Current Employment Opportunities with the City of Meridian:

Job Title: Building Plans Examiner I / II
Department: Community Development
Reports To: Plan Review Supervisor
Open Date: 03/14/2025
Close Date: Open Until Filled
Salary Range: $27.14 to $29.56 per hour, DOE


Job Summary:

The Building Plans Examiner I performs comprehensive residential building plan reviews for new construction, alterations, or remodels, ensuring compliance with adopted codes and regulations. The Building Plans Examiner II builds upon these responsibilities, handling both residential and minor commercial projects, performing structural calculations, and providing training and technical support to Building Plans Examiner I staff. The Building Plans Examiner II operates with greater independence and works with more complex and diverse duties.


Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Responsibilities for Both Levels:
Review construction plans for compliance with International Residential Code (IRC), International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), and City of Meridian ordinances.

Verify legal parcels, site setbacks, easements, fire separation, energy compliance, and other relevant code requirements.

Communicate with applicants, design professionals, and inspectors to resolve code compliance issues.

Provide verbal, written, or visual correspondence, technical assistance, and interpretation of building codes.

Provides permit counter customers, contractors, homeowners and citizen support through the permit and inspection process.

Utilize City’s enterprise and plan review software to process applications, input data, and track workflows.

Attend training sessions and maintain required certifications.

Ensure timely review of resubmittals and maintain accurate documentation of plan reviews.

Performs other duties as assigned.


Building Plans Examiner I:

Focuses on residential construction plan reviews, including new one- and two-family dwellings, townhouses, and remodels.

Schedules and leads meetings to answer questions and facilitate services for residential projects.

Provides front-counter assistance and customer support for permitting and inspection inquiries.

Evaluate structural engineering reports and calculations, perform general math calculations, interpret adopted codes, work cooperatively with management and the Building Official to resolve complex issues.

Works under general supervision, handling routine plan reviews.


Building Plans Examiner II:

Reviews both residential and minor commercial projects, including small business occupancies, minor assembly spaces, mercantile occupancies, and mixed-use structures.

Conduct pre-screen and intake duties for commercial projects of varying complexity to verify completeness of permit applications and construction documents to accept projects into the review system for review by the plan review section and other departments and divisions.

Conducts structural calculations and evaluates engineering reports for compliance with adopted codes.

Reviews and assists applicants with alternate code requests or modifications.

Resolves conflicts and communicates options for code compliance.

Performs means of egress plan reviews to determine occupant loads, exit requirements, and fire-resistance-rated construction.

Review fire-resistance-rated construction and interior finish requirements to determine that exterior walls, fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers, smoke partitions, shafts, floor and roof construction, interior finishes and penetrations are protected in compliance with the code requirements.

Determine that the proper means of egress, height and area calculation requirements, and suppression requirements are met for the type of occupancy contained within a building.

Leads over-the-counter reviews for minor tenant improvements and residential remodels, and miscellaneous permits.

Provides technical guidance to Building Plans Examiner I staff.

Assists the Plan Review Supervisor in evaluating and assigning work to plan examiner I staff.

Maintains additional certifications, including ICC Accessibility Plans Examiner and Energy Plans Examiner.



Job Specifications:

Building Plans Examiner I:
High school diploma or GED is required;

Experience in performing residential plan review and/or residential design work is preferred.


Building Plans Examiner II:
High school diploma or GED required;

Bachelor's degree in architecture, structural engineering, or related field, or a Certificate of Achievement in Building Inspection Technology from an accredited college is desired.

Minimum 1–3 years of experience in plan review for minor commercial and residential projects and residential projects and/or residential design work is required; Or, any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training which provide the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the work.



Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities for Both Levels:
Ability to read and interpret building plans.

Knowledge of local ordinance amendments and codes; construction materials and properties; construction trade and common practices; time management principles and advanced customer service principles.

Must monitor legislation and technical developments that may affect the building industry; This shall include, but not be limited to attending meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments.

Ability to communicate effectively with people who are angry, hostile or confused. Maintain composure and exercise sound judgment in adverse conditions.

Ability to develop innovative and equitable solutions to complicated code issues.

Must be able to operate City required software including plan review, word processing, permit tracking, email and internet related programs.

Must be a team player with an open mind and willingness to adapt to different situations.

Must establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the public in a professional and positive manner.

Must display an attitude of cooperation and work harmoniously with all levels of City employees, the general public and other organizations.

Must be capable of operating vehicles safely and have an acceptable driving record.


Building Plans Examiner I:

Ability to interpret and effectively explain residential building code requirements, relevant standards and problems with architectural and structural plans to other city staff, owners, contractors, building tenants and designers.

Must have extensive knowledge of the International Residential Code (IRC); International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); and referenced standards; code development and ordinance development processes; design practices and construction methods of materials for residential structures.

Must be a team player with an open mind and willingness to adapt to different situations.

Ability to monitor legislation and technical developments that may affect the building industry. This shall include, but not be limited to attending meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions to become and remain current on principles, practices, and new developments.


Building Plans Examiner II:

Extensive knowledge of the International Building Code (IBC); International Residential Code (IRC); International Fire Code (IFC); International Existing Building Code (IEBC); International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); accessibility requirements of the IBC and referenced standard; code development and ordinance development processes; design practices and construction methods of materials for residential and non-residential structures; historical building code application and correlation to current construction practices.

Ability to handle a large volume of submittals and customer service, foresee and resolve conflict at a high level, prioritize tasks, effectively prioritize workload to minimize complaints and maximize efficiency, read and interpret complex commercial and residential building plans and specifications.

Must provide and display team leadership and mentoring at all times.

Must be able to work independently with limited oversight from supervisor and complete assignments in a timely fashion.



Licensing and Certifications:

Building Plans Examiner I:
International Code Council (ICC) Residential Building Plans Examiner by the International Code Council (ICC) is desirable at the time of hire, required within 12 months of employment.

ICC Residential Energy Inspector certification desirable at time of hire or within 24 months.

Must possess and maintain a valid Idaho driver’s license and have a safe driving record.


Building Plans Examiner II:
Certification as a Residential Building Plans Examiner by the International Code Council (ICC) is required at the time of hire.

Certification as a Building Plans Examiner by the International Code Council (ICC) is desired at the time of hire, required within 12 months of employment.

International Code Council (ICC) Accessibility Plans Examiner, and (ICC) Commercial Energy Plans Examiner, and (ICC) Residential Energy Plans Examiner is desired.

Must possess and maintain a valid Idaho driver’s license and have a safe driving record.



Work Environment & Physical Demands:

The work environment will include inside conditions, outdoor weather conditions, and extreme temperatures, in wet and humid conditions, with areas of dust, odors, mist, gases or other airborne matter.

Employees work in/at heights, confined spaces and are exposed to mechanical, electrical hazards.

Hazards associated with all conditions at construction sites for new and existing buildings in varying stages of completion: heavy equipment, falling hazards, open excavations and temporary safety installations.

Lifting/carrying up to 10 lbs., occasionally lifting/carrying up to 35 lbs.

Pushing/pulling up to 10 lbs., occasionally pushing/pulling up to 35 lbs.

Sensory ability to talk, hear, touch and feel.

Employees will sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, grasp, climb and balance.

Position requires hand/finger dexterity.



Travel Requirements:

Local travel is required using city-owned vehicles.


Portions of this document were drafted with support from ChatGPT. The content was edited and reviewed by Jessica More/City staff.

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