Job Details

The City of San Luis Obispo is seeking a Chief Building Official to join the Community Development Department.

The City of San Luis Obispo is seeking a highly skilled Chief Building Official who combines strong technical expertise with exceptional interpersonal skills and a collaborative leadership style. The successful candidate brings broad knowledge of adopted codes and state and local regulations, along with prior relevant experience, plan check experience, and a commitment to consistent, high-quality building safety services.

This individual is a strategic and adaptable leader who monitors development and economic trends, effectively manages budgets, and embraces continual improvement. They navigate complex issues with competing interests professionally and constructively, bringing fresh perspectives and practical solutions.

The successful candidate is a team builder who fosters a respectful, customer-focused culture, supports staff development, and builds trust through clear communication and accountability. They are an effective communicator and educator, able to clearly explain technical and regulatory matters to staff, the public, and City Council. The successful candidate values working in a highly engaged community and leverages collaboration, transparency, and professionalism to deliver responsive and reliable public service.

Please note: Hiring incentives are not guaranteed but may be valued up to $5,000 for positions deemed hard to fill by the Director of Human Resources. For those candidates who live 50 or more miles from San Luis Obispo County, relocation assistance may be available.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Community Development Department

If you are selected for interviews, they will take place in person on Thursday, March 5, 2026, so please hold that date.

JOB SUMMARY:

Plans, organizes, oversees and reviews programs and activities of the Building and Safety Division of the City's Community Development Department and administers City, state, and federal codes and ordinances relating to private construction projects; serves as a departmental and City liaison for City projects and provides effective customer service to the community and project applicants regarding building and zoning codes; functions as a key member of the departmental management team.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS:

This single-position class is responsible for the overall administration and direction for the City's building plan review, permit issuance, and building inspection functions. May also provide direction for code enforcement, and related functions. The incumbent is accountable for formulating policy, developing goals and objectives, supervising staff, administering the budget, and directing day-to-day operations. Assignments allow for a high degree of administrative discretion and require a high level of technical expertise in their execution. This class is distinguished from the Director of Community Development by the latter's overall managerial accountability for a comprehensive municipal department comprised of Long-Range Planning, Development Review and Building and Safety Services and Administrative Support.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

The Chief Building Official receives administrative direction from the Director of Community Development within a framework of broad policies and established organizational values and processes. Supervision is provided to supervisory, professional, technical, and clerical staff. May act as the Director of Community Development in their absence.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

(Any one position may not include all of the duties listed nor do the listed examples include all tasks that may be found in positions of this class.)

• Directs and administers activities and programs for compliance with federal, state, and municipal codes and regulations governing building construction, housing, zoning, rehabilitation, alteration, use and occupancy of structures within the City.
• Assists in the development and administration of department and division goals, objectives, policies and procedures.
• Plans, organizes, administers, reviews and evaluates the work of professional, technical and office support staff; provides training and policy guidance and interpretation to staff.
• Ensures that staff provides a high degree of service to both internal and external customers that supports achieving the departments and the City's mission, objectives and values.
• Contributes to the overall quality of the department's service by developing, reviewing and implementing policies and procedures to meet legal requirements and City needs.
• Prepares program budget and monitors work to ensure that funds and staff time are used effectively and efficiently; analyzes work flow, assignments, priorities and staffing levels and makes adjustments when required.
• Advises and provides staff expertise to the Director of Community Development, the City Council, committees, commissions, contractors, developers, property owners and public regarding building codes, zoning, housing and other regulations and ordinances.
• Conducts and oversees field inspections of buildings during construction and reviews or oversees the review of construction plans, specifications, and engineering calculations to determine compliance with legal requirements of codes, ordinances, and accepted engineering practices.
• May serve as a principal facilitator or manager of City code enforcement activities.
• Analyzes, reviews, and prepares code amendments or supplements.
• Monitors changes in codes and legislation, new building materials and construction methods and provides updated interpretations of codes and regulations to other City staff.
• Prepares and directs the preparation of a variety of written correspondence, reports, procedures, ordinances and other materials.
• Maintains and directs the maintenance of working and official departmental automated and manual files.
• May complete complex building plan reviews.
• Performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function as required.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Federal, state and local codes and regulations governing housing and building construction, rehabilitation, alteration, use and occupancy.
• Principles, practices, and legal procedures relative to municipal code enforcement.
• Principles and practices of administrative management in the public sector.
• Principles of compliance with American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Recent developments, current literature, informational resources, trends and approaches used in municipal code inspection and enforcement programs.
• Building practices and materials in the structural, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and related construction fields.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Basic budgetary principles and practices.
• Standard office practices and procedures, including the use of standard office equipment.
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups and various business, professional, regulatory and legislative organizations.
• Techniques for effectively working with stakeholder groups on projects, programs, and new initiatives.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service to public and City staff, in person and over the telephone.

Ability to:

• Plan, organize, administer, coordinate, review, evaluate and participate in activities and programs for compliance with federal, state, and municipal codes and regulations governing housing, building construction, rehabilitation, alteration, use and occupancy.
• Advise and provide staff expertise to the Director of Community Development, the City Council, committees, commissions, contractors, developers, property owners and public regarding building codes and other regulations and ordinances.
• Assist in the development and administration of department and division goals, objectives, policies and procedures.
• Plan, organize, assign, coordinate, supervise and evaluate the work of assigned staff.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, ordinances, correspondence, policies, procedures and other written materials.
• Conduct and oversee effective field inspections of buildings during construction and review construction plans, specifications and engineering calculations to determine compliance with legal requirements of codes, ordinances, and accepted engineering practices.
• Interpret, apply and explain complex laws, codes, regulations and ordinances.
• Conduct and oversee effective field investigations and case management related to municipal code enforcement.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines.
• Effectively engage with the stakeholder and community on a wide range of projects and programs related to community development and building and safety.
• Represent the City and the department in various public meetings related to building and code enforcement issues.
• Establish and maintain effective working relations with those contacted in the course of work.
• Work in a team atmosphere and participate on a variety of departmental and City-wide committees to enhance the provision of all City services.
• Work in a standard office setting and occasionally in a field environment or construction zone to conduct inspections.
• Use standard office equipment.
• Meet the physical requirements necessary to safely and effectively perform required duties.
• Read printed materials and a computer screen.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in engineering, architecture, public or business administration or a closely related field.

and

Five years of experience in any combination of municipal building inspection, permit processing and/or plan review, including three years at an administrative or management level.

or

An equivalent combination of education and experience.

POSSESSION AND MAINTENANCE OF:

• A valid California class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.
• Certification under a nationally accredited program as a combination building inspector and/or plans examiner is required upon appointment.
• Certification as a Building Official is required within one year of employment.

BEFORE A FINAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT IS EXTENDED, THE CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE:

Compensation details: 69.08-86.34 Hourly Wage

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