What are the responsibilities and job description for the Building Plans Examiner position at City of Ontario?
Do you enjoy reviewing documents to ensure compliance? Are you looking for a rewarding opportunity to serve a growing community? The City of Ontario's Building Department has an exciting opportunity as a Building Plans Examiner. The Building Plans Examiner will be responsible for performing professional and technical plan checks for residential, commercial, and industrial projects for compliance with codes, ordinances, and other applicable regulations; reviewing applications and checking plans for completeness and compliance with building codes; and consults with architects, engineers, contractors, homeowners, and general public regarding building code compliance, structural applications, and regulation conformance.
The ideal candidate for the Building Plans Examiner will be knowledgeable in the principles and practices related to this line of work; and have the ability to provide excellent customer service to our community through teamwork, solid communication, and responsiveness. In addition, the ideal candidate will have the ability to operate with independence and initiative, and exhibit skill in innovative problem solving while working cooperatively with the public and City departments. The successful candidate will embody the Department's mission and vision as well as the qualities of a "Five Tool Player" - Leader, Thinker, Communicator, Operator and Public Servant - and the principles of the City's Customer Service Philosophy – Empathy, Respect, and Problem Solving.
The Following Procedures Will Apply
The mission of the Building Department is to contribute to Ontario's economic development and protect the lives and safety of Ontario's citizens and its visitors, by providing timely and professional plan review and inspection services to ensure buildings and projects are built and developed in compliance with all applicable municipal and state code requirements.
The City of Ontario
The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario enjoys the reputation of being a progressive City which provides solid leadership to its citizens and to the business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including, but not limited to: Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Life & Culture, Community Development, Economic Development, Public Works and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City’s team is staffed with approximately 1,517 full-time equivalent diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community.
About
The City’s vision for the future is very exciting, and we foresee tremendous growth within the years to come. We welcome you to view the City of Ontario’s 2025 State of the City video by clicking on the link below as well as the other links to learn more about the City:
State of the City
The Ontario Plan
Smart Ontario
Downtown Ontario
The essential functions typically performed by the Building Plans Examiner include the following:
Completion of two years of coursework from an accredited college or university in architecture, engineering, construction technology or related field.
NOTE: Proof of education must be provided by way of attachment to your online application or as an email attachment sent to the Hiring Agency Representative at, or before, time of the reference check process. Acceptable forms of proof include Unofficial Transcripts, Official Transcripts, Photos and/or Photocopies of Institutional Degree/Certifications. Failure to provide the required documentation at, or before, time of the reference check process will result in disqualification.
Experience
Three years of experience performing building plan check reviews for compliance with building codes or equivalent experience.
Desirables
Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, construction technology or related field. Residential Plans Examiner OR Building Plans Examiner certification issued by the International Code Council (ICC). Public agency experience.
Licenses
Valid Class C California driver’s license and acceptable driving record at time of appointment and throughout employment.
Certification
As a Condition Of Continued Employment, Employees In This Classification Must Obtain One Of The Following Certifications Prior To The End Of Their One Year Probationary Period
Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" link at the top of this announcement. If this is the first time applying for a position using governmentjobs.com, you will be prompted to create a new user account; otherwise, log in with your username and password. Your application and responses to any supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position. It is suggested that your application include the following:
NOTE: Transcripts from colleges, universities or technical schools outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report will result in disqualification from the selection process.
Application Process
Applicants are required to submit required certification(s) or other required documentation as outlined in the Qualifications Guideline section of this bulletin. Please use the attachment function found on the City's online application to attach copies of the requested certification(s) or other documentation. Failure to attach required documentation may result in the rejection of your application. Please contact the Human Resources/Risk Management Agency if you have any questions regarding the application process.
Your application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications. It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. Failure to complete these sections may result in the rejection of your application.
Supplemental Questions
To complete your application for this position, you may be prompted to respond to supplemental questions. This information will be used as part of the application screening and selection process and is designed to help you present your qualifications for this position. This may include a selection step in which your application and supplemental questions are reviewed and scored by a panel of raters familiar with this position.
Incomplete responses, false statements, omission, partial information, or AI-generated responses may result in disqualification from the selection process. Your responses should be consistent with the information provided on your application.
Please provide succinct, concise, descriptive, and detailed information for each question. If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.
Email Notices
Email is the primary way that the Human Resources/Risk Management Agency or Hiring Department will communicate with you. Please check your email account (including the SPAM folder) on a regular basis for any emails related to the application or selection process. Emails from the City of Ontario will come from "@ontarioca.gov" or "governmentjobs.com." If you change your email address after submitting your application, please visit governmentjobs.com and update your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any additional questions regarding the application process, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page.
The ideal candidate for the Building Plans Examiner will be knowledgeable in the principles and practices related to this line of work; and have the ability to provide excellent customer service to our community through teamwork, solid communication, and responsiveness. In addition, the ideal candidate will have the ability to operate with independence and initiative, and exhibit skill in innovative problem solving while working cooperatively with the public and City departments. The successful candidate will embody the Department's mission and vision as well as the qualities of a "Five Tool Player" - Leader, Thinker, Communicator, Operator and Public Servant - and the principles of the City's Customer Service Philosophy – Empathy, Respect, and Problem Solving.
The Following Procedures Will Apply
- The eligibility list will consist of both internal and external applicants who best meet or exceed the qualifications and successfully complete any requirements selection processes.
- The hiring department has the discretion to consider internal applicants on the Eligibility List prior to considering external candidates on the Eligibility List.
- The City of Ontario reserves the right, if necessary, to accept only the first one hundred (100) applications from applicants that meet the qualification guidelines below.
- Completed applications will be reviewed and only qualified applicants whose qualification best meet or exceed the requirements of the position and needs of the City will be invited to participate further in the selection process.
The mission of the Building Department is to contribute to Ontario's economic development and protect the lives and safety of Ontario's citizens and its visitors, by providing timely and professional plan review and inspection services to ensure buildings and projects are built and developed in compliance with all applicable municipal and state code requirements.
The City of Ontario
The City of Ontario is a dynamic leading community in the Inland Empire with a variety of full-time and part-time employment and volunteer opportunities. Ontario enjoys the reputation of being a progressive City which provides solid leadership to its citizens and to the business community. The City provides a full range of services to the community including, but not limited to: Police, Fire, Management Services, Community Life & Culture, Community Development, Economic Development, Public Works and the Ontario Municipal Utilities Company. The City’s team is staffed with approximately 1,517 full-time equivalent diverse and talented employees who work to support a common goal of providing excellent service to the community.
About
The City’s vision for the future is very exciting, and we foresee tremendous growth within the years to come. We welcome you to view the City of Ontario’s 2025 State of the City video by clicking on the link below as well as the other links to learn more about the City:
State of the City
The Ontario Plan
Smart Ontario
Downtown Ontario
The essential functions typically performed by the Building Plans Examiner include the following:
- Examines and reviews digital and hardcopy plans for residential, commercial and industrial construction projects.
- Performs technical work in the processing and issuance of building permits; reviews applications and checks plans for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with building codes and other requirements; calculates and collects fees in accordance with established procedures. Evaluate construction plans for the issuance of permits and collection of applicable fees.
- Provides general information and responds to inquiries regarding the permit procedures and policies to the public in person at the counter or on the phone; ensures efficient and courteous service.
- Participates in pre-design meetings with associated parties regarding interpretation and enforcement of building codes; recommends necessary changes to plans to ensure compliance and to resolve problems as necessary.
- Confers with supervisor and others including architects, engineers, and contractors as needed to resolve unusual problems.
- Prepares plan check reports indicating any deficiencies in the plans or structural engineering calculations and including soil analysis reports and other reports; ensures that requisite corrections are made.
- Explains the plan review corrections to architects, engineers, contractors and provides information response to code—related inquiries.
- Coordinates permit activities and routes information to departmental staff, other City departments, and outside agencies as required.
- Complies with federal or state and local laws, ordinances and building and zoning codes.
- Performs data entry; prepares and maintains a variety of records, technical specifications, files and logs.
- Researches and maintains knowledge of applicable codes, ordinances, and regulations.
- Analyze structural engineering aspects of all designs and calculations.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Completion of two years of coursework from an accredited college or university in architecture, engineering, construction technology or related field.
NOTE: Proof of education must be provided by way of attachment to your online application or as an email attachment sent to the Hiring Agency Representative at, or before, time of the reference check process. Acceptable forms of proof include Unofficial Transcripts, Official Transcripts, Photos and/or Photocopies of Institutional Degree/Certifications. Failure to provide the required documentation at, or before, time of the reference check process will result in disqualification.
Experience
Three years of experience performing building plan check reviews for compliance with building codes or equivalent experience.
Desirables
Bachelor’s degree in architecture, engineering, construction technology or related field. Residential Plans Examiner OR Building Plans Examiner certification issued by the International Code Council (ICC). Public agency experience.
Licenses
Valid Class C California driver’s license and acceptable driving record at time of appointment and throughout employment.
Certification
As a Condition Of Continued Employment, Employees In This Classification Must Obtain One Of The Following Certifications Prior To The End Of Their One Year Probationary Period
- International Code Council (ICC) Residential Plans Examiner
- International Code Council (ICC) Building Plans Examiner
Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" link at the top of this announcement. If this is the first time applying for a position using governmentjobs.com, you will be prompted to create a new user account; otherwise, log in with your username and password. Your application and responses to any supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position. It is suggested that your application include the following:
- List any relevant experience and education that demonstrates that you qualify for the position.
- List all periods of employment for at least the past 10 years, beginning with your most recent or present employer (including if applicable, all employment with the City of Ontario).
- Separately list each position held, including different positions with the same employer.
NOTE: Transcripts from colleges, universities or technical schools outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report will result in disqualification from the selection process.
Application Process
Applicants are required to submit required certification(s) or other required documentation as outlined in the Qualifications Guideline section of this bulletin. Please use the attachment function found on the City's online application to attach copies of the requested certification(s) or other documentation. Failure to attach required documentation may result in the rejection of your application. Please contact the Human Resources/Risk Management Agency if you have any questions regarding the application process.
Your application is the primary tool used to evaluate your job qualifications. It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess. Failure to complete these sections may result in the rejection of your application.
Supplemental Questions
To complete your application for this position, you may be prompted to respond to supplemental questions. This information will be used as part of the application screening and selection process and is designed to help you present your qualifications for this position. This may include a selection step in which your application and supplemental questions are reviewed and scored by a panel of raters familiar with this position.
Incomplete responses, false statements, omission, partial information, or AI-generated responses may result in disqualification from the selection process. Your responses should be consistent with the information provided on your application.
Please provide succinct, concise, descriptive, and detailed information for each question. If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.
Email Notices
Email is the primary way that the Human Resources/Risk Management Agency or Hiring Department will communicate with you. Please check your email account (including the SPAM folder) on a regular basis for any emails related to the application or selection process. Emails from the City of Ontario will come from "@ontarioca.gov" or "governmentjobs.com." If you change your email address after submitting your application, please visit governmentjobs.com and update your profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any additional questions regarding the application process, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page.