General Summary

The City's Deputy Code Official performs responsible administrative and complex technical work to enforce the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) as assigned by the Building Code Official including residential and light commercial plan review, performing field inspections, and assisting the Code Official in the oversight, training, and coaching of building inspectors, permit issuance, and plan reviewers; may directly supervise assigned staff. Work is performed under the supervision of and reports to the Building Code Official.

To learn more about the Charlottesville Department of Neighborhood Development Services, please visit: https://www.charlottesville.gov/261/Neighborhood-Development-Services

The preferred hiring range for this position is between $35.49 - $46.50 ($73,819.20 - $96,720.00 Annually). Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This is a full-time, exempt, position which provides excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, City's retirement options, gym membership reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, and continuing education/training opportunities.

For a general summary of benefits offered by the City, please click the 'benefits' tab on this posting, or visit https://www.charlottesville.gov/1047/Employee-Benefits.
The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system which offers both a defined benefit and a defined contribution option. While the City does not participate in VRS, the City has a Portability Agreement with VRS and there are certain provisions that must be met. For questions pertaining to the Portability Agreement, please contact the City's Benefits Administrator at 434-970-3462.

Essential Responsibilities And Duties

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.

Assists the Building Code Official in the administration, operations, and enforcement of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), including coordinating, planning, staffing, and ensuring quality control.
Reviews residential building plans (and some commercial plans), permit applications, and inspects buildings in the process of construction, alteration or repair for compliance with current building code requirements and for application of safe construction practices.
Reviews code modification requests.
Inspects existing buildings for hazardous conditions and structural failures after emergencies or accidents.
Issues warnings and stop-work orders when construction projects are found to be non-code complying.
Investigates building complaints regarding inspection activities and takes appropriate action, seeking conferral of the Building Code Official depending on the extent of the complaint.
Checks quality of materials and methods of construction per the city approved plans.
Issues certificates of occupancy and occupant loads as required.
Assists the Building Code Official in assigning and reviewing work, coaching, training, and motivating of staff. Participates in and/or makes recommendations related to hiring, evaluating performance, and disciplinary action in accordance with established personnel policy and procedures. May directly supervise assigned staff.
Ensures that subordinate staff have the proper resources needed to complete assigned work and provides technical expertise to staff.
Effectively responds to questions from citizens, contractors, and builders regarding code enforcement, construction complaints, violations, and future updates to the building codes.
Conducts housing code inspections as required.
Assists in the coordination and information dissemination for construction projects with interdepartmental or intergovernmental implications.
Provides recommendation to the Building Code Official on proposed changes to code and other regulatory items, assisting with implementation of any such changes.
Prepares a variety of reports, correspondence, and presentation for City Council, community meetings, City management, and others; and maintains proper records. When necessary, attends and/or present information at meetings.
Testifies in court on code violation cases, when needed.
Operates a city vehicle in the performance of job duties.
Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools, and other resources, including work time.
Regular and reliable attendance.

Other Duties

Serves as Acting Building Code Official during their absence.
Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.

Education, Experience And Skills

Education and Experience: Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education.

Bachelor’s degree in construction, planning, business management, or a related field AND at least 3 years of experience in the building construction trade, in building inspections, or a related area.

Associate degree, technical/vocational degree, or some college-level coursework in construction, planning, business management, or a related field AND at least 4 years of experience in the building construction trade, in building inspections, or a related area.

High School diploma or GED AND at least 6 years of experience in the building construction trade, in building inspections, or a related area.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above that would confer equivalent knowledge and ability. (13VAC5-63-50, Code of Virginia)

Preferred:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
Supervisory experience.

Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements:

Within one year of start date, must obtain certification as a Building Official.
Within one year of start date, must obtain Combination Residential Inspector, Combination Commercial Inspector, and Residential and Commercial Plans Examiner in accordance with the VUSBC.
Must obtain and maintain a valid Virginia driver’s license and acceptable driving record according to city criteria.
Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities And Other Characteristics

Job Knowledge

Thorough knowledge of building construction materials and methods.
Thorough knowledge of Virginia building codes, Charlottesville building and zoning codes, and related laws and ordinances.
Thorough knowledge of stages of construction, when violations and defects may be most easily observed and corrected.
Thorough knowledge of poor workmanship, inferior materials, and hazards of fire and structurally unstable buildings.
Thorough knowledge of plan reading, performing inspections, electrical safety, elevators, fire protection, mechanical, plumbing, gas, and/or property maintenance.

Reading

Intermediate: ability to read and understand building plans and written materials such as newspapers, magazines, multi-step instruction manuals, and building code materials.

Writing

Intermediate: ability to organize data and write clear and concise reports, prepare materials such as business letters, explanations, and summaries with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech. Writes inspection reports.

Math

Intermediate: ability to deal with number systems; simple formulas, practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurements. Applies systematic multi-factor analysis, trend analysis, and other forms of data analysis.

Communication Skill

Advanced: Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with co-workers, officials, agencies, businesses, and the public. Prepares and presents technical written and oral reports. Examples include making recommendations regarding policy development and implementation. May involve support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues or important presentations. May include interactions that involve stressful, negative situations requiring significant tact and the ability to diffuse aggressive behavior and reach consensus. Elements of persuasion may be necessary to gain cooperation and understanding. Evaluates customer satisfaction, develops cooperative associations, and utilizes resources to continuously improve customer satisfaction.

Independence and Decision-Making

Requires Limited Direction: normally completes work according to their own judgment, requesting supervisory assistance occasionally. Special projects are managed with little oversight and assignments may be reviewed upon completion. Performance reviewed periodically

Technical Skill

Advanced: high level skills and extensive knowledge of federal, state and local code; and approaches which affect the design and implementation of major projects and processes. Independent judgment and decision-making abilities are necessary to apply technical skills effectively. Reviews documents for professional, technical, and content errors, and may be called on to review and revise more complex documents, interpret, and analyze technical and statistical information

Fiscal Responsibilities

Assists in monitoring assigned budget line expenditures and may make recommendations to the Building Code Official. May prepare and/or process purchasing documents and payments as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Normally serves as a lead worker; guiding, training, instructing, assigning and/or reviewing work of others. Assists the Building Code Official in the administration, operations, work product, and supervision. Participates and/or make recommendations on hiring, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions. May directly supervise assigned staff.

Other Characteristics:

Organizational and time managements skills, sometimes under strict time constraints.
Frequent change of tasks.
Working closely with others as part of a team.
Tedious or exacting work.
Performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
Constant interruptions and requests for service.
May work a non-traditional work schedule.
May require additional hours outside of normal schedule.
May require emergency response.
May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individual.

Physical Conditions & Additional Information

Physical Demands

Light Work: Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
Field work requires traversing interior and exterior of buildings and structures including uneven terrain and obstructions. May include climbing, reaching, stooping, crawling, crouching, and balancing.
Operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer. Occasionally moves about inside the office to access filing cabinets, office machinery, etc.
Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
Ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:

Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.
Utilizes construction tools and equipment necessary for inspections.

Work Environment:

A combination of on-site inspections and standard office environment. Ability to climb, crawl and access various areas within or around buildings, properties and construction sites or during emergencies and in all weather conditions.
Work requires visiting construction sites and exposure to extreme temperatures, extreme brightness or darkness, chemicals/hazardous waste, gases, electrical hazards, fumes/airborne particles. May encounter exposure to inclement weather, wet or humid conditions, uneven terrain, noise, fumes, dusts and pollen, animals/wildlife, and traffic.
When performing work in an office environment there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust.
Noise level varies from moderate to loud depending on the work site.

The City of Charlottesville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports workforce diversity at all levels of the organization. The City prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The City is dedicated to this with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment.

Requests for reasonable accommodation by individuals with disabilities may be requested by contacting Human Resources at (434) 970-3490 or hr@charlottesville.gov.

The City of Charlottesville conducts job related background checks, reference checks, and pre-employment drug tests, in accordance with federal, state, and local law, of applicants who reach the final stages of the employment selection process. The City’s policy has not changed because of the decriminalization of marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Marijuana remains an illegal drug under federal law, and it continues to be a violation of the US Department of Transportation regulations and the City’s policy prohibiting employees from testing positive for marijuana.

Summary Of Employee Benefits

Updated February 9, 2026

Benefits cited represent those for regular 40-hour employees and may differ for Management Level, Part-Time, and/or Library positions. Long-term temporary employees are eligible for all benefits except retirement. Interns, temporary, seasonal, substitute, and relief employees are not eligible for benefits.

LEAVE:

Vacation: Need some time off? Use it, you earned it:

Years Worked

0 -

3 -

5 -

10 -

15 -

20 -

25+

Hours Accrued Biweekly

3.09

3.85

4.62

5.4

6.16

6.93

7.7

Sick: Under the weather? Earn 4.62 hours biweekly, approximately 120 hours a year, with no limit on accumulation to be used to care for yourself and qualifying family members.

Holidays: Enjoy 13 paid holidays per year. Including 1 Floating Holiday, which must be taken during the Fiscal Year (July 1 - June 30):

OBSERVED CITY HOLIDAYS

New Years Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Day

Presidents’ Day

Liberation & Freedom Day

Memorial Day

Juneteenth Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Friday after Thanksgiving

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

1 Floating Holiday

Volunteer Leave: Paid leave for participating in an authorized event as a volunteer, subject to Section 9-3, Code of Ethics & Conflicts of Interest. Regular full-time employees receive up to 8 hours and all regular part-time employees are eligible to receive pro-rated leave each available each calendar year.Delta Dental Plan:

INSURANCE: Aetna Medical Plans: Coverage is effective on the first of the month following date of hire.
Choose from two options:
- Select HMO with City-funded HRA ($0 premium for employee-only coverage)
- Choice POS ($13.02 biweekly premium for employee-only coverage)
Prescription Card: ($10 generic, $30 lower cost name brand,$55 higher cost name brand, 20% up to $150 for specialty drugs)
Mail Order Maintenance Prescription Drug Program ($20 generic, $60lower cost name brand, $110 higher cost brand) not available for specialty drugs)
Diagnostic and Preventative–100% of allowable charge; Basic Dental Care-80%; Major Dental Care- 50%
Primary - $50 deductible, 80/20; Prosthetic and Complex Restorative -$50, 50/50
$1,500 Annual benefit maximum
$1,000 Orthodontic benefit (children to age 19)

MetLife Vision Plan: (Optional)

$2.50 premium paid bi-weekly for employee-only coverage. Dependent care coverage also available.
Eye health exam, dilatation, prescription and refraction of glasses covered after $10 co-pay
$130 allowance for frames, after co-pay, plus additional discounts where accepted.

Life Insurance: In the event of your death, your beneficiary will receive twice your annual salary. Supplementary policies for you and your dependents are available.

Long-Term Disability: Upon approval for along-term illness or injury, you can receive up to 60% of your earnings after a 90-day wait period.

Voluntary Benefits: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity insurance; Short-Term Disability; Identity Theft Protection

RETIREMENT:

Pension

Choose from two (2) options:
- A Defined Benefit Pension plan pays a monthly benefit in retirement using a defined formula based on the employee’s earnings history, tenure of service, and age. Our plan has a 5-year vesting period and an employee contribution of 5% of salary.
- A Defined Contribution 401a plan in which fixed contributions are paid into an individual’s account by the employer, the contributions are invested, returns (positive or negative) are credited to the account, and the account balance is used to provide retirement benefits. The vesting schedule for our 401a plan is 33% after one year of service, 67% after two years of service, and 100% vesting after three years of service. There is no required contribution from salary. (Note: the Defined Contribution retirement plan is the only plan available for Library employees).

Supplement: Deferred Compensation 457 available for you to invest your own money for additional retirement savings.

VOLUNTARY:

Wellness

Gym Membership Reimbursement Program (up to $34.00 per month)
Bicycle Commuter Program: Reimbursement up to $20 per month for reasonable bicycle commuting expenses
Online wellness resources and Lunch-and-Learn Sessions

Employee Assistance Program

A variety of confidential, personal professional services for you and your family available 24 hours a day.

Tuition Reimbursement

Up to $1,500 for job-related certificates, trade programs, undergraduate coursework or up to $3,000 for graduate level courses per fiscal year for career-related courses.

Flexible Spending Accounts

Expense accounts available for healthcare, dependent care and parking/mass transit.

01

Please indicate your highest level of education below: (Must be verifiable in reference to the Education History section on your online application.)

Bachelor's Degree or higher in construction, planning, business management, or a related field
Associate degree, technical/vocational degree, or some college-level coursework in construction, planning, business management, or a related field.
High School Diploma or GED.
None; however, I believe to have an equivalent combination of education and experience that may be considered in lieu of the Education Requirements listed in the job announcement that would confer equivalent knowledge and ability to perform the job. (13VAC5-63-50, Code of Virginia)
None of the above.

02

Please indicate your level of experience in the building construction trade, in building inspections, or a related area: (Must be verifiable in reference to the Work History section on your online application.)

No experience related to this position.
None; however, I believe to have an equivalent combination of education and experience that may be considered in lieu of the Experience Requirements listed in the job announcement that would confer equivalent knowledge and ability to perform the job. (13VAC5-63-50, Code of Virginia)
Less than three (3) years of relevant experience.
Three (3) to less than four (4) years of relevant experience.
Four (4) to less than six (6) years of relevant experience.
Six (6) years or greater.

03

This position requires driving to perform essential job duties and requires a valid driver's license. The candidate selected for this position must meet the driver eligibility requirements of the City and must provide a certified copy of their DMV driving record. Do you possess a valid driver's license and are you willing to provide a certified copy of your DMV driving record, if selected as a finalist, for the City to confirm your driving eligibility?

Yes; I possess a valid driver's license and am willing to provide a certified copy of my DMV driving record.
No; However, I am willing and able to obtain a valid driver's license and am willing to provide a certified copy of my DMV driving record.
No; I do not have a valid driver's license, nor am I willing or able to obtain one, and/or am not willing to provide a certified copy of my DMV driving record.

04

Are you currently certified as a Building Official OR do you have the ability to obtain certification within the first year of employment? (subject to state requirements for time limitations).

Yes; I am a certified as a Building Official.
No; However, if selected, I have the ability to obtain certification within 1 year of employment.
No; Nor am I willing to obtain certification within 1 year of employment.

05

Which of the following certifications do you currently possess? (Check all that apply.)

Combination Residential Inspector
Combination Commercial Inspector
Residential and Commercial Plans Examiner
None of the above.

06

To be considered, qualifying education and experience, including City of Charlottesville employment, must be clearly documented in the education, work history, and additional information sections of the employment application. Resumes can be attached but should not be used as a substitute for the required information on the application. I understand that an attached resume may not be accepted in place of a completed employment application and that my qualifications should be stated on the employment application itself.

07

I certify that the information above is true and correct, and I certify that it can be verified with reference to the information in my basic application. I understand that my application may be rejected if the responses to supplemental questions do not match my basic application.

Yes
No
Required Question

City of Charlottesville

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