Overview
The Zoning & Licensing Inspector is a code enforcement officer position which specializes in the technical interpretation, application, and field inspection practices of ensuring properties are in compliance with local land use regulations and other related ordinances. Zoning & Licensing Inspectors are the subject matter experts in all applicable codes, regulations, and ordinances, as well as the related adjudication processes.
Agency Summary
The purpose and mission of the Department of Business & Neighborhood Services (DBNS) is to protect and improve the quality of life of persons and animals in the City of Indianapolis. DBNS is the City of Indianapolis and Marion County’s principal department responsible for business licenses, residential and commercial permits, and the enforcement of the Revised Code of Ordinances of the Consolidated City and County. The department also oversees operations at the city’s animal shelter, Indianapolis Animal Care Services. DBNS is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the constituents of Indianapolis and Marion County.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The City of Indianapolis Marion County is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city of whom we serve.
Position Responsibilities
- Responsible for reading, interpreting, and assisting others in understanding local ordinances
- Conduct field inspections of all types of property (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.) for compliance with land use regulations and other applicable ordinances.
- Researching land use petitions, permits and other case files relative to investigations.
- Referring to zoning maps, site plans and plats, researching legal property information.
- Initiating enforcement action which includes issuing citations, preparing case files, and testifying in court.
- Inspectors represent BNS in court, at neighborhood meetings, correspond with City/County Councilors, and work with other government agencies and other community stakeholders regarding code matters.
- Inspectors may be on-call on a rotational basis for a period of one (1) week, twenty-four (24) hours per day, to respond to after-hours investigations or inspection requests. Other after-hours inspections may also be required per departmental policy.
- Inspectors become the subject matter experts in all applicable codes, regulations, and ordinances, as well as the different adjudication processes for each.
This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time
Qualifications
- Skills and knowledge that are typically acquired through a college degree OR at least four (4) years of work experience in a position that required expertise in customer service, conflict management, public administration and/or interpretation and application of technical content. Any combination of education and/or related work experience totaling four (4) years is acceptable.
- Strong customer service and communication skills; ability to speak in public forums and respond to questions. Incumbent will serve as the department’s expert witness in environmental court related to their investigations.
- Strong conflict management skills. Must be able to solve practical problems with tact, diplomacy, and persuasiveness in dealing with a variety of people in a variety of situations. A supervisor is generally available by phone, email and/or other messaging system; however, incumbent spends most of the working day in the field independently.
- Ability to exercise sound judgement and critical thinking when working alone. Candidate will work alone for much of the workday and will need to exercise sound judgement and independent decision making. Errors in judgement could result in regulatory, budgetary, or negative legal consequences for BNS.
- Attention to detail. Incumbent will spend a significant amount of time researching property, permits and petitions, as well as the ordinance. Incumbent will be responsible for properly documenting inspection events and details, taking photographs and compiling reports for investigations.
- Ability to read, understand, interpret, and communicate local ordinance requirements to others.
- Ability to obtain and hold Special Police Powers issued by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD).
- Must have and retain a valid Indiana Driver’s license and have ability to operate and take home a City-issued vehicle.
- Incumbent must certify in the appropriate, approved disciplines per the department’s policy to maintain employment. Certifications may be obtained after hire and are not required prior to employment.
- Proficient in the use of computers, smartphones and general office equipment. Incumbent will be required to use Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, GPS software and general internet use. Incumbent will be trained on internal software programs.
Preferred Job Requirements and Qualifications
- Prior experience in reading and interpreting zoning ordinances and laws.
- A working knowledge of city streets is helpful to this position; however, ability to use GPS software is sufficient.
If your qualifications meet the requirements of the posted position, your application will be referred to the hiring agency. Once the agency receives your application, all further communication during the interview and selection process will be handled directly BY THE AGENCY. It is IMPERATIVE that you record the contact information of the individual who is scheduling your interview. City-County HR will not have access to this information, is not involved in the interview or selection process, and can only confirm whether an application has been referred. After selection of the successful candidate, an official offer of employment will be made by HR.
All rates are weekly.
2026 Rate Sheet - To view our rate sheet, please copy and paste this link into your web browser: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:5e20097e-ebaa-4d21-bbda-dca9a0bec89b
Optional Life Insurance Employee Only (rates per $1,000 per month)
Additional
<25-29 $0.058
30-34 $0.083
35-39 $0.099
40-44 $0.132
45-49 $0.223
50-54 $0.363
55-59 $0.600
60-64 $0.795
65-69 $1.329
70 + $2.054
Important Perf Update
- For more information on eligibility options, refer to Proposal 21-288 https://bit.ly/3exq8yR
- All employees hired/rehired after to 1/1/2022 have a choice to select the PERF Hybrid plan (3% + Pension) or the INPRS My Choice: Retirement Savings plan (3% + 1% Contribution). The Hybrid plan consists of two components:
Annuity Savings Account (ASA) -This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. You're always vested in your ASA portion - it's always yours.
Pension - The pension portion of the retirement benefit is funded by contributions made by the employer over the course of the employee's career and separate from the annuity savings account. Employees enrolled in the PERF Hybrid plan are eligible for retirement benefits at age sixty-five (65) if they have ten (10) or more years of creditable service. After June 30, 1995, employees may retire at age sixty (60) with at least fifteen (15) years of credible service or if the member's age in years plus the years of credible service equals at least 85 and the member is at least fifty-five (55) years of age. With fifteen (15) or more years of creditable service, the employee may retire as early as age fifty (50) with a reduced pension.
- Employees hired/rehired by the City and County between 1/1/2017 and 12/31/2021 will be automatically enrolled in the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan. This plan is an annuity savings account (ASA) only plan and does not have a pension component. Any service that an employee has in the My Choice: Retirement Savings Plan will not count toward the service time requirements for pension eligibility in the Hybrid Plan.
With the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings Plan, the ASA is split up into two parts:
Part one - This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. You're always vested in your ASA portion - it's always yours.
Part Two - This Consists Of An Additional Variable Rate Contribution Paid By The City Toward Your ASA. This Variable Rate Contribution Is Currently 1% Of Your Gross Wages. Vesting In The Value Of The Variable Rate Employer Contribution Will Vary By Length Of Participation. You Are
- 20 percent vested after 1 full year of participation
- 40 percent vested after 2 full years of participation
- 60 percent vested after 3 full years of participation
- 80 percent vested after 4 full years of participation
- 100 percent vested after 5 full years of participation
- All employees hired/rehired prior to 1/1/2017 are grandfathered into PERF Hybrid plan. The Hybrid plan consists of two components:
Annuity Savings Account (ASA) -This consists of the mandatory employee contribution of three (3%) percent of compensation (made for the employee by the City), plus interest credits or earnings. You're always vested in your ASA portion - it's always yours.
Pension - The pension portion of the retirement benefit is funded by contributions made by the employer over the course of the employee's career and separate from the annuity savings account. Employees enrolled in the PERF Hybrid plan are eligible for retirement benefits at age sixty-five (65) if they have ten (10) or more years of creditable service. After June 30, 1995, employees may retire at age sixty (60) with at least fifteen (15) years of credible service or if the member's age in years plus the years of credible service equals at least 85 and the member is at least fifty-five (55) years of age. With fifteen (15) or more years of creditable service, the employee may retire as early as age fifty (50) with a reduced pension.
- City Employees hired/rehired between 1/1/2017 and 12/31/21 that are members of the City AFSCME labor union can choose to enroll in either the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan or the PERF Hybrid plan. Both plans are described above. Employees have 60 days to choose which option they want, and by state law this cannot be changed. If no choice is made, the employee will then be automatically added to the PERF My Choice: Retirement Savings plan.
The Indiana General Assembly has enacted a provision that allows public employees to make voluntary contributions in addition to the mandatory three percent (3%) contributions. Employees may contribute up to an additional ten- percent (10%) of their compensation per pay period to the annuity savings account. This means that the maximum level of contributions to the annuity savings account under this new provision is thirteen percent (13%) of an employee's compensation per pay period.
Employees who separate from the city within their first ten (10) years of employment need to contact INPRS - PERF regarding their ASA account.
Questions relating to PERF may be directed to INPRS - PERF at:
Indiana Public Retirement System
Public Employees' Retirement Fund
One North Capitol, Suite 001
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
(888) 236-3544
01
Do you have a college degree OR at least four (4) years of work experience in a position that required expertise in customer service, conflict management, public administration and/or interpretation and application of technical content?
02
Do you have a driver's license?
