Job Details

Building Plans Examiner I/II

Come join our team! The City of Novato is recruiting for Building Plans Examiner I/II. This recruitment remains open and ongoing until filled. The position offered will be based on experience and training. First review application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, December 7, 2025.

Under direction, reviews plans and specifications for proposed construction or alteration of buildings and structures to ensure compliance with California building codes, statutes and local codes and ordinances, including conventional construction fire and life safety, and accessibility compliance; inspects buildings being constructed, altered, or repaired to determine conformance with codes and approved plans and specifications as required; and performs related work as assigned.

The City of Novato is looking for a self-motivated individual that thrives in problem solving. Candidates must be proficient in written and verbal communication. The ideal candidate for this position will possess working knowledge and experience with the California Building Code Standards and working with the public.

One of the Bay Area's premier communities, Novato is located in Marin County 29 miles north of San Francisco. The second largest city in the County, Novato has a current population of about 56,000 and covers 28 square miles. Novato residents enjoy a thriving and family-oriented community with abundant educational, recreational, retail, and business opportunities. The residents are actively involved in important local decisions about quality of life issues and the future direction of their city as the City Council encourages a high level of interaction between its citizenry and city government so that important issues are vigorously debated and discussed. The community fosters a small town atmosphere due to its low population density, high amount of open space and parks, vibrant downtown, and engaged community members.

Building Plans Examiner I -- This is the entry-level in the Building Plans Examiner series. Positions assigned to this class perform the more routine and standardized tasks. The class of Building Plans Examiner I is considered to be in a training status, and assignments are performed within the procedural framework established by higher-level employees. However, as experience is acquired, the employee performs with increasing responsibility and is expected to be performing at the II or journey level within the prescribed time frame.

Building Plans Examiner II -- This is the journey-level class in the Building Plans Examiner series. Positions in this class are flexibly staffed and are typically filled by advancement from the lower class of Building Plans Examiner I, or when filled from the outside, require prior experience performing all aspects of building plans examiner responsibilities. Appointment to the higher class requires that the employee consistently performs the full range of duties assigned for the class and meet the class's qualification standards. Work in this class is distinguished from the Building Plans Examiner I by the higher level of discretion and independent judgment required in performing the full range of routine to complex plans examining duties.

Building Plans Examiner I receives immediate supervision from the Chief Building Official. Building Plans Examiner II receives general supervision from the Chief Building Official. May exercise functional and technical supervision over less experienced staff.

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reviews and evaluates plans, structural engineering calculations, soil analysis reports, and other reports for residential and commercial, industrial projects to ascertain conformance to Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Electrical Codes, and pertinent provisions of City, State, and County health and environmental codes, laws and regulations.
• Prepares plan check reports indicating deficiencies in plans, structural engineering calculations, soil analysis reports, and other reports, and ensures that requisite corrections are met.
• Approves plans that comply; issues permits for construction.
• Confers with architects, engineers, contractors, and the general public on proposed projects to resolve unusual problems.
• Performs investigation of field problems relating to building code compliance; collects the necessary data to develop recommendations; meets with the appropriate parties to discuss the implementation of recommendations; consults with architects, engineers, and contractors concerning code requirements and building design; seeks to solve plans review problems as necessary; suggests corrections of defects or inadequacies found that require deficiencies be corrected to meet requirements of applicable codes.
• Answers questions and advises the public by telephone, email, and at the public counter concerning codes and plan check reports; advises building inspectors of unusual design, construction, or installation problems.
• Classifies and logs new projects for plan checks; creates plan check files; enters initial site data and permit data on computer; revises data as project status and details change.
• Interacts with staff from other City departments involved in the plan review process.
• Reviews the work of outside plan check engineers and consultants.
• Responds to verbal or written inquiries and provides technical assistance to engineers, architects, contractors, and other City personnel.
• Reviews and verifies calculations on hydrology and hydraulic studies; reviews plans and reports for engineering standards and appropriate codes and ordinances.
• Reviews and determines fees associated with development projects; assigns building and street addresses.
• Coordinates plan check activities with other City functions and outside agencies.
• Attendance and punctuality that is observant of scheduled hours on a regular basis.
• Performs on-call and standby inspections requested by the fire district and police department any time of the day or night to determine the safety of structures following an emergency or natural disaster.
• Performs administrative and field inspection duties.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

Knowledge of: Principles and practices of building construction and safety standards. Procedures and techniques of plan review. Types of building construction materials and methods. Pertinent codes, laws, and regulations governing building construction, including building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, housing, and energy codes.

Ability to: Read and interpret blueprints and construction drawings. Examine building plans, elementary calculations, and specifications in a uniform and accurate manner. Learn to interpret and apply pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations. Apply City codes and policies regarding building and zoning. Learn to determine if construction systems conform to City code regulations. Locate, read, and interpret building plans, maps, engineering calculations, soil reports, project specifications, and industrial blueprints. Understand and carry out oral and written directions.

Experience: Three (3) years of increasingly responsible clerical or technical work which included extensive public contact, including one (1) year working in community development, building permitting, plan checking, building inspection, construction engineering, or a similar field. Training: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by specialized training in construction and building trades or a related field. License or Certificate: Possession of a valid California driver's license by the date of appointment. Possession of, or ability to obtain within twelve months of hire, certification as a Residential Plans Examiner (R3) by the ICC or other equivalent certification, along with participation in the divisions continuing education and certification program.

In addition to the qualifications of Building Plans Examiner I:

Knowledge of: Principles and techniques of building plan examination work. Principles of structural design and engineering mathematics. Accepted safety standards and methods of building construction for commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. Research methods and sources of information related to building code enforcement. Legal procedures involved in code enforcement. Basic engineering concepts related to building construction.

Ability to: Apply technical knowledge and follow proper examination techniques. Detect deviations from plans, regulations, and standard construction practices. Read and interpret complex building plans, specifications, and building codes. Advise on requirements for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. Provide technical assistance to other building examination staff in the assigned area of specialization. Enforce necessary regulations with firmness and tact. Determine whether construction systems conform to City code requirements. Exercise independent judgment related to building plans examining issues.

Experience: Five (5) years of increasingly responsible clerical or technical work which included extensive public contact, including three (3) years working in community development, building permitting, plan checking, building inspection, construction engineering, or a similar field. Training: Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by specialized training in construction and building trades or a related field. License or Certificate: Possession of a valid California driver's license by the date of appointment. Possession of certification as a Residential Plans Examiner (R3) by the ICC or other equivalent certification. Combination Plans Examiner Certificate (C3) within 18 months of date of hire issued by the International Code Council (ICC) is required along with participation in the divisions continuing education and certification program.

Environmental Conditions: Office/field and construction environment. Work indoors is in a carpeted and air-conditioned office environment with natural or fluorescent lighting and moderate noise level. Some movement is required from office to office and there is exposure to external environment when going to outlying offices and meetings. The performance of outdoor work requires exposure to a variety of weather conditions (heat, cold, rain, intense sun); exposure to potentially hazardous substances and chemicals, and work on slippery or uneven surfaces. Work is frequently disrupted by the need to respond to in-person, email, and telephone inquiries.

Physical Conditions: Essential functions may require