:

Permit Technician I: $63,480 - $77,160 Annually

Permit Technician II: $67,872 - $82,500 Annually

What is the Role?

The City is flexibly recruiting to fill two (2) Permit Technician vacancies in the Building Division. A successful candidate will be placed at either level I or level II in the Permit Technician classification series depending on experience. Permit Technicians represent the City of El Cerrito to all visiting members of the public, as well as contractors, architects, and engineers. This role serves as the primary point of contact for the City and supports the daily operations and key functions of the Building Division as well as the Planning Division within the Community Development Department. A successful candidate will have excellent customer service and organizational skills, effective communication and listening skills, and lastly possess the ability to multitask and work on multiple projects at once. Additionally, the Permit Technicians will review and inspect building permit applications for accuracy and completeness, issue completed permits, and answer a variety of inquiries and questions about requirements and processes. The Permit Technician II is considered the journey level classification and takes on the full scope of responsibilities in the series, working independently on more complex projects and operates with minimal supervision. The Permit Technician reports to the Building Official.

If you are looking for a rewarding and challenging place to work with a dynamic and collaborative City team and an opportunity to grow professionally, this is the position for you!

City Perks

CalPERS Retirement: CalPERS Classic members 2.7% @ 55 and PEPRA members 2% @ 62 retirement formula integrated with Social Security; 8.5% employee contribution.
Medical/Dental Insurance: Fully paid medical coverage (up to Kaiser family rate) and dental coverage (up to Family coverage) for employees and their dependents. This is a value of up to $38,064 annually; cash in lieu option available at $500 per month.
Life Insurance: The City pays for basic life and AD&D insurance coverage each up to $100,000.
Short-Term/Long-Term Disability Insurance:2/3rds of salary up to the maximum monthly.
Voluntary Benefits: Supplemental life insurance, deferred compensation plans and flexible spending accounts (FSAs) offered.
Holidays: 13 paid holidays per year, plus 3 floating holidays and 1 birthday holiday.
Vacation: Vacation ranging from 11 to 33 days per year based on years of service.
Sick Leave: Accrued at 8.75 hours per month.
Tuition Reimbursement: Cost reimbursement up to the maximum of $3,500/fiscal year for work related studies.
Bilingual Pay: The City pays $2,600 per year to employees who are bilingual and who have passed a proficiency test provided by the City.
Wellness Program: Access to an array of wellness programs offered by the City such as massage days, fitness and meditation classes, Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Are We A Match?

You are passionate about providing excellent customer service.
You excel at guiding customers through complex permitting processes.
You enjoy contributing to a positive work environment.
You are dedicated to approaching challenges with a solution‑oriented mindset.
You are detail‑oriented with sharp organization skills required to monitor diverse projects.

Tentative Virtual Interview date: Week of November 9th, 2026

Essential responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Provides information and assistance at the front counter, on the phone, and through e-mail by answering questions and providing information regarding community development, building, and permit processes, fees, and procedures; provides information regarding applicable local, state, and federal regulations and municipal codes, ordinances, standards, and guidelines.
Receives and processes permit applications, plans, specifications, and supporting documents; calculates and collects applicable fees; prepares and issues a variety of permits and releases approved plans following established guidelines.
Performs preliminary review of plans; coordinates plan review with other City staff and departments.
Organizes and maintains accurate and detailed databases, spreadsheets, files, and records; verifies accuracy of information, researches discrepancies, and records information; queries and organizes data; ensures compliance with established records retention schedules including archiving, scanning, and destructing files.
Researches, compiles, and summarizes data and information and prepares various correspondence, reports, and related documentation.
Verifies and reviews applications, records, files, and reports for completeness and conformance with established regulations and procedures; applies departmental and City policies and procedures in determining completeness of applications, records, and files.
Observes and complies with all City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
Performs related duties as assigned.

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:

Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade. Some college level coursework in a related field is desirable.

Experience:

Permit Technician I: One (1) year of general office and clerical support experience.

Permit Technician II: Three (3) years of increasingly responsible permit processing experience at a level equivalent to the City’s Permit Technician I.

Licenses/Certificates:

Possession of, or ability to obtain within two (2) years of appointment, a Residential Building Inspector Certificate or Permit Technician Certificate issued by the International Code Council (ICC), to be maintained throughout employment.
Individuals who are appointed to this position will be required to maintain a current and valid California Driver’s License and satisfactory driving record throughout employment OR demonstrate the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as required in the performance of duties. *A current and valid out-of-state license may be used upon hire and a valid California Driver’s License must be obtained within six (6) months of appointment.

Knowledge of:

Permit, building inspection, and code enforcement programs, procedures, and requirements.
Research, data collection, and reporting techniques, methods, and procedures.
Business correspondence writing and the standard format for reports, correspondence, and related documents.
Methods of preparing and processing various applications, plans, records, reports, and forms.
Principles and procedures of record-keeping.
City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
Techniques for de‑escalation and providing a high level of customer service by effectively assisting with the public, vendors, and City staff.
Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

Explain permit, building inspection, and code enforcement programs, procedures, and requirements; identify and respond to issues and concerns.
Research, summarize, and present information and data in an effective manner.
Process and review various permit applications, plans, reports, forms, and other documents.
Respond to and effectively prioritize multiple phone calls and other requests for information and/or service.
Prepare and maintain clear and concise reports, correspondence, documentation, and other written materials.
Use tact, initiative, prudence, and judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines.
Organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing using the English language.
Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

THE COMMUNITY

Located near the east shore of the San Francisco Bay, the City of El Cerrito is an ethnically diverse community offering a high quality of life within one of the nation's most sophisticated and beautiful living areas. With a population of almost 25,000 residents, El Cerrito has the advantage of being centrally located in a major metropolitan area, yet retains a small town feel. El Cerrito is an established community with a strong self-identity and a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its community members.

THE DEPARTMENT

The mission of the Community Development Department is to deliver services that provide a safe, connected, environmentally-focused and high quality of life in El Cerrito. The Department achieves this mission through providing programs in Building, Planning, Affordable Housing and Economic Development that promote a safe built environment, community, environmental quality and economic vitality.

Learn more about what it's like to work for the City of El Cerrito by watching the following videos, showcasing the El Cerrito community and organization: