Zoning & Land Use Enforcement Officer

Sally’s Apizza; Beacon Falls (CT); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Beacon Falls is seeking a Zoning & Land Use Enforcement Officer to provide administrative, clerical, and enforcement support across the Land Use Office, Building Department, and Planning & Zoning Office.

This role handles scheduling, building permits, public inquiries, and enforcement of zoning regulations. It combines two 20-hour roles into up to 40 hours weekly, requiring strong communication and independent work with property owners and agencies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business, IT, or related field.
• Working knowledge of Town, State, and Federal zoning statutes.
• Advanced knowledge of computers and Microsoft applications.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and requirements.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• General knowledge of office procedures and clerical tasks.
• Familiarity with town hall secretarial requirements (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Maintain a log of all open applications and enforcement follow-ups.
• Serve as primary contact between applicants and the Town.
• Support Land Use Commission during budget season.
• Schedule and clerk municipal and planning meetings.
• Draft agendas, take minutes, and prepare materials.
• Respond to correspondence and issue public notifications.
• Assist Building Officials with permit processing and inspections.
• Administer and enforce zoning regulations in coordination with officials.

Skills

Zoning statutes knowledge

MS Office

Adaptability

Oral & written communication

Interpersonal skills

Office procedures

Clerical requirements

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public administration or related field

State Certification as ZEO

Tools

Microsoft Office

Special town programs

Job description

TITLE:

Zoning & Land Use Enforcement Officer

LOCATION:

Town Hall

DEPARTMENT:

Land Use Office / Planning & Zoning

REPORTS TO:

The First Selectman, First Selectman’s Office, and any other duly authorized representative

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Works under the general supervision of the Land Use Office, Building Department, and Planning & Zoning Office, or other department supervisors or managers designated by the First Selectman’s Office

DIRECT REPORTS:

None

JOB TYPE:

At-Will / Salary / Exempt

UNION:

Non-Union

HOURS:

Up to 40 hours per week, combining two 20-hour part-time roles (Land Use Administrator/Building Department Clerk and Zoning Enforcement Officer); scheduling to be determined by the Town needs

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This position provides administrative, clerical, and enforcement support across the Land Use Office, Building Department, and Planning & Zoning Office. Responsibilities include scheduling, reporting, and using web-based applications; answering phones and assisting the public; clerking municipal commission meetings; processing building permits; and administering and enforcing the Town’s zoning regulations. Strong interpersonal skills, professionalism, sound judgment, and the ability to work independently with the public are essential.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Application & Commission Support

• Maintain a log of all open applications, reporting needs, and follow-up with enforcement officers
• Serve as the primary point of contact between applicants and the Town
• Provide support to the Land Use Commission during budget season
• Provide support to additional departments when requested
• Work with Commission Chairs to ensure training for members when necessary
• Work with Commission Chairs to set the annual meeting schedule

Meeting Management & Clerical Duties

• Clerk municipal meetings, including preparing agendas and minutes for the Inland Wetlands & Watercourses and Planning & Zoning Commissions
• Draft agendas for meetings
• Take and transcribe minutes at meetings
• Prepare electronic and hard copies of meeting materials for Commission members
• Take and transcribe dictation
• Schedule appointments and conference rooms
• Proofread memos

Communication & Documentation

• Draft reports on civic needs
• Respond to correspondence at the direction of the Chair
• Issue public notifications
• Prepare ordinances, resolutions, and proclamations
• Work with Commission Chairs directly on agendas and correspondence
• Conduct research as needed
• Update and maintain the Commission website

Building Department Clerk Duties

• Assist the public with building permit applications and related inquiries
• Process construction plans, calculate fees, and issue permits after review
• Maintain permit logs and manage related documentation
• Support Freedom of Information Act requests and prepare required reports
• Schedule and assist Building Officials with inspections

Zoning Enforcement Duties

• Together with the Building Official and the Valley Health Officer, administer and enforce the Town’s Blight Ordinance
• Work under the direction of the Town’s Planning and Zoning Commission
• Administer and enforce all Local, State, and Federal Zoning Regulations
• Investigate complaints of alleged violations, when in writing, with proper contact information
• Review applications and plans for completeness and conformity, as time permits
• Maintain accurate documentation, in the files, of all issues that come to the Zoning Office
• Work with Town, State, and Federal agencies to address zoning issues, including the Town Attorney, Building Inspector, Town Engineer, Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Inland Wetlands Commission, as well as any other entity as needed
• Provide the Planning and Zoning Commission with a Monthly Report at their regularly scheduled meetings
• Maintain regular office hours
• Meet with property owners and/or their agents to discuss issues and/or violations that need to be addressed
• Perform follow-up inspections to check for zoning conformity
• Issue appropriate paperwork, including but not limited to Certificates of Zoning Compliance, warnings, cease and desist orders, and blight violations

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• A bachelor’s degree in public administration, business, IT, or a related field (or equivalent prior work experience)
• Working knowledge of Town, State, and Federal zoning statutes
• Advanced working knowledge of computers and Windows and Microsoft-related applications (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) as well as any special programs or applications used by the Town
• Considerable ability to adapt to changing priorities and requirements
• Considerable ability in oral and written communication
• Considerable ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, other agencies, the community, organizations, and citizen groups
• General knowledge of office procedures and techniques, including filing, records, composing routine and special correspondence and reports, and the reporting system
• General knowledge of the secretarial and clerical requirements of the Town Hall or other governmental office (preferred)

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• State Certification as a Zoning Enforcement Officer, or the ability to become State Certified within one (1) year of date of hire, and to maintain the State Certification

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USE

Computer, copy machine, fax machine, printers, calculators, and other standard office equipment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS / PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The Town is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. This job requires extended periods of sitting, talking, listening, and using office equipment. The incumbent will occasionally need to walk between building levels, take stairs, use arms, hands, fingers, and eyes to operate office equipment, and lift or move items up to 10 pounds. Specific vision requirements include close focus for extended periods and the ability to adjust focus as needed. The work environment has typical office noise levels, generally quiet, with virtually no disagreeable features.

DISCLAIMER

The duties listed above are examples and are not exhaustive. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from this position if the work is related, or a logical assignment or extension of the duties of this position. Related tasks may be assigned as needed. The Town of Beacon Falls is an Equal Opportunity Employer and may change, amend, revise, delete, or otherwise modify job requirements at any time.

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