JOB BULLETIN
Applications will be accepted on a CONTINUOUS BASIS with a first review date of Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Interested individuals are strongly encouraged to apply early! This recruitment is open until filled and may close at anytime without notice once sufficient qualified applications have been reviewed.
Help keep our community safe and attractive for our residents, businesses, and tourists by joining our Code Enforcement division of the Community Development Department. The Code Enforcement division maintains and improves the City's neighborhoods through the enforcement of property maintenance, zoning ordinances, building codes, and health and safety code. This division is responsible for proactive property inspections, code enforcement inquiries, citizen complaints, responses, legal proceedings, and property deterioration. The ideal candidate for this position is experienced in interpreting and enforcing codes related to safety, zoning, and housing. This position requires you to engage with the public in one-on-one and groups settings and handle difficult situations tactfully. If you are organized, have great time management skills, know how to de-escalate situations, and have the ability to build relationships while enforcing rules and regulations,
APPLY TODAY!
Please Note: Limited-Term positions are typically full-time, non-permanent positions with employment benefits that do not exceed three (3) years. These positions can be utilized where the position is funded by grant funds of three (3) or less years in duration. At the end of the position's duration, 6/30/28, employment shall terminate with no right to appeal, and the employee shall not have layoff rights, bumping rights, severance payments, or reemployment rights.
GENERAL PURPOSE
Under general supervision, responds to public complaints and conducts field inspections to investigate reported code violations; researches city policies and requirements; completes reports and submits correspondence to enforce safety, zoning, and housing codes and ordinances; and does related work as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Code Enforcement Officer is the journey-level classification in the class series. The position routinely investigates a variety of different types of suspected code violations involving commercial and residential properties and independently prepares reports and tracks case files.
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.
- Investigates complaints of non-conforming or illegal property uses, signs, inoperable vehicles, unsightly property maintenance, housing violations, fire hazards or obstructions.
- Conducts property maintenance, zoning, and health and safety inspections for conformity with city policies and requirements.
- Investigates complaints and records observations; completes complaint forms and investigation reports; researches city codes and ordinances and cites applicable sections.
- Contacts or attempts to contact residents, owners, business representatives or others to explain the nature of violations and encourage compliance with city codes and municipal ordinances.
- Responds to and investigates complaints from citizens, property owners, community representatives, and governmental agencies regarding possible violations of city codes, policies, and ordinances such as zoning, housing, safety, and property maintenance violations.
- Prepares original and routine violation letters; posts notices signifying violations or unsafe conditions as required; re-inspects properties and facilities to verify compliance; prepares acknowledgement letters for corrective actions.
- Completes correspondence and updates records.
- May present testimony and findings at administrative and/or court hearings.
Qualifications Guidelines
Knowledge of:
City housing, zoning, property maintenance, and health and safety codes; code enforcement and public relations practices; basic principles of investigation and research related to the enforcement of the municipal code; basic understanding of building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical codes and standards; effective customer service techniques.
Ability To
Demonstrate proactive enforcement in researching and applying sections of city codes to matters involving public complaints and potential code violations; conduct field inspections and prepare citations and related reports given recognized violations; interpret and explain city requirements and policies with tact and diplomacy; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, management, homeowners, business owners, tenants, residents, and public and private representatives; operate computer equipment and use word processing software programs; maintain complete and accurate work files; identify reasons why customers challenge code enforcement practices; tactfully deal with difficult people and situations; identify warning signs of escalating, threatening, or violent behavior.
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 frequently required to sit, stand and walk, as well as bend, stoop, and squat to inspect different property sites. The employee is required to talk and hear. The employee is required to 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 at least 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 staff, management, city officials, contractors, residents and business owners, tenants, and public and private representatives, in the course of work, including situations involving interpersonal conflicts involving code enforcement matters.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The employee frequently works in office conditions where the noise level is usually moderate, at or below 85 decibels. The employee occasionally attends meetings, conventions, city events, and other functions on behalf of the city, including evening and weekend hours. The employee works outdoors and is subject to heat and variable weather conditions. During property inspections, the employee may be exposed to contaminated areas with mold, mildew, roaches, rodents, animal feces, and noxious odors.
Education/Training/Experience
High School graduation or G.E.D. equivalent is
required. Two years of code enforcement experience involving the interpretation of zoning, housing, construction, and/or health and safety codes and ordinances is
required.
Licenses/Certificates/Special Requirements
Valid Class C California driver license, acceptable driving record, and evidence of insurance are
required.
Possession of Penal Code 832 certificate is
required within one year of assignment to this classification.
May be required to work extended or variable work hours or on weekends.
APPLICANT INFORMATION/EXAM WEIGHT
ORAL INTERVIEW: THURSDAY, FEBURARY 5, 2026
Applicants must submit a City application online through the Human Resources Department web page at www.buenapark.com/hr. Applications may be accompanied by a resume describing experience, education, and training in relation to the requirements of the position, however, resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City employment application.
All applications will be reviewed and only those candidates determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate in the selection process. The selection process may include but is not limited to an oral interview and/or written exams and oral presentations. Successful candidates will be placed on the employment eligible list from which hires may be made. An eligible list is valid for up to one year unless exhausted sooner.
The City of Buena Park is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, age, veteran status or disability.
Americans With Disabilities
Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources. If you have a disability for which you require an accommodation, please contact Human Resources at (714) 562-3515 no later than 5 business days before the test date.
Fingerprinting
Applicants who are selected for hire are fingerprinted during the pre-placement processing period. All fingerprints will be processed with the Department of Justice to verify criminal records or absence thereof.
Physical Examination
Employment offers are conditional based, upon the successful completion of a medical examination which may include drug and alcohol screening. Physicals are performed by the City's designated physician at the City's expense.
The City of Buena Park Alcohol and Drug Abuse Policy requires that all applicants undergo drug and alcohol testing prior to employment.
Below is a list of key benefits offered to employees of the City of Buena Park and is only a summary of benefits. They are not intended to replace or modify the legal plan documents on file in the Human Resources Department.
SALARY RANGE: Composed of six (6) steps - Entry step through E step (Except management positions). Each step represents an increase of approximately five (5) percent.
RETIREMENT: Provided through California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). Employee pays member contribution.
VACATION: Earned at the rate of ten (10) working days per year for the first five (5) years of service. Public safety employees receive a different but equivalent benefit. Additional vacation may be earned by employees after five (5) years of service.
SICK LEAVE: Accumulated on the basis of eight (8) hours per month with no maximum accumulation.
HOLIDAYS: An average of eleven (11) holidays per year.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: Several plans (indemnity and HMO's) are available. The City pays a flat rate portion of the premium according to the bargaining unit agreement.
DENTAL INSURANCE: Three (3) plans are available. The City pays a flat rate portion of the premium. The Employee may pay a portion of the insurance premium according at bargaining unit agreement and this benefit is voluntary.
VISION INSURANCE: One plan is available. The Employee pays the insurance premium and this benefit is voluntary.
LIFE INSURANCE: Amount of coverage is based on the employee bargaining unit. Premiums are fully paid by the City.
LONG TERM DISABILITY: Fully paid by the City. Police sworn personnel are not eligible.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Available to all City employees and their immediate families.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN: The City offers one (1) plan administered by Nationwide Retirement Solutions. This is a voluntary benefit with no City contribution.
WORK SCHEDULE: 4/10 or 3/12 alternative work schedule depending upon the work location.
OC CREDIT UNION: Available to all City employees and their families.
CHILDCARE ASSISTANCE: $100 per month, per child, is available to all Full-Time City employees with eligible dependents 0 - 5 years of age.
01
To better evaluate your qualifications for this position, responses to this supplemental questionnaire are required. The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to continue in the selection process. An incomplete and inaccurate application may lead to disqualification. It is your responsibility to fill out the application thoroughly and accurately. Resumes will not be accepted instead of completing these questions. Please provide concise, descriptive, and detailed information when answering the questions. If you do not have experience, please write "NONE". NOTE: 'See resume', 'See above', or copy and paste of your resume are not considered qualifying responses and will not be considered when evaluating your qualifications.
- I acknowledge receipt of this information and understand the instructions.
02
What is your highest level of education completed?
- No Diploma
- High School or G.E.D.
- Some College - 59 units or less
- Some College - more than 60 units
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
03
Do you have a valid California class C driver's license, acceptable driving record, and evidence of insurance?
04
Do you possess a Penal Code 832 certificate?
05
Are you a Certified Code Enforcement Officer (CCEO)?
06
How many years of code enforcement experience do you have involving the interpretation of zoning, housing, construction, and/or health and safety codes and ordinances?
- No experience
- Less than 2 years experience
- 2 to less than 3 years experience
- 3 to less than 4 years experience
- 4 years or more experience
07
Please describe your work experience interpreting zoning, housing, construction, and/or health and safety codes and ordinances.
