Job Description

PERMIT TECHNICIAN

(Building)

PG 14 ($17.65-$26.31)

Full Time Monday -Friday 8 am - 5 pm

Must have the physical, developmental, and mental ability to perform job tasks, work efforts, responsibilities and duties of the job illustrated below.  The job description herein provides for the range of duties to be performed.  It is not intended to reflect all duties that are required within this position.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS

Performs technical, administrative, and customer service duties related to acceptance, processing, reviewing and approval of building permit applications in accordance with the Florida Building Code and county regulations and procedures.

ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES

Customer Relations

• Greets, logs in, and directs customers per office procedures.
• Routes incoming calls utilizing a multi-line telephone.
• Evaluates building permit application packets for completeness prior to customer entering queue system to accelerate customer experience at the permitting and plans review stations.
• Performs Technician on Call duties as assigned including but not limited to providing setbacks, permit status, impact fee information, permit requirements, and other information to customers.
• Independently follows up with customers on permitting requirements and issues.

Technical Abilities

• Reviews construction permit applications for compliance with appropriate county ordinances, policies, and procedures, as well as state statutes and Federal regulations.
• Checks applications for compliance with the Land Development Code (LDC), including but not limited to lot size, future land use designation, density, setbacks, adequate road frontage, shoreline proximity, and allowable use.
• Utilizes GIS Dataviewer, Polk County Utilities GIS, Hansen, and E-Plan to accept review, and process building permit applications.
• Ensures all permitting information is entered correctly into permitting and plans review systems in an efficient manner.
• Issues permits utilizing permitting software, records, reports, internal and external websites and governing documents as required.
• Identifies subject properties in flood zones, floodways, and wetlands, and ensures that applicants are aware of elevation restrictions and building requirements.
• Coordinates with other county division, as well as other local and state regulatory agencies to ensure permitting and land use requirements are in compliance.

  Transaction Management

• Processes online permit requests, as well as other remote or walk-in permit applications.
• Ensures all fees are calculated correctly and processes payments.
• Performs Close out permits, Lien searches, Inspection related duties, Power Releases (known as CLIP duties) and issues Certificates of Occupancy (COs), Certificates of Completion (CCs) and Temporary Certificates of Occupancy, as assigned.
• Prepares files for electronic archiving and scans as necessary.
• Coordinates with Plans Examiners to ensure timely and accurate review and issuance of building permits.
• Ensures contractors’ licenses are up to date.
• Checks for expired permits.
• Places and/or removes inspection and permitting holds as needed for Notices of Commencement (NOCs), flood certificates, parent child (associated) permits, preconstruction meetings, etc.
• Generates reports and compiles data as requested.
• Performs research duties and other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with external and internal customers
• Ability to read and interpret legal descriptions
• Ability to recognize basic components of building plans, site plans, aerial photographs, and future land use maps.
• Ability to review and evaluate permit application packets for compliance with land development regulations, and other county, state and Federal construction permitting requirements.
• Knowledge of business English, punctuation, and spelling. 
• Ability to perform basic mathematical tasks including calculation of fees.
• Knowledge of general office practices and procedures and record keeping methods. 
• Ability to perform in stressful situations and multitask in a busy office environment.
• Ability to learn assigned tasks and adhere to prescribed practices.
• Ability to comprehend efficiency and effectiveness metrics as established by the division and to make necessary adjustments to perform within the acceptable parameters of the established metrics.
• Ability to use office equipment such as multiline phone systems, personal computers, facsimile machines, calculators, copiers, scanners, and plotters. 
• Ability to use basic computer software, such as word processing and spreadsheets.

• Knowledge of or ability to learn specialized software related to electronic permitting and plans review.
• Ability to work independently and exercise judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions.
• Ability to see, write, and perform data entry keying efforts.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduate of an accredited high school or possess an acceptable equivalency diploma and have a minimum of five (5) years clerical or customer service experience in building construction or related field, including two (2) years as a permit technician or related position.
• Must demonstrate an understanding of implications of development in high hazard flood zones and have the ability to determine zones using the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps and GIS software.
• Must demonstrate proficiency using Polk County GIS Dataviewer, as well as the ability to appropriately navigate Polk County Property Appraiser and Tax Collector websites to gather information relevant to issuing permits.
• Must possess or be able to secure a valid Florida driver’s license at the time of employment.
• A comparable amount of training and experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Must obtain license as a Notary Public within six (6) months of employment.

This position may be required to report for work when a declaration of emergency has been declared in Polk County.

SPECIAL PREFERENCE

Bilingual

Notary Public