How to hire a code official

How to hire a code official, step by step

Here's a step-by-step code official hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a code official job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new code official
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the code official you need to hire. Certain code official roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A code official's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, code officials from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of code officials.

   Type of Code Official	Description	Hourly rate
   Code Official	Construction and building inspectors ensure that construction meets local and national building codes and ordinances, zoning regulations, and contract specifications.	$16-39
   Building Inspector	A building inspector is responsible for inspecting the safety and security of the building location, including its structural quality and construction documents. Building inspectors coordinate with landowners or institutions to verify code regulations compliance and submit work orders and permits... Show more	$14-40
   Utility Inspector	A utility inspector is responsible for ensuring the safety of facilities and the stability of components and equipment that support daily operational functions. Utility inspectors inspect utility tools and equipment, conduct preventive maintenance, and identify inconsistencies for immediate repairs or replacement... Show more	$15-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Plumbing
   • Construction Projects
   • Code Compliance
   • Plan Review
   • Fire Protection
   • Building Codes
   • Public Safety
   • State Building
   • Code Violations
   • Building Inspections
   • Fire Code
   • Property Maintenance
   • CPT
   • Building Permits

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage high volume case assignments to a final disposition of abatement, civil summons, criminal arrests or referral.
   • Perform plumbing, electric, building, and HVAC inspections for residential and commercial projects.
   • Retrieve patients' information from internal system, distribute proper reports to physicians and other materials to corresponding departments.
   • Conduct investigation inspection on HUD construct manufactured homes.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your code official job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A code official can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, code officials' average salary in oklahoma is 49% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level code officials 59% less than senior-level code officials.
   • Certifications. A code official with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a code official's salary.

   Average code official salary

   $54,026yearly

   $25.97 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level code official salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 21, 2025

4. Writing a code official job description

   A code official job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a code official job description:

   Code official job description example

   Imagine joining a team of individuals who care deeply about one another, their successes, smart failures, and providing exceptional services to the community! Think of assets you would bring to such a team and how you could assist those around you to be their best while also fulfilling your personal and professional needs. If you can imagine yourself in an active role supporting the culture and overall goals of our OneCary team, this may be the place for you!
   
   Serving a progressive community of over 170,000 people we are constantly re-imagining and challenging the standard of how local government operates, at the Town of Cary. We are seeking a passionate, committed, and skilled Code Enforcement Official (Multi-Trade) to join our OneCary team and work together to build community and change lives through exceptional service.
   
   The ideal candidate will embody excellence and be able to effectively perform difficult technical work of conducting code enforcement inspections, principally in existing residential construction inspections, ensuring compliance with state building codes and related regulations in the following trades areas: building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing.
   
   Work includes considerable public contact in dealing with contractors, architects, homeowners, the general public, and other Town Staff, and is performed under the regular supervision of a Chief Code Enforcement Official.
   
   Cary offers thebest benefitsin support of our diverse workforce, providing employees with choices. A competitive salary is offered depending on qualifications and experience, which also includes Career Ladder opportunities for advancement. Our highly comprehensive total compensation package is unprecedented, allowing Cary to value and support our employee's whole selves, and sets us apart as an employer of choice.
   
   If you are committed to excellence and providing high quality service and desire growth opportunities and a great place to work, this may be the opportunity for you!
   Typical Tasks
   
   * Drives to construction sites and inspects residential buildings in all trades at various stages of construction to ensure conformity with approved plans and compliance with state building codes and related regulations;
   * Performs Live Remote inspections within the guidelines approved by NC DOI and Town of Cary management;
   * Identifies conditions requiring correction or additional inspections; notifies appropriate individuals; issues warnings and stop work orders if necessary;
   * Reviews alternate methods and materials not specifically prescribed by codes; determines if such alternate is equivalent of that prescribed by the code; approves or disapproves such use; documents and maintains records regarding inspections; enters inspections information on computer system;
   * Testifies in court on code violation cases;
   * May assist in other inspection areas as needed;
   * Performs other job-related tasks as required.
   
   Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
   
   * Comprehensive knowledge of all types of building construction materials and methods and of stages of construction when possible violations and defects may be most easily observed and corrected;
   
   * Comprehensive knowledge of state building and related codes and regulations;
   
   * Ability to detect poor workmanship, inferior materials, and hazards of fire and collapse;
   
   * Ability to read and interpret plans, specifications, and blueprints of some complexity quickly and accurately and to compare them with construction in process;
   
   * Ability to adopt and maintain accurate records;
   
   * Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with building owners, contractors, and the public while using firmness and tact in enforcing building ordinances and codes;
   
   * Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
   
   * Employees must be able to walk, climb, crawl, talk, see and hear. Work includes the ability to communicate with the public and the physical ability to conduct inspections while construction is in progress.
   
   Minimum and Preferred Qualifications
   
   Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from a community college with an associates degree in building construction or a closely related field and a minimum of five years' experience in related building construction or inspection work. We seek a higher degree of building inspection experience in relation to the other trades.
   
   Preference will be given to candidates holding a minimum of standard level one certificates in the Building, Electrical, Plumbing, and Mechanical disciplines. Additionally, candidates with experience working for a municipality as a Multi-Trade inspector and those who have extensive residential construction experience that hold additional professional licenses that have pre-qualified with NCDOI are preferred.
   
   CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
   
   Requires drug testing and background check (which may include criminal history check, motor vehicle records check, education verification and credit history review) and satisfactory reference checks prior to employment.
   
   Requires a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
   
   FLSA STATUS:
   
   Non-exempt

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right code official for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with code officials they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit code officials who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your code official job on Zippia to find and recruit code official candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with code official candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new code official

   Once you have selected a candidate for the code official position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new code official. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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