Plans Examiner & Senior Building Inspector

Town of Vail; Vail (CO); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Town of Vail is seeking a Senior Building Inspector / Plans Examiner to join the Community Development team. The role combines field inspections with comprehensive plan reviews to ensure adherence to building codes and life-safety standards.

The ideal candidate has substantial experience in both inspections and plans examination, with proficiency in applying codes to complex construction documents and field conditions.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Significant ICC certifications across inspection and plans-exam responsibilities are required or must be obtained.
• 4–5 years of experience reading construction drawings, specs, and codes is expected.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Perform building, plumbing, mechanical, and related inspections for commercial and residential projects to ensure code compliance.
• Conduct commercial and residential plan reviews for new construction, renovations, and repairs.
• Review permit applications and construction documents for completeness and compliance.
• Ensure life-safety requirements, including accessibility and egress, are met.
• Interpret and apply ICC codes and Town ordinances in both field and plans-review contexts.
• Mentor and assist less-experienced staff; serve as technical resource.
• Collaborate with departments and external stakeholders like architects and engineers.

Skills

Building inspections

Plans examination

Code interpretation

Communication

Customer service

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

ICC certifications (inspection/plans-exam)

Colorado driver’s license

Tools

Electronic plan-review systems

Permitting software

Job description

Senior Building Inspector / Plans Examiner

The Town of Vail is seeking an experienced Senior Building Inspector / Plans Examiner to join our Community Development team. This position combines two critical functions within the Building Division: performing complex residential and commercial building inspections in the field and conducting comprehensive plan reviews to ensure compliance with adopted building codes, Town ordinances, and applicable life-safety standards.

This is a dual-function position, and we are looking for a well-rounded building professional with demonstrated experience in both building inspection and plans examination. The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between active construction sites and detailed technical plan review and will have the knowledge and judgment necessary to interpret and apply building codes in both environments.

What You’ll Do

In this role, you will:

• Perform building, plumbing, mechanical, and related inspections of commercial and residential construction projects to ensure compliance with adopted codes and approved construction documents.
• Conduct commercial and residential plan reviews for new construction, renovations, alterations, additions, and repairs.
• Review permit applications, construction drawings, specifications, and other technical documents for completeness and code compliance.
• Ensure new construction and alterations meet minimum life-safety requirements, including accessibility, emergency egress, fire resistance and protection, structural soundness, and air quality.
• Interpret and apply International Code Council codes, Town of Vail ordinances, regulations, and adopted standards.
• Review construction materials, methods, and techniques and identify potentially unsafe, noncompliant, or illegal conditions.
• Maintain accurate records of inspections and plan reviews and communicate required corrections clearly to applicants, contractors, architects, engineers, and property owners.
• Respond to technical questions regarding code compliance, code interpretation, plan review, permitting, and inspection requirements.
• Assist customers at the Community Development counter, by phone, and electronically with permitting, plan review, and inspection processes.
• Investigate construction-related complaints and citizen requests and issue Stop Work Orders or Dangerous Building notices when appropriate.
• Exercise independent judgment in evaluating complex construction and code-compliance issues.
• Serve as a technical resource and mentor for less-experienced Building Division staff.
• Work collaboratively with other Town departments and maintain productive relationships with architects, engineers, contractors, utility providers, business owners, and homeowners.

These responsibilities reflect the substantial inspection duties of the Senior Building Inspector role and the technical plans-review responsibilities of the Plans Examiner role.

What We’re Looking For

The ideal candidate brings substantial hands‑on experience in building construction and code compliance and is equally capable of evaluating work in the field and reviewing detailed construction documents.

Candidates should have:

• Strong professional experience performing residential and commercial building inspections.
• Strong professional experience conducting residential and commercial plans examination.
• Thorough knowledge of building construction, construction techniques, materials, means and methods, and code-compliance practices.
• Demonstrated ability to read, analyze, and interpret complex construction drawings, technical specifications, building codes, and standards.
• Thorough working knowledge of International Code Council codes and the ability to interpret and apply adopted codes to both construction documents and actual field conditions.
• Strong understanding of permitting, inspection, and plan‑review processes and experience using electronic permitting and plan‑review systems.
• Excellent judgment, communication, customer‑service, and problem‑solving skills.
• The ability to communicate technical code requirements effectively with contractors, architects, engineers, property owners, coworkers, and members of the public.

Education, Experience & Certifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Significant professional experience in code enforcement/compliance, building inspection, plans examination, construction, project management, or a closely related technical field.
• Demonstrated experience performing both building inspections and plans examination is required.
• A minimum of four to five years of experience reading and interpreting construction drawings, technical specifications, building codes and standards.
• International Code Council (ICC) certifications appropriate to both inspection and plans examination responsibilities are required or must be obtained within the timeframe established by the Town.
• Building Inspector, Mechanical Inspector, and Plumbing Inspector certifications are highly desirable.
• Building Plans Examiner and Residential Plans Examiner certifications are highly desirable.
• Additional ICC certifications across inspection and plans-examination disciplines are preferred.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado driver’s license.

The existing Senior Building Inspector description requires 6–10 years of related experience, Building, Mechanical and Plumbing Inspector certifications, plus at least four additional ICC inspection/plans-examiner disciplines; the Plans Examiner description requires five years of related experience and specifically requires ICC Building Plans Examiner and Residential Plans Examiner certifications.