Permit Technician (Part-time)

Under general supervision, performs technical and clerical functions related to the review, processing, and maintenance of a variety of building or engineering permits and related records; calculates fees, prepares monthly and annual revenue reports, and tracks status of plan checks and inspections; and does related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Permit Technician is distinguished from the Building Inspector or Public Works Inspector in that it primarily performs public counter support work in receiving and processing building or engineering permit applications and fees, tracking the status of inspections with staff, and coordinating permit status updates with other departments.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the class.

Building and Safety:

1. Provides customer service at the public counter and over the telephone in processing building permits and applications, fire safety checks, plan checks, temporary use permits, special event permits and occupancy permits.
2. Responds to inquiries and questions regarding permit data; provides information regarding permit procedures, policies, and functions.
3. Receives, logs, and reviews building plan and permit application data for completeness and accuracy and verifies permit and plan check fee calculations.
4. Assists in coordinating permit review by city departments and monitoring the status of building inspections; tracks received deposits, fees, case expenditures, and refunds by program and account number. 
5. Assists customers in viewing microfiche, laserfiche, and hard copies of permits, or in making copies; assists other agencies and customers with records inquiries; retrieves requested building plans and permits from archives.
6. Maintains division records, including a variety of forms and logs; provides and downloads information related to the city’s website.
7. Prepares plans for microfiche and processes address changes.
8. Provides general clerical and receptionist support for the division, such as distributing mail, typing memos and correspondence, making reservations, processing expense reimbursements, and reviewing records for completeness and accuracy.
9. Assembles information for activity logs, records, and reports; faxes or transmits data required by other parties, such as utility releases.
10. Monitors availability of informational handouts for public use and orders supplies.
11. May conduct minor plan checks for signs, room additions, patio covers, enclosures, retaining walls, and other improvements.             

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES

Knowledge of: 

General inspection and permit requirements related to the City Municipal Code, building and construction codes, and related local ordinances; permit fee schedules, inspection procedures, and plan application and review procedures related to the Building and Safety Division or Engineering Division; effective customer service techniques; basic math; budgeting procedures.

Ability to: 

Understand, interpret and enforce Municipal Code pertaining to the issuance of building or engineering applications or permits, the handling of documents, and recording of fees; operate standard office and computer equipment and use permit processing, word processing and spreadsheet software programs; organize, track and schedule inspections; prepare and maintain records and standard reports; analyze and solve basic work problems by applying departmental procedures; follow oral and written instructions; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, management, developers, contractors, and the general public.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is constantly required to sit, and occasionally to stand and walk. The sensory demands include the ability to talk, and hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate computer hardware and standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms above and below shoulder level. The employee occasionally lifts and carries records and documents weighing less than 20 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this class include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use oral and written communication skills; read and interpret data; thoroughly analyze and solve problems; exercise sound judgment in the absence of specific guidelines; use math and mathematical reasoning; establish priorities and work on multiple assignments and projects concurrently; meet intense and changing deadlines given interruptions; interact appropriately with co-workers, management, city officials, developers, contractors, public and private representatives, and others in the course of work. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee usually works under typical office conditions where the noise level in the work environment is quiet at or below 85 decibels. Depending upon the position assignment, employees may occasionally be required to work outside and be exposed to wet or humid conditions, and the noise level may be loud.