Location
Description
About the Department
The City of San Jose’s Department of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement serves to ensure the orderly and safe development of private properties, compliance with all applicable building, zoning, and quality of life ordinances and regulations, and to promote healthy and safe community standards. This is accomplished by departmental staff in service to customers by:
Assisting and guiding land use and development to promote long-term goals and objectives that render safe, beneficial, and more sustainable communities
Providing orderly administration and compliance of building codes, as mandated by the various levels of government, to ensure the construction of buildings, homes, and structures meet intended life safety and structural requirements
Investigating and resolving citizen complaints of municipal code violations on private property in order to promote, maintain, and improve quality of life issues that better allow for safe and harmonious conditions in all neighborhoods
The Department is seeking applicants who are committed to understanding, executing, and improving the customer experience to best achieve the above goals and objectives. This includes providing excellent service and guidance to residents, property and business owners, developers, and other stakeholders throughout the planning, building, and code enforcement processes. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential, as the department values building positive relationships and fostering collaboration with other departments, agencies, and the community. Additionally, applicants who possess a strong knowledge of planning principles, building codes, and/or regulatory requirements will be highly valued, as they will play a key role in ensuring compliance and promoting healthy, safe, and sustainable development practices.
The Building Division is actively recruiting for multiple full-time Building Inspector Combination/Certified I/II/III/Senior(BIC) positions across all three specialty areas: Building, Electrical, and Plumbing/Mechanical.
About the Division
The City’s Building Division provides oversight and assistance towards the City's growth and development in relation to construction activity on private property within the City. The goal is to ensure the safety of buildings and to support the health and wellbeing of all persons living and working in San Jose through the implementation of the State of California’s current building codes and laws.
The Building Division is divided into the following four sections:
Permit Center: Plan intake and routing to plan review and Development Services Partners, over the counter permit processing, permit issuance, addressing, assistance desk/public information, and ADU Ally.
Plan Review: Review of private development project plans and calculations for compliance with the California Building Codes and state laws, coordination with Development Services partners, expedited review, and coordinated review.
Inspection: Inspects active private construction projects for compliance with the approved plans and adopted building codes and state laws.
Support Services: Development Services call center, document imaging, records requests, and general support for the building division.
What We Do
The Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department’s Building Division ensures compliance with the all the above-mentioned obligations by annually reviewing, analyzing, conducting, researching, processing, issuing, inspecting, and providing:
30,000 building permits
6,000 plan reviews
110,000 inspections
21,000 customers assisted
52,000 calls answered
Position Duties:
Salary ranges for this classification are:
Building Inspector Combination: $114,769.20 - $139,579.44 Annually
Building Inspector Combination Certified I: $118,154.40 - $143,554.32 Annually
Building Inspector Combination Certified II: $121,321.20 - $147,878.64 Annually
Building Inspector Combination Certified III: $126,169.68 - $153,709.92 Annually
Building Inspector Combination Certified Senior: $143,073.84 - $174,370.56 Annually
This salary range(s) includes an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation. Actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.
The Building Division is actively recruiting for multiple full-time Building Inspector Combination/Certified I/II/III/Senior (BIC) positions across all three specialty areas: Building, Electrical, and Plumbing/Mechanical. These specialties ensure that inspections are performed by professionals with focused expertise while maintaining the flexibility necessary to address the complex needs of diverse projects. This helps maintain high standards of safety, code compliance, and quality in both commercial/industrial and residential buildings.
BIC positions are flexibly staffed and classified at five levels. Incumbents are designated upon hire to one of the three specialty inspection areas. Regardless of declared specialty, all inspectors will serve as combination inspectors for single-family residential construction projects. The Building Division provides a comprehensive Combination Building Inspection Academy to ensure that every inspector is fully trained and qualified to perform inspections across all three trades – building, electrical, plumbing/mechanical - for single-family residential projects. This cross training enables inspector to conduct comprehensive inspections covering all trade disciplines for these types of structures, streamlining inspections, promoting code consistency, and enhancing public safety.
For multi-family, commercial/industrial, and other complex projects, inspectors are assigned according to their specialty certification to ensure appropriate expertise for each inspection type.
Electrical Inspectors evaluate wiring, panels, devices, and system installations to ensure safe and code-compliant electrical systems.
Building Inspectors focus on structural and architectural elements such as foundations, framing, roofs, walls, fire separation assemblies, accessibility features, and energy efficiency compliance.
Plumbing/Mechanical Inspectors examine water supply, drainage, gas piping, HVAC, and associated systems for proper installation and operation.
BIC positions review plans, issue permits, and perform detailed field inspections on new construction, alterations, and repairs covering a wide array of structures and occupancies. Their combination certification and cross-training allow them to assess all aspects of a project for compliance with building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical codes as well as applicable Federal, State, and local regulations. Specific position assignments will vary depending on the department’s business needs.
Building Inspector Combination incumbents reference the City of San Jose 2022 Construction Guidelines For Residential Construction on a regular basis to ensure code compliance. These construction guidelines are available on our City of San Jose Building Division website in the Inspections section under Building Inspection Information.
The ideal candidates will possess a high level of professionalism, excellent customer service skills, and a supreme work ethic. These positions require excellent judgment, initiative, perseverance, integrity, organizational skills, flexibility and written and verbal communications skills.
Candidates with approved certifications and relevant experience may be appointed to higher classifications. We strongly encourage candidates with construction trade experience to apply.
Examples of Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Conducts inspections of residential, industrial, commercial and manufacturing facilities as assigned by Chief Building Official or designee to ensure compliance with codes, regulations, ordinances, standards, and contract agreements which includes: setting up inspection schedules; gathering information and evidence; and, ensuring conformance to plans, specifications, and safety regulations
Investigates building, construction, and land use changes in the field by gathering factual data to ascertain present use of land and location of structures; conducting background investigations and research; and preparing reports to use as evidence.
Provides technical assistance for development of codes and policies.
Generates written reports and enforcement orders which include noting deficiencies in standards and submitting final documentation.
Reviews plans and specifications for compliance with codes which includes assisting in projects in complying with regulations, prioritizing deficiencies, and preparing timetables.
Provides technical support for agencies and the public which includes inputting data into system for general public access.
Meets with architects, engineers, City officials, and building contractors to discuss construction projects.
Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.
This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.
The first round of application screenings will take place on 7/9/2026
How to Apply: To view the full announcement for this exciting opportunity with the City of San Jose and to apply online, please visit the City of San Jose’s careers page by clicking on the URL link below.
Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.