Plans Examiner

Maricopa County; United States; On-site; USD 40,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Exceptional work-life balance

Growth opportunities

Low-cost healthcare for you and depend

Child care benefits

Paid vacation, sick time, and parental

Wellness program with incentives

Arizona State Retirement System with 1

Job summary

Maricopa County's Planning and Development Department is seeking a Plans Examiner to review residential, commercial, and other construction plans for code compliance and accuracy. You will handle customer questions about development processes and use the county's permitting system and GIS for record keeping.

The role requires three years of plan review experience, a high school diploma, and relevant certifications.

Qualifications

• Requires 3 years of experience in architectural, residential, or commercial building plan review.
• High school diploma or GED required; post-secondary education may substitute on a year-for-year basis.
• Certification in Building Plans Examiner or Building Inspector (ICC/IAPMO/IAEI) is valued.
• Experience with researching, analyzing building and land-use issues; customer service experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Review residential and commercial building permit applications and site plans for compliance with codes and regulations.
• Review aerial and floodplain maps to determine additional review levels for permits.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and maintain effective relationships with the public, staff, and contractors.
• Assist with planning, building, zoning, code enforcement, and drainage review as part of development requirements.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Problem solving

Education

High school diploma or GED

Post-secondary education in Urban Planning, Urban Geography, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration, or related field

Building Plans Examiner or Building Inspector certification (ICC/IAPMO/IAEI)

Tools

Automated permitting system

Geographic Information System (GIS)

Job description

Posting Date and Application Deadline

Posting Date 10/20/26 Application Deadline 10/27/26 Pay Range $28.85 - $48.25 hourly Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification. The position is eligible for overtime compensation for all hours worked over 40 in the designated workweek.

Job Type

Unclassified

Department

Planning and Development

About the Position

Are you interested in playing a key role in the growth of the nation's fourth-largest county? As the Plans Examiner, you will provide reviews of residential, commercial, and other construction plans to ensure completeness, accuracy, and conformance to applicable building codes, ordinances, national standards, and zoning regulations. In addition, you will perform a variety of duties involved in providing customer information and assistance related to the development process, including but not limited to planning, building, zoning, code enforcement, drainage review, and maintaining records using the County's automated permitting system and computerized geographic information system.

About Us

Maricopa County is GROWING. At the Maricopa County Planning and Development Department, we want you to join us in making that growth possible! With our wide range of services, from land-use planning to building inspections and permit review, we have positions that allow professionals in the planning, construction, engineering, and trade fields to shape the future of the built environment. If you're interested in being a change-maker and behind-the-scenes expert in the growth of Maricopa County, we have the job for you! Proud to Offer Work with a greater purpose

Benefits

• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work-life balance
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to the Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring a 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

Education & Experience

• We Require Three years of experience in architectural, residential, or commercial building plan review, which includes reading and interpreting commercial and residential construction plans and specifications
• High school diploma or GED
• Post-secondary education in Urban Planning, Urban Geography, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration, or a related field may substitute for the experience on a year-for-year basis
• We Also Value Post-secondary education in Urban Planning, Urban Geography, Architecture, Engineering, Landscape Architecture, Public Administration, or a related field
• Experience in conducting research, analyzing problems, and issues related to building construction and land-use controls
• Experience in customer service
• Building Plans Examiner or Building Inspector certification with any of the following organizations: International Code Council (ICC), International Association of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), or the International Association of Electrical Inspectors (IAEI)
• Mechanical, plumbing, and electrical plan review experience

Job Contributions

• Review residential and commercial building permit applications and civil/site plans to ensure compliance with adopted building codes and ordinances, state statutes, and federal/state regulations
• Review aerial and floodplain maps to gather information to determine the level of additional review required for permit issuance
• Initiate and notify the public of address changes
• Function as a subject matter expert by displaying a thorough and deep understanding of the department's functions
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, staff members, governmental agencies, contractors, and the public to explain and administer development requirements and codes, including but not limited to planning, building, zoning, code enforcement, and drainage review
• Other duties as assigned

Working Conditions

The work environment for this position will include working indoors and outdoors, on stairs and ladders, and in confined areas, both in a typical office setting and during site inspections. The physical environment will consist of sitting, standing, walking, driving, climbing, and crouching in a standard office setting, as well as site inspections. May have to carry, push, or pull up to 50 pounds. Exerting up to 20 pounds occasionally, 10 pounds frequently, or negligible amounts constantly, or requires walking or standing to a significant degree. Position is typically office or administrative work and is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Selection Procedure

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications.
• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile.
• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact [e-mail] to initiate the interactive process.

Additional Information

Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ. We are Maricopa County. Who is that, you may ask? Forbes has rated Maricopa County one of Arizona’s Best Employers in 2024. We are over 13,000 employees strong, providing vital services for one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, with over four million residents who call Maricopa County home. You may wonder what we do, and it may be easier to answer that by asking what are you interested in! Join us and you will become part of a dynamic group of diverse and talented professionals who are passionate about making a difference and giving back to their communities. We offer career paths and opportunities in just about every job category and job level imaginable, so your journey with us is what you make of it! Along with offering purposeful careers, you can expect a rich selection of economical and comprehensive healthcare options, robust retirement plans, tuition and loan payment programs, and multiple paid leave options, as part of an overall generous compensation and benefits package. Thinking about career options, then please think about us! We are Maricopa County, and we are looking forward to working with you!