Building Official

City of Colonial Heights, VA

$73K — $95K *
Real Estate & Construction
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • High School Diploma with 10+ years supervisory experience or equivalent education and experience.
  • Certification as a residential and commercial inspector from VA DHCD or obtain within a year of employment.
  • Building Official Certification or ability to obtain it within the first year of employment.
  • Knowledge of relevant federal, state, and local laws and building codes.
  • Strong leadership, organizational, and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

  • Organize and direct building inspection activities.
  • Review building plans for compliance with codes.
  • Enforce compliance with VA USBC and Property Maintenance Code.
  • Determine fees for building permits.
  • Investigate complaints and conduct emergency inspections.
  • Issue warnings and stop work orders as necessary.
  • Approve final inspections and issue certificates of occupancy.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance including dental and vision starting the first month after hire.
  • Generous paid holiday leave with 14 holidays per year.
  • Accrued paid vacation leave with increasing amounts based on years of service.
  • Unlimited paid sick leave accrual.
  • Supplemental retirement plan options available.
Full Job Description
Salary: $73,977.00 - $95,000.00 Annually
Location : City of Colonial Heights, VA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 45-26
Department: Planning & Comm. Development
Opening Date: 08/03/2026
Closing Date: 8/24/2026 5:00 PM Eastern

Description
All applications received during the recruitment period will be forwarded to the
hiring department for review and consideration
after the Monday, August 24, 2026 closing date.

Building Official: Enforces the uniform statewide building code and other applicable laws, regulations, and rules.
Examples of Duties

  • Organizes and directs building inspection activities.
  • Reviews all building plans for compliance.
  • Enforces compliance with the VA USBC and Property Maintenance Code and City Code, as applicable.
  • Determines fees for permits.
  • Investigates complaints and makes emergency inspections.
  • Issues warnings and stop work orders.
  • Addresses public and professional inquiries.
  • Approves final inspections and issues certificates of occupancy.
  • Maintains all records regarding inspections.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

  • High School Diploma and over ten years directly related supervisory experience or,
  • Two years of college or Associate's Degree and over ten years directly related professional experience or,
  • A Bachelor's Degree and over five years directly related professional experience or
  • any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
  • Certification Requirements:
  • Must possess certification as a residential and commercial inspector from VA DHCD or obtain within a year of employment
  • Must possess Building Official Certification or must obtain certification within 1-year of initial employment.
  • Knowledge of relevant Federal, State, and local laws, rules, regulations, and ordinances.
  • General knowledge of building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, safety, energy, housing, and related codes.
  • Knowledge of the principles, practices, methods, techniques, and safety standards of building construction, building inspection, and structural design for commercial, industrial, and residential buildings.
  • Ability to understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures, and standards.
  • Ability to evaluate and development improvements in operations, procedures, and policies.
  • Knowledge and ability to effectively use computer systems, software applications, and business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
  • Must have strong leadership, supervisory, organizational, communication (oral and written), and customer service skills.
  • Ability to plan, organize, direct and evaluate the work of subordinate staff.
  • Ability to build strong working relationships within and across departments, with the City's Management team, the Mayor and City Council, contractors, citizens, and the community.

Physical Demands & Work Environment
The work requires physical exertion such as walking over rough or difficult terrain; recurring standing, stooping, climbing or walking; recurring lifting of moderately heavy items weighing between 25 and 75 pounds and may require the occasional lifting of objects weighing in excess of 74 pounds. The work may require specific physical characteristic and abilities such as heightened strength, mobility, and dexterity.

The work environment involves high risks with exposure to potentially dangerous situations or unusual environmental stress that require a range of safety and other precautions.
Full-Time Employee Benefits:

Health Insurance -
  • The Local Choice Program (Anthem, Delta Dental, and Blue Vision).
  • Health, Dental, and Vision benefits are included as a package under our health insurance program and cannot be purchased as separate coverage items.
  • Health insurance benefits start on the 1st of the month following the hire date.
  • Benefit Summaries

Retirement -

Supplemental Retirement -
  • We offer supplemental Retirement plans through Mission Square Retirement.
  • Employees can enroll in the following plans at any time during their employment.

Paid Holiday Leave
  • The city observes 14 holidays throughout the year (except certain departments if scheduling does not permit).

Paid Vacation Leave

Years of Service

Day(s) Earned

Per Month

Max. Annual

Accrual Days

Max. Days for

Carry Forward

0 - 5 Years

1

12

24

Over 5 Years



15

30

Over 10 Years



18

36

Over 20 Years



21

42

Paid Sick Leave
  • All full-time employees earn (1¼) days of paid sick leave for each calendar month of employment and is accumulated without limit.

Compensatory Leave
  • Non-Exempt employees may accumulate compensatory leave only for overtime worked which is authorized prior to the performance of such work. Compensatory leave may be accumulated at the rate of 1 1/2 times the regular rate for all hours worked in excess of 40 during a work week. Compensatory leave for nonexempt employees is voluntary but in no instance may exceed 120 hours of accumulated leave. All hours in excess of 120 hours will be compensated on the same basis as approved overtime.

Voluntary Benefits -
  • Employees have 30 days from their hire date to enroll in the following benefits. If an employee does not enroll, they cannot enroll until the next Open Enrollment.

Colonial Life Products

Pre-Tax:

Post Tax:

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Critical Illness

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Disability

Cancer

Term Life

Accident

Whole Life

Medical Bridge

Student Loan Forgiveness Program

* Note: Employees can only enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA) during Open Enrollment in May of each year. *

Other Benefits
  • Bi-weekly payday
  • Virginia Credit Union membership
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • City Sick Leave Bank Program (VRS Plan 1 and Plan 2 Members only)
  • VRS Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (VRS Hybrid Members only)
  • Education/tuition discounts through Liberty University

For additional information or more details about employee benefits please call the Human Resources Department at (804) 518-5073.
01

Which best describes your highest level of education?
  • High School Diploma/GED
  • Some College
  • Associate's Degree
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Master's Degree/Advanced Degree

02

How many years of directly related experience do you possess?
  • 0 to 1
  • 2 to 3
  • 4 to 5
  • 6 to 7
  • 8 to 9
  • 10+

03

How many years of supervisory experience do you possess?
  • No experience
  • 0 to 1 Year
  • 2 to 3 Years
  • 4 to 5 Years
  • 6 to 7 Years
  • 8 to 9 Years
  • 10+ Years

04

What certifications do you hold, if any?
05

Do you have professional public sector work experience?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

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