Code Compliance Officer - I

Placer County is comprised of over 1,400 square miles of beautiful and diverse geography, ranging from the residential and commercial areas of South Placer, westward through the historic foothill areas of Auburn, Foresthill, and Colfax, and to the County's jewel of the North Lake Tahoe basin. Placer is a great place to live, work, play and learn. For more information about Placer County, please visit www.visitplacer.com.

The Community Development Resource Agency is seeking one entry-level Temporary/Extra-Help Code Compliance Officer to assist with defensible space and hazardous vegetative inspection. Primary duties will include the following:

• Perform defensible space inspections in accordance with Placer County’s Hazardous Vegetation Ordinance.
• Increase awareness, knowledge and actions implemented by individuals and communities to reduce human loss and property damage from wildfires, such as defensible space and other fuels reduction activities, fire prevention and fire safe building standards.

Temporary/Extra Help assignments are limited to 999 hours (or 960 hours for CalPERS retired annuitants) in a fiscal year and are not eligible for benefits.

To enforce State and local zoning, building, health and safety, land use, and housing codes through research, investigation and inspection and follow up activities, including citation issuance and court appearances; and to communicate with the public regarding code compliance and enforcement.

This is the entry level class in the Code Compliance series.  This class is distinguished from the journey level by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series.  Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level.  Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.  Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.

Receives immediate supervision from the Supervising Code Compliance Officer and may receive direction from assigned management or supervisory staff.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Investigate complaints and conduct field inspections; seek compliance regarding code requirements through written and personal contact; issue warning notices and citations; and conduct follow up inspections.
• Explain applicable zoning, building, health and safety, land use, and housing codes and division policies and procedures to the public in the field, by telephone and at the public counter; and coordinate with other County departments and outside agencies as needed.
• Establish and maintain accurate and complete case files; prepare legal documents and evidence for court and/or administrative hearing proceedings; and testify in court as needed.
• Receive and review information about possible violations of land use, zoning and building codes; and research parcel history and permits to determine validity of complaints.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

It is the responsibility of applicants to identify in their application materials how they meet the minimum qualifications listed below. 

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: One year of public contact involving interpretation and explanation or enforcement of laws and regulations.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.  Additional specialized training in law enforcement, land use, building or housing regulation, or a related field is desirable.

License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.

• Possession of a valid certificate of completion of Penal Code §832 Course in Arrest, Search, and Seizure issued by California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training to be obtained within twelve months of employment.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of positive interpersonal and public relations.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
• Arithmetic and basic mathematical calculations.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, analyze situations and develop solutions; identify, interpret, explain and enforce violations; review and interpret codes and rules; and maintain awareness of safety at all times.
• On a continuous basis, walk, stand, climb and bend in the field.  Occasionally kneel and run; write or use a keyboard to communicate; occasionally lift moderate weight; visually differentiate between colors on land use maps.
• Learn to interpret and enforce zoning, health and safety, and land use rules and building codes.
• Learn to independently interpret and enforce zoning and land use rules.
• Learn to perform routine investigations and inspections and prepare evidence and files on difficult enforcement cases for court presentation and testimony.
• Learn to prepare and issue citations and warrants; collect and preserve evidence, write arrest warrants, inspection warrants, search warrants and related paperwork.
• Learn to follow established procedures to issue citations and warrants to people in violation of county codes and state regulations; document each citation presented to owners and agents.
• Learn to simultaneously investigate multiple inquiries and complaints and conduct multiple field inspections, accurately document findings, and maintain appropriate records.
• Learn to compile, analyze and evaluate technical information; prepare evidence for use in hearings and court proceedings and testify regarding such evidence.
• Analyze situations quickly and objectively and determine proper course of action.
• Obtain information through interview and dialogue; and work fairly and courteously with the public.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Use modern office equipment and computers, as well as a photographic camera.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Training & Experience Rating  (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training, and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula. Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination (which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation), sign a constitutional oath, and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation (which may include a voice stress analysis and/or a polygraph), and/or be bonded. Additionally, positions in law enforcement classifications and those supporting law enforcement functions will be required to complete a conviction history questionnaire prior to or during the interview process. Applicants for positions with access to Medi-Cal billing software or who are licensed providers must clear the Federal Exclusion List, credentialing, and social security verification. Failure to clear these requirements may result in an employment offer being withdrawn.

The eligible list resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey level) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please click here.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment, discrimination, and retaliation are prohibited and that all employees, applicants, agents, contractors, and interns/volunteers shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, transfer, and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of gender (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, military and/or veteran status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Please contact the Human Resources Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.