Salary : $87,488.96 - $105,657.76 Annually
Location : Throughout the County of Santa Clara, CA
Job Type: Full-Time/Part-Time
Job Number: 26-N35-A
Department: County-Wide Recruitment
Opening Date: 07/07/2026
Closing Date: 7/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 01

Description
Under limited supervision, to perform a wide variety of technical and specialized duties related to processing and issuing building permits and land development applications; to provide skilled assistance and administrative support to staff with all phases of the permit application, code compliance, and abatement process, including examining and analyzing applications, construction documents and building plans for completeness and conformance with requirements; researching property, database records, and field inspection reports; and providing customer service to the public.

Typical Tasks

• Coordinates the permit application process; receives and reviews a variety of permit applications, construction plans, and supporting documentation for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with state and county building codes and other applicable criteria; secures missing information from customers and determines needed level of review of plans and inspections; enters detailed information into computer based systems;
  
• Performs initial plan reviews for permit applications; examines and analyzes plans for completeness and conformance with applicable processing requirements;
  
• Assists and provides customer service to builders, contractors, developers, architects, engineers, department representatives, and the general public in person, on-line, or on the telephone;
  
• Processes and issues various building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and land development permits; determines required inspections, creates inspection records, and schedules inspection appointments;
  
• Coordinates, logs, and routes plans; facilitates plan check process to ensure permits are issued in a timely manner; tracks the status of permit applications or plan reviews and updates the applicant;
  
• Reviews and evaluates field reports of alleged violations; confers with field investigators in identifying the severity of violation, enforcement priorities, and abatement plans;
  
• Interprets and explains ordinances, codes, and departmental policies and procedures regarding plan reviews, permit processing, inspections, code violations, and abating building or housing violations;
  
• Researches code and ordinance violations, public records of addresses and legal descriptions, land use, geologic hazards, flood plains, fire hazard zones, historical or other permit sites;
  
• Resolves a variety of problems and complaints regarding permit and plan submittals and processing, illegal construction, code and ordinance violations, and inspections; confers and coordinates with permit applicants and staff;
  
• Coordinates with Building and Grading Inspectors and Zoning Investigators to schedule field investigation of alleged violations of County Codes and ordinances;
  
• Prepares official correspondence related to code enforcement activities, pursues resolution through voluntary or progressively serious enforcement actions; tracks the progress of enforcement actions; and coordinates and supports activities related to the Code Enforcement and/or the Administrative Hearing Process;
  
• Calculates fees, handles cash, checks and other forms of payment; opens and closes a cash register and issues receipts;
  
• Performs lead supervisory duties while coordinating the permit process, and monitors and distributes workloads;
  
• Develops and updates customer handouts, and performs the most technical and complex permit processing and related activities;
  
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;
  
• Performs other related duties, as required.

Employment Standards
Sufficient education and experience to demonstrate the ability to perform the above tasks and the attainment of the knowledge and abilities listed below.

Training and Experience Note:
The knowledge, skills, and abilities are acquired through possession of a high school diploma or equivalent and three (3) years of increasingly responsible experience providing assistance to a staff in the building trades or related trade or service to the public in the area of permit processing, plan checking, mapping, surveying, building inspection, or land development, and two (2) years of increasingly responsible experience as a Permit Technician I with Santa Clara County, or a functionally equivalent position.

Permit Technician certification by the International Code Council (ICC), or equivalent issuing agency, is desirable.
Knowledge of:
• Construction types, plans, specifications, and legal aspects of code enforcement;
• Building trades, codes, ordinances, regulations;
• Regulatory and discretionary permit application processes;
• Mathematical concepts to calculate fees;
• Operation of standard office software and equipment;
• Building and planning office procedures and operations;
• Public relations practices.
Ability to:

• Prioritize tasks and organize workload in order to provide efficient and effective customer service;
• Read and understand construction plans and documents;
• Understand and effectively explain regulations, procedures, and ordinances to the public;
• Perform basic mathematical calculations;
• Operate a variety of office software and equipment;
• Use computers to manage data, documents, and workflow;
• Maintain records, compile and tabulate data;
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with builders, contractors, developers, department representatives, the general public and staff;
• Train technical and clerical staff.

The County offers comprehensive first-class medical, dental, and vision benefits plans for County employees and their dependents, including plans with no deductibles, no co-pays, no co-insurance, and no prescription drug co-pays. Learn more

The County also offers generous paid time off with significant vacation, sick time, and 13 paid County holidays annually! Details are included in the with the bargaining unit applicable to the job classification.

In addition to the amazing perks above, the County also offers the additional benefits below.

Retirement Benefits
The County offers robust retirement plans including a (similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan) and the In addition to lifetime retirement income available through the CalPERS pension plan, the 457(b) Deferred Compensation plan provides a great way to save for retirement and supplement the defined benefit pension available to employees. These plans help our employees build a plan for their future and contribute to their family's long-term financial well-being.

Health Flexible Spending Account
The empowers employees to manage healthcare expenses efficiently with tax-free contributions (up to $3,200 for the 2024 calendar year). Secure tax-free solutions for your healthcare expenses and enjoy the flexibility to manage your healthcare finances effectively with the HFSA.

Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
The enables employees to utilize tax-free funds for dependent care services, facilitating a convenient and cost-effective approach for managing your dependent care expenses. The County also offers the , an employer-funded DCAP, for employees with annual income under $120,000.

Life and AD&D
The County offers life and disability benefits including , Insurance, These benefits ensure financial security and income support when you and your family need it most.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The County prioritizes employee mental health and well-being and offers a top-tier through Concern providing confidential counseling sessions covering stress, anxiety, relationships, grief, as well as financial/legal services, personal coaching, child and elder care referrals, and comprehensive crisis support.

Employee Wellness
The offers free wellness programing, fitness classes and resources; including Elevate My Wellness an all-in-one platform designed to elevate your well-being journey.

Education Reimbursement
A generous program is available, including Education Reimbursement for employees seeking additional training and professional development.

NOTE: Benefit and Retirement information may vary from bargaining unit to bargaining unit. Due to changes in State Law, current pension provisions described in the union contracts are not automatically applied. Specific pension benefits for new hires who start on or after January 1, 2013 may be different than indicated in the union contracts.

Click here to access all Memoranda of Understanding and most recent Summary of Changes.
01

Please answer the following questions. Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED and is an integral part of the evaluation process. Initially, it will be used to determine minimum qualifications. For those applicants meeting the employment standards, this information will be critical in the subsequent competitive assessment to identify those candidates to be invited to continue in the examination process. Your responses to the questions may also be reviewed and scored in a Competitive Rating evaluation process based on pre-determined rating criteria. Your answers should be as complete as possible, as no additional information will be accepted from applicants once the Competitive Rating evaluation has begun.

Include a detailed description of your work experience in the following format for EACH employer referenced, in each answer:
a) Name of employer
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment
d) Number of hours worked per week
e) Job duties performed

A response of "see resume" or "see application" will deem your application incomplete. Vague, incomplete, or non-responsive answers could result in no or low scores in a Competitive Rating process. Do you understand this requirement?

• Yes
• No

02

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• None
• High School or GED equivalent
• College (1 to 29 semester / 1 to 44 quarter units)
• College (30 to 59 semester / 45 to 89 quarter units)
• College (60 to 89 semester / 90 to 134 quarter units)
• College (90 to 119 semester / 135 to 179 quarter units)
• College (120 or more semester / 180 or more quarter units)
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree

03

How many years of experience do you have providing assistance to staff in the building trades or a related trade, or providing service to the public in the area of permit processing, plan checking, planning, mapping, surveying, building inspection, or land development?

• No experience
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

04

Select the areas you have experience providing assistance to staff in the building trades or a related trade, or service to the public.

• Permit Processing
• Plan Checking
• Mapping
• Surveying
• Building Inspection
• Land Development
• None of the above

05

Describe your experience providing assistance to staff or service to the public in the areas selected above.
Be specific in your responses and submit answers for EACH employer in the following format:
a) Employer name(s)
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment (Month/Year)
d) Total hours worked per week
e) Description of task(s) performed
If no experience, please type N/A.
06

Describe your experience providing customer service to the general public.
Be specific in your responses and submit answers for EACH employer in the following format:
a) Employer name(s)
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment (Month/Year)
d) Total hours worked per week
e) Description of task(s) performed
If no experience, please type N/A.
07

How many years of experience do you possess equivalent to a Permit Technician I with the County of Santa Clara?Click here to read the

• No experience
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three years or more

08

Describe your work experience equivalent to a Permit Technician I with the County of Santa Clara.Click here to read the
Be specific in your responses and submit answers for EACH employer in the following format:
a) Employer name(s)
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment (Month/Year)
d) Total hours worked per week
e) Description of task(s) performed
If no experience, please type N/A.
09

Select the areas in which you have permitting experience.

• Building Permits and Inspections
• Encroachment Permits
• Fire Permits
• Food Program Permits
• Grading Permits
• Hazardous Materials Permits
• Land Development Permits
• Planning Permits
• Septic System Permits
• None of the above
• Other Related Permit(s)

10

Describe your experience in the permitting areas selected above.
Be specific in your responses and submit answers for EACH employer in the following format:
a) Employer name(s)
b) Job title(s)
c) Start/end dates of employment (Month/Year)
d) Total hours worked per week
e) Description of task(s) performed
If no experience, please type N/A.
11

Do you possess the International Code Council (ICC) Permit Technician Certificate? Please attach your proof of completion if you indicated "Yes".

• Yes
• No

12

Ho