Permit Technician I/II – Community Development Department

Sonoma City; Sonoma (CA); On-site; USD 64,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CalPERS retirement

Medical coverage

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Vacation and sick leave

Job summary

Sonoma City is seeking a Permit Technician I/II to support the Planning Division, assist applicants with planning and building processes, and manage permit-related tasks. The role emphasizes customer service, accuracy, and effective use of permit-tracking systems.

Bilingual English/Spanish is desirable but not required. Responsibilities include processing applications, calculating fees, supporting public meetings, and maintaining records.

Qualifications

• Two years of public-facing office support experience.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience with electronic permitting and plan review systems is desirable.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide customer service at the counter and by phone, explaining planning, building and permit processes.
• Receive, review and process planning, building, encroachment and zoning applications.
• Calculate and collect permit, plan check and development-related fees.
• Track applications and provide status updates to applicants.
• Assist with public meetings: agendas, minutes, logistics and AV presentations.
• Maintain records in electronic permit tracking systems.
• Assist City Hall reception and front counter activities.
• Prepare and issue applications for new water connections or water customers.

Skills

Customer service

Public interaction

Interpersonal communication

Computer literacy

Bilingual English/Spanish (desirable)

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Electronic permitting systems

Plan review systems

Job description

The City of Sonoma is seeking a highly qualified, dynamic and enthusiastic candidate to join the Community Development Department as a Permit Technician I/II.

This position works in the Planning Division and plays an important role in helping residents, property owners, contractors and other customers navigate City planning and building processes. The Permit Technician serves as a first point of contact for the public while providing technical and administrative support for development applications, permits and other Community Development activities.

About the Position

The Permit Technician performs a variety of planning and building support duties, including:

• Providing customer service at the counter and by phone and explaining planning, building and permit processes.
• Receiving, reviewing and processing planning, building, encroachment and zoning applications.
• Reviewing applications for completeness and accuracy and routing plans for review.
• Calculating and collecting permit, plan check and development-related fees.
• Processing minor planning applications and reviewing applications for compliance with applicable requirements.
• Tracking applications and providing status updates to applicants.
• Supporting public meetings, including preparation of agendas and minutes, scheduling, logistics, audio-visual presentations and electronic meeting hosting.
• Maintaining records and entering and retrieving information from electronic permit tracking systems.
• Assisting with City Hall reception and front counter activities.
• Preparing and issuing applications for new water connections or water customers.

The position works closely with members of the public, property owners, contractors, architects, developers, engineers, City staff and outside agencies.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is customer-service oriented, organized, detail-focused and comfortable working in a busy public-facing environment. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to interpret and explain policies and procedures, and a high level of computer literacy are important for success in this position.

Experience with electronic permitting and plan review systems is highly desirable. Bilingual English/Spanish skills are also desirable, but not required.

Qualifications

• Permit Technician I: Two years of increasingly responsible office support experience involving significant public contact, and education equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.
• Permit Technician II: In addition to the qualifications above, two years of planning and/or building permit review experience equivalent to a Permit Technician I with the City of Sonoma.

Salary & Benefits

• Permit Technician I: $64,418.89 – $78,301.57 annually
• Permit Technician II: $74,947.17 – $91,098.75 annually, DOE

The City offers a competitive benefits package that includes CalPERS retirement, medical coverage, City-paid dental and vision insurance, vacation and sick leave, and 15 paid holidays, including two floating holidays.