NJ Civil Service Navigator

HOUSING AND ZONING INSPECTOR TRAINEE

Code: 10056 Local Non-Competitive

Housing and Zoning Inspector Trainee is a non-competitive local-government civil service title, so there is no ranked exam. You qualify by meeting the stated education and experience.

How to apply

This title is not filled by examination — agencies appoint directly.

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Where this title is used

Housing and Zoning Inspector Trainee is a local service title. It is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, not by State departments. Those employers set pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule, which is why most local titles carry no salary range here.

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Official job specification

The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.

Definition

Under close supervision, in a trainee program, performs productive work while receiving formal and on the job training on field and office work related to ensuring compliance with housing and property maintenance ordinances and zoning codes; including conducting inspections to eliminate blight and restore and/or eliminate substandard housing accommodations, and to ensure compliance with zoning codes or any of its related or sub codes; does related work as required.

Examples of work

  • As a Trainee and productive worker:
  • Learns to inspect buildings for violations of applicable housing, property maintenance, and zoning requirements/codes.
  • May confer with individual property owners relevant to service of notices and violations.
  • Learns to conduct re-inspections of houses/buildings after completion of repairs to assure compliance with regulations.
  • Learns to inspect hotels and or multiple dwellings to detect and eliminate fire hazards and enforce the provisions of relevant fire safety codes and related regulations.
  • Learns to inspect the interior and exterior of premises for safety hazards and unsightly or unsanitary conditions such as loose and overhanging objects, accumulation of ice, excavations, projections, obstructions and so forth.
  • Learns to inspect exteriors of structures to see that they are maintained in a good repair and that they are free of broken glass, loose shingles, peeling paint, or crumbling stone, brick or cement.
  • Learns to inspect signs and outdoor light poles and stanchions for conditions. Assists in conducting field inspections and special investigations to ensure compliance with various municipal ordinances relating to Housing, Property Maintenance & Zoning.
  • Learns to respond to complaints, inspects sites where garbage, refuse, and or debris have accumulated and orders that matter be abated or issues notices of violations of local code pertaining to same.
  • Attends meetings of municipal agencies as requested.
  • Learns to prepare a schedule of proposed systematic inspection of all properties in the municipality including interiors of business and multifamily premises as well as schools and places of worship and assembly.
  • Prepare periodic reports of inspections and investigations.
  • Learns to prepare monthly reports of inspections made including names and addresses of owners, occupants, or lessees of premises, dates of inspection, code violations found if any, notices of violation served, complaints filed with courts or agencies and dates of compliance or disposition of cases.
  • Assists in coordinating inspection of occupancies requiring joint inspection with other public agencies such as the health department, building department, police department, and other appropriate bodies and agencies.
  • Learns to maintain records and files.
  • Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.

Requirements

Appointees are required to successfully complete the Inspector of Hotels and Multiple Dwellings course and pass the required State examination by the end of the one (1) year training period.

Appointees are required to successfully complete the required Zoning Administration and Enforcement courses and acquire the certificate by the end of the one (1) year training period

License

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

  • Ability to learn the inspection methods involved in preventing and eliminating blight and restoring and/or eliminating subnormal housing accommodations.
  • Ability to learn and apply state and municipal housing codes and zoning ordinances.
  • Ability to learn and apply the knowledge of basic inspection tools and test methods.
  • Ability to perform inspection work involved in preventing and eliminating blight and/or substandard housing accommodations.
  • Ability to perform inspections work involved with assuring compliance with Town zoning ordinances including post-construction inspections.
  • Ability to research, interpret and implement the housing, property maintenance and zoning codes.
  • Ability to meet with people and work with them effectively regarding their housing inspection problems.
  • Ability to participate in community affairs.
  • Ability to prepare reports.
  • Ability to maintain records and files.
  • Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
  • Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
  • Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
  • <b>ADVANCEMENT:</b>
  • Appointees who successfully complete the twelve (12) month training period and acquire the required certifications will be eligible for advancement to the title Housing and Zoning Inspector. The inability of an employee in this title to attain a level of performance warranting advancement to the title listed above or inability acquire any of the above mentioned certifications shall be considered as cause for separation.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.

Possession of a current and valid Fire Inspector Certification issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs may be required.