Vacant Building/Property Inspector

Carbondale, City of (IL); Carbondale (IL); On-site; USD 70,007,000 - 94,884,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Carbondale, Illinois seeks a Vacant Building and Property Inspector to enforce housing, zoning, and environmental codes. The role focuses on managing the vacant building registry, performing inspections, and coordinating enforcement with City departments.

Essential duties include maintaining CivicGov records, tracking licensing deadlines, inspecting mobile home parks, and documenting enforcement actions.

Qualifications

• At least three years of experience inspecting or working in building maintenance, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, or related work.
• Must have, or obtain within ten months, ICC Property Maintenance and Housing Inspector Certification.
• Must possess a valid Illinois Driver's License and pass background, drug, and alcohol screening.
• Ability to operate computer systems and learn CivicGov or similar software.

Responsibilities

• Manage the vacant building registry and related enforcement program.
• Inspect vacant buildings and other properties for compliance with housing, zoning, and related codes.
• Maintain CivicGov records for vacant properties, mobile home parks, weed control, licensing, and enforcement.
• Track licensing deadlines and send reminders; follow up on missing information and enforcement needs.
• Administer mobile home park licensing per City Code and coordinate inspections.
• Document inspections, deficiencies, and enforcement actions; coordinate with City departments.

Skills

Code enforcement

Property maintenance

Inspection experience

Records management

Education

ICC Property Maintenance and Housing Inspector Certification

Tools

CivicGov

Job description

City of Carbondale, Illinois

Vacant Building and Property Inspector

Dept/Div: Community Development / Building & Neighborhood Services

Nature of Work: Technical and administrative work in the enforcement of City housing, zoning, environmental, weed/noxious growth, mobile home park, vacant property, and other related City codes. This position primarily manages the vacant building registry, regularly inspects vacant properties to determine and maintain compliance, and coordinates enforcement and case follow-up with City departments. During the active weed season, the position performs seasonal weed control inspection and enforcement duties. The position also coordinates mobile home park licensing and inspection activities and maintains complete, accurate, and timely records in CivicGov for assigned Building & Neighborhood Services programs. The work includes both office and field responsibilities and extensive interaction with co-workers, property owners, licensees, applicants, and the public by telephone, in writing, electronically, and in person. The employee is supervised and evaluated by the Building & Neighborhood Services Supervisor.

Essential Duties:

1. Manage the City vacant building registry and related enforcement program. Identify and track vacant properties; maintain current ownership, contact, registration, renewal, and compliance information; conduct routine inspections and re-inspections; and prepare records and reports regarding the status of vacant properties.

2. Perform inspections of vacant buildings and other assigned properties for compliance with applicable housing, zoning, environmental, property maintenance, building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and related requirements. Clearly document observed conditions and violations and prepare notices, reports, photographs, citations, or other enforcement documents as authorized.

3. Maintain complete and accurate CivicGov records for assigned vacant property, mobile home park, weed control, licensing, inspection, and enforcement activities. Enter and update property, owner, operator, contact, inspection, renewal, notice, compliance, case-status, photograph, and supporting-document information; perform routine record quality-control; and correct or coordinate correction of missing, outdated, duplicate, or inconsistent information.

4. Track licensing and registration deadlines and the status of assigned entities. Prepare and send reminder, renewal, expiration, missing-information, and other approved correspondence; monitor outstanding requirements and follow-up dates; identify expired, delinquent, incomplete, or unresolved records; and refer matters requiring enforcement or supervisory action to the appropriate staff. Provide licensing follow-up for other BNS programs as assigned.

5. Administer and coordinate the mobile home park licensing process in accordance with Title 5, Chapter 3 of the City Code. Receive and review applications, renewals, requests for changes, and transfer-related documentation for completeness; confirm required supporting information and fees; coordinate required inspections; track annual licensing status; and prepare the file and recommendations for review and action by the Building & Neighborhood Services Supervisor or other authorized official.

6. Conduct and document inspections of mobile home parks and follow-up activities necessary to evaluate compliance with Title 5, Chapter 3 and other applicable City requirements, including approved plans, space and setback requirements, utilities, sanitary and waste-disposal conditions, fire-protection provisions, structures, grounds, and property maintenance. Document deficiencies, monitor corrective action, and coordinate notices or enforcement steps as authorized.

7. Work closely with and communicate regularly with the City Attorneys office, Police Department, Fire Department, Planning staff, Finance, Purchasing, and other City departments as needed to provide current information, coordinate inspections and enforcement, resolve record discrepancies, and support vacant property, mobile home park, weed control, and other assigned BNS activities.

8. Read, comprehend, interpret, and apply applicable City codes and established procedures. Receive inquiries and complaints from co-workers and the public by telephone, in writing, electronically, and in person; provide routine program and case-status information; and direct technical, legal, or other matters to the appropriate department or staff member.

9. Perform seasonal weed control surveillance and enforcement on private property and designated drainage areas and rights-of-way, including responding to complaints and inspecting parcels for tall grass/weeds or noxious growth in violation of City requirements. Weed inspection and posting procedures include, but are not limited to: a. From the street or other lawful viewpoint, visually observe and measure grass/weeds in excess of eight (8) inches in height. b. Post the property using the approved Notice Placard and wooden stake; clearly record the date of posting, correction date, applicable contractor-cost information, sequential posting number, and other required information. c. Place the weed measuring stake adjacent to the posted notice and take photographs documenting the violation and posting. d. Record all posted properties and designated drainage/right-of-way violations in CivicGov and/or the required daily weed-control records, including location, posting date, correction date, sequential notice number, photographs, and case status.

10. Enforce weed Notice of Violation and posting procedures through completion. Re-inspect placarded properties after the applicable posting period; re-post and photograph properties that remain in violation; issue written mowing orders to the City weed contractor; and issue or prepare non-traffic court citations as authorized.

11. Maintain and distribute weed-control records. Document daily postings, re-inspections, contractor mowing orders, completion status, and related photographs; submit completed mowing-order documentation for private properties to Finance, Legal, and Purchasing as required; and submit completed mowing orders for City drainage areas and rights-of-way to Purchasing or other designated staff.

12. Effectively and safely operate City vehicles, computers, CivicGov and other software, cell phones, tablets, copy/scanning equipment, maps, measuring devices, staple guns, hammers, weed-posting materials, and other approved tools and equipment. Maintain professional communication, use tact and sound judgment, work effectively both independently and as part of a team, and keep the Supervisor and appropriate staff informed of significant activities and case status.

Other Duties: Perform other duties and assignments as required to carry out the mission of the Building & Neighborhood Services Division.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office and outdoors and may expose the employee to extreme heat and cold, rain, snow, ice, high weeds, thickets, thorny vegetation, chemicals or other environmental hazards, and operation of a vehicle in a variety of weather conditions. Field work may involve vacant or unmaintained properties, drainage areas, rights-of-way, and other uneven or difficult terrain. Due to the nature of the position, an alternative work schedule that may include evenings or nights may be considered.

Physical Demands: Work requires frequent physical effort including sitting, standing, walking over rough or uneven surfaces, bending, stooping, crouching, squatting, kneeling, reaching, and working in restricted areas. The employee must be able to lift and carry up to 30 pounds, including bundles of wooden weed-posting stakes and related equipment, and safely use hand tools and inspection equipment. Work may require walking through high weeds, thickets, thorny bushes, mud, rock-covered ground, steep grades, drainage ditches, snow, and ice.

Minimum Acceptable Qualifications: At least three (3) years of experience inspecting or working in building maintenance, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, property maintenance, code enforcement, or related work. Must have, or successfully obtain within ten (10) months of employment, the International Code Council (ICC) Property Maintenance and Housing Inspector Certification. Must possess and maintain a valid Illinois Driver's License and successfully complete required background, drug, and alcohol screening. Ability to operate computer systems, maintain accurate electronic records, and learn CivicGov or similar permitting/licensing software is required. Experience with municipal code enforcement, licensing, permitting, records management, or regulatory databases is preferred.

Regular, Full Time/Overtime Eligible Position

Salary: Grade 6 $28.76/hour

The City of Carbondale is an Equal Opportunity Employer.