NATURE OF WORK

This classification involves inspection of new and existing buildings in the City to determine habitability. This position inspects residential and commercial structures at various stages of completion; ensures building’s structural integrity; and checks for compliance with building codes and ordinances. This position also works with builders, architects, and property owners; conducts code research; issues verbal and written orders to contractors and property owners to correct violations; maintains related records; responds to inquiries and complaints; and testifies in court as needed. This classification works under the direct supervision of the Chief Structural Inspector to conduct structural inspections and enforce the Florida Building Code (FBC), City Ordinances, and State Statutes.

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Perform field inspections of all aspects of construction that fall under the structural discipline defined in the FBC during the process of construction and upon completion of work for conformance with approved building permit plans, the Florida Building Code, and City of Sunrise Ordinances that are directly related to building construction.
• Issue correction notices for non-conformance with approved plans and to re-inspect work when deficiencies have been corrected.
• Enter the status of each inspection in the computer after each inspection has been performed and sign permit card when approved.
• Consult with developers, architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and tenants.
• Investigate complaints received regarding alleged code violations, determine the validity of the complaints and take appropriate action.
• Verifies that proper permits have been obtained. 
• Post properties and testify at Special Magistrate hearings.
• Retain licenses and certifications that are required for this position through mandatory continuing education classes.
• Perform other related work as required.

 

• Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a GED equivalency diploma
• PROOF OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF COMPLETED EDUCATION MUST BE SUBMITTED AS AN ATTACHMENT WITH APPLICATION. (Applications without attached proof of education will not be processed for consideration.) 

LICENSES and EXPERIENCE
 
To be eligible for appointment as a Structural Inspector, such person shall meet the requirements below:
 

• Meet one of the following:
  • Possess a current license as a General Contractor with at least five (5) years of experience within the State of Florida in the structural discipline with that license of which, two years shall have been within the High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ) or by passing the Board of Rules and Appeals (BORA) HVHZ exam. An applicant who is a graduate from an accredited school holding a Bachelor or an Associate of Science in Engineering, Architecture, or Building Construction may be credited for two (2) years for a Bachelor Degree or one (1) year for an Associate Degree towards the required five (5) years of experience within the State of Florida in the structural discipline as outlined below. 

• Be a Florida Registered Architect or a Florida Licensed Professional Engineer in the discipline requested with two (2) years of HVHZ experience or by passing the BORA HVHZ exam.
• Possess a current Certificate of Competency or a Professional Engineer license or Architect registration issued by at least one of the following entities:
  • Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board.
  • Broward County Central Examining Board of Building Construction Trades.
  • Miami-Dade County Construction Trades Qualifying Board.
  • Florida Board of Professional Engineers.
  • Department of Business and Professional Regulations as an Architect.

• Possess a current active license issued by the State of Florida, Building Code and Administrators and Inspectors Board (BCAIB) as a Standard Building Inspector. (Architects and Engineers are exempt from BCAIB certification only.)
• Possess or be eligible to obtain a current certification as a Structural Inspector issued by BORA.
• Florida Residents: Must possess a valid Florida driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Non-Florida Residents: Must possess a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record AND obtain a valid Florida driver’s license prior to hire.
• Structural Building Inspectors shall be required to obtain a Reinforced Unit Masonry certification within two (2) years from their initial BORA certification date.
• All required certifications and licenses must be kept current to continue employment in this position. 

LICENSES and EXPERIENCE: (Trainees Only)
Trainee Salary: $65,436.57 (2 Steps below Building Inspector Salary)
To be eligible for appointment as a Structural Inspector (Trainee), such person shall meet the requirements below:
 

• Meet one of the following:
  • Possess a current license as a General Contractor with at least five (5) years of experience within the State of Florida in the structural discipline with that license of which, two years shall have been within the HVHZ or by-passing BORA’s HVHZ exam. An applicant who is a graduate from an accredited school holding a Bachelor or an Associate of Science in Engineering, Architecture, or Building Construction may be credited for two (2) years for a Bachelor Degree or one (1) year for an Associate Degree towards the required five (5) years of experience within the State of Florida in the structural discipline as outlined below.

• Be a Florida Registered Architect or a Florida Licensed Professional Engineer in the discipline requested with two (2) years of HVHZ experience or by passing the BORA HVHZ exam.
• Must obtain a 120-Day Temporary Provisional certification as a Structural Inspector from BORA within ninety (90) days from date of employment.
• Must obtain a Provisional Building Inspector certificate of licensure from the State of Florida (BCAIB) within one hundred and twenty (120) days of employment/promotion. (Architects and Engineers are exempt from BCAIB certification only.)
• Must obtain a Provisional certification as a Structural Inspector from BORA within one hundred and twenty (120) days from date of employment.
• Must obtain a Standard Building Inspector license from the State of Florida (BCAIB) within twenty-four (24) months from the date of employment.
• Must obtain a Standard Structural Inspector certification from BORA within twenty-four (24) months from the date of employment.
• The City will reimburse application fees for the required licenses and certifications upon successful acquisition of all required certification/license.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTSWork Environment:

• Work is performed mostly in the field conducting indoor and outdoor inspections of new construction, additions, and alterations of residential and commercial structures.
• The duties of this position entail physically demanding work; often outdoors in all weather conditions, and involves frequent travel to many different job sites during each workday.

Physical:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, use repetitive motions of the wrists, hands and/or fingers, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls, and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to occasionally require to sit, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, push, pull, lift, finger, grasp and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, raising objects from lower to higher positions or moving horizontally from position-to-position.
• Ability to climb ladders and stairs requiring agility and moderate physical exertion.
• Physical capability to effectively use and operate City assigned vehicles.

Sensory:

• Must have the use of sensory skills in order to effectively communicate and interact with other employees and the public through personal contact, the use of the telephone and/or other City issued technology devices.
• Ability to hear within normal audio range, with or without correction.
• Ability to see in the normal visual range with or without correction. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Thorough knowledge of required structural inspections, procedures and practices. 
• Thorough knowledge of the materials, and methods and practices of construction used in the high velocity hurricane zone (HVHZ) areas of Florida.
• Thorough knowledge of the Florida Building Code and other regulations governing work that falls under the structural discipline in Broward County.
• Ability to read and interpret construction documents, product approvals, plans, and recognize deviations from such plans in the construction and installation processes.
• Ability to enforce code regulations firmly, tactfully, and impartially.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare clear and concise written reports. 
• Ability to manage multiple, high-priority assignments.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with supervisors, co-workers, other City employees as well as with developers, architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and tenants.
• Ability to provide the best customer service possible at all times.