General Summary
This
Combination Building Inspector performs responsible technical work in the enforcement of the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) as interpreted by the State Building Code Technical Review Board and applicable City Code in relation to new and/or existing residential/commercial buildings. Work is performed under the general supervision of and reports to the Building Code Official.
The preferred hiring range for this position is between $25.31 - $30.47 an hour ($52,644.80 - $63,377.60 Annually). Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This is a full-time, non-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.
Note: This job opportunity is advertised with a closing date of "Continuous." If interested in being considered, an application should be submitted as soon as possible. Applications may no longer be considered once a reasonable number of applications has been received or once a candidate to fill the position is identified. Applications may be evaluated on a continuous basis and interviews may be conducted as soon as possible during the recruitment. This job announcement may close at any time after 7 calendar days.
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.
- Performs, schedules, and plans routine field inspections of new and/or existing buildings, structures, and/or properties to ensure code and ordinance compliance.
- Investigate complaints of sub-standard and hazardous conditions in buildings, structures, and/or properties.
- Checks for code compliance and safety of work being performed.
- Approves or rejects inspections based on the building codes.
- Issues warnings and stop-work orders for violations of the codes.
- Depending on assignment:
- Reviews building plans, permit application information and inspects buildings during construction, alteration, or repair work for compliance with building codes.
- May produce certificates of occupancy and building occupancy loads.
- Writes letters or reports of code compliance or noncompliance, inspection warrants, and notices of violations for noncompliance.
- Completes inspection reports and maintains records regarding inspections, using appropriate database systems.
- Responds to citizen complaints and helps property owners to resolve complaints and code violations.
- Answers questions and updates citizens, contractors, designers, and builders regarding code enforcement and/or future changes to the building codes.
- Assists in the coordination and the dissemination of information with interdepartmental or intergovernmental impact.
- Safely operates a city vehicle in the performance of duties.
- Testifies in court on code violation cases as needed.
- Conducts code inspections as required.
- Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools, and other resources, including work time.
- Regular and reliable attendance.
Other Duties:
- May perform after-hours inspection/investigation of buildings where fires and structural failures or damage have occurred.
- May cross-train in related areas, as needed or assigned.
- May represent the department on various organizational committees.
- 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 such as college.
- High School Diploma or GED AND at least 3 years of experience and general knowledge in at least one of the following areas: building construction; building construction conceptual and administrative processes; building, fire or housing inspections; plumbing, electrical or mechanical trades; or fire protection, elevator or property maintenance work.
OR
- 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).
Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements:
- Within 18 months of start date, must obtain certification per the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, (Virginia Certification Standards).
- 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
- General knowledge of building construction, materials and methods.
- Knowledge of Virginia construction codes and related laws and City ordinances.
- Knowledge of typical stages of construction to help advert possible violations and defects.
- Working knowledge of poor workmanship, deficiencies, inferior materials, and hazards of fire and structural failures in buildings.
- Working knowledge of building construction, housing inspections, electrical, elevators, fire protection, mechanical, plumbing, and/or property maintenance.
Reading
- Intermediate: ability to read and understand written materials such as newspapers, magazines, multi-step instruction manuals, reference materials, and building code materials.
- Ability to read and interpret plans and specifications of ordinary complexity in timely manner and accurately compare them with construction in process.
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.
Math
- Intermediate: ability to deal with number systems; simple formulas, practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement.
Communication Skills
- Intermediate: Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with co-workers, officials, agencies, businesses, and the public. Provides and receives standard to complex information. 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.
Independence and Decision-Making
- Requires General Direction: normally performs the job by following general instructions or established standard operating procedures and/or policies. There is some discretion when making decisions among a few easily identifiable choices of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties. Performance is reviewed frequently.
Technical Skills
- Skilled: comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the assigned and apparent job responsibilities. Skill in the use of Microsoft office applications and department software.
Fiscal Responsibilities
- No budgetary/fiscal responsibilities.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- No supervisory responsibilities. May assist helpers, co-workers, contractors, seasonal employees, interns or temps.
Other Characteristics
- Organization and time management skills, sometimes under strict time constraints.
- Working closely with others as part of a team.
- Tedious or exacting work.
- Performing multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Frequent change of tasks.
- Constant interruptions and requests for service.
- May require emergency response.
- May be required to work additional hours outside of normal schedule.
- May be required to work a non-traditional work schedule.
- May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.
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, construction sites, and structures including uneven terrain and obstructions. Must be able to climb, crawl, stoop, crouch, balance, and safety maneuver at indoor and outdoor work sites.
- 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. Regular interaction with citizens and businesses.
- 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.
- Requires use of construction tools and inspection equipment.
Work Environment:
- A combination of on-site inspections and standard office environment. Required 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.
- 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.
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
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.
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
Do you possess at least a high school diploma or GED?
- Yes; I have obtained a High School Diploma or higher.
- Yes; I have obtained a GED.
- No; However, I have a combination of education and experience that would confer equivalent knowledge and ability to perform the job.
- No.
02
Do you have at least three (3) years of experience?
(Must be verifiable in reference to your online application.)
- Yes
- No; However, I have a combination of education and experience that would confer equivalent knowledge and ability to perform the job.
- No.
03
Of the following, select those fields in which you have direct work experience and/or knowledge.
(check ALL that apply)
- Building construction (conceptual and administrative processes)
- Building and local zoning codes
- Building, fire, and or housing inspections
- Electrical trades
- Elevator and or property maintenance work
- Fire protection
- Mechanical trades
- Plumbing
- None of the above
04
Do you have
OR are you able to obtain Certification per Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, (Virginia Certification Standards) within 18 months of hire?
- Yes; I currently possess Certification per Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, (Virginia Certification Standards).
- Yes; I can obtain this certification within 18 months, if hired.
- No; I cannot obtain this certification within 18 months, if hired.
05
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.
- 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.
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.
