Plans Examiner

City-of-SAN-Luis-Obispo-; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

City of San Luis Obispo is seeking a skilled Plans Examiner to review plans and supporting calculations for commercial, industrial, and residential buildings to ensure conformance with building codes and ordinances.

The ideal candidate collaborates with architects, contractors, property owners and City staff, interprets codes across architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical disciplines, and ensures timely plan reviews.

Qualifications

• Two years of college-level coursework in construction management, engineering, architecture, or a related field.
• Two years of progressively responsible experience as a building inspector or plans examiner.
• Certification as a Plans Examiner by the ICC, or ability to obtain within one year of hire.

Responsibilities

• Performs plan review of commercial, industrial and residential projects to determine code compliance.
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with property owners, architects, engineers, contractors and city staff.
• Coordinates plan review by City consultants and other departments to ensure complete corrections.
• Explains and interprets building codes and regulations to stakeholders.
• Staffs the customer service counter to provide information, receive applications and process permits.
• Conducts inspections and site reviews of proposed projects.
• Reviews disciplinary and design details for alignment with codes and standards.

Skills

Building code knowledge

Plan review

Communication

Site development

Education

College coursework

Experience as plans examiner

ICC certification readiness

Tools

Permit tracking software

Word processing

Job description

The City of San Luis Obispo is seeking a skilled and collaborative professional to join our team!

We are looking for a motivated Plans Examiner who is committed to ensuring safe, compliant, and high-quality development throughout our community. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, demonstrates strong technical knowledge of building code principles, and enjoys working directly with architects, contractors, property owners, and City staff to support successful project outcomes.

Please note: Hiring incentives are not guaranteed but may be valued up to $3,000 for positions deemed hard to fill by the Director of Human Resources. For candidates who live 50 or more miles from San Luis Obispo County, relocation assistance up to $7,000 may be available. In addition, the City is also honoring service credit toward vacation accrual for completed public-sector years of service.

If you are selected for interviews, they will take place in person on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, so please hold that date.

JOB SUMMARY

Reviews plans and supporting calculations for a variety of commercial, industrial, and residential buildings and other structures to be constructed, altered or repaired to ensure conformance with building codes and ordinances; reviews grading plans and specifications for code conformance; and interprets building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, disabled access, and energy codes.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This job class functions at a full journey level of classification and requires thorough knowledge of applicable Federal, State, County and City laws, codes, and ordinances related to building design and construction. Positions in this class work independently while performing established plan review duties.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Employees in this classification are under general supervision of the Fire Marshal/Chief Building Official and receive direct supervision from the Building and Safety Supervisor.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Performs the plan review of commercial, industrial and residential building construction projects to determine compliance with State and local building codes, laws, and ordinances.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with property owners, architects, engineers, contractors, the general public, co-workers, other departments, and supervisors.
• Coordinates and monitors plan review accomplished by the City's consultants and other City departments.
• Acts as information source to property owners, builders, contractors, and architects regarding code compliance; explains and interprets building codes and regulations.
• Staffs the customer service counter as required to provide information, receive applications, calculate fees and conduct over-the–counter permit processing.
• Conducts inspections permitted projects and site review of proposed projects.
• Reviews architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical plans to determine compliance with applicable construction codes.
• Reviews test reports from laboratories and soil analysis reports from consulting engineers.
• Reviews development plans to determine compliance with the grading ordinance, drainage criteria, disabled access regulations, soil reports, engineering standards, zoning regulations, and subdivision conditions.
• Reviews structural calculations and plans for completeness, accuracy, and application of sound engineering principles.
• Coordinates plan review by other departments to ensure transmittal of corrections in a complete and professional manner.
• Researches information on proposed new products and materials and transmits results to architects, engineers, builders, and property owners.
• Conducts training sessions as required for Division staff concerning code changes, code interpretations, and compliance issues.
• Maintains accurate records and prepares reports related to assignment.
• Attends seminars for code classes and training; attends other meetings as assigned.
• Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• Proper principles, methods, techniques, and practices of building design.
• Computer applications applicable to permit application tracking and word processing.
• Engineering principles and practice, seismic analysis, and soil mechanics.
• Federal, State, County, and City laws, codes, and ordinances relating to building construction, grading, and drainage.
• Types of building materials and variations in their quality.
• Methods of building construction.
• Acceptable health and safety standards in building construction.

ABILITY TO

• Interpret and enforce provisions of applicable building codes, ordinances, and regulations enforced by the City.
• Interpret and explain code requirements dealing with construction, grading, drainage, and site development.
• Apply technical knowledge of building trades work.
• Read and interpret construction drawings, soil reports, and specifications.
• Review drainage calculations and design.
• Quickly and accurately make arithmetical calculations.
• Effectively and tactfully communicate in both verbal and written form.
• Establish and maintain records and prepare reports related to assignment.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Two years of college level coursework in construction management, engineering, architecture, or a related field
and
Two years of progressively responsible experience as a building inspector or plans examiner
or
An equivalent combination of education and experience.

POSSESSION AND MAINTENANCE OF

• Certification as a Plans Examiner by the International Code Council, or the ability to obtain certification within one year of hire.

BEFORE A FINAL OFFER IS MADE, CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE

• Live Scan Fingerprinting – DOJ