Inspector III

Note: Current Employees must use the Workday Job Hubs career section to apply for this position.

The mission of Yakima County Government is to provide accessible, responsive and responsible public service through leadership and teamwork committed to understanding and meeting public needs.

Our Values:

• Integrity

• Common Sense

• Innovation

• Accountability

Position Data:

Inspector III-J23-U30-H

Regular

Non-Exempt (eligible for overtime)

Overview:

Pay Range: $32.25 - $40.91 per hour (CTP Pay Plan, C41 Step 1-13)
Hiring Range: $32.25 - $34.23 per hour (CTP Pay Plan, C41 Step 1-4 DOQ)

Job Closing Date: February 12, 2026 with weekly reviews starting January 19, 2026
***Note: If Candidate is found job the posting will close before the listed closing date of February 12, 2026.***

There is one Inspector III position with Yakima County Public Services Code Enforcement Division.  This position performs onsite investigations and enforce code violation complaints while effectively managing caseload towards compliance.

This recruitment may be used to fill future openings which may occur within 90 days of the posted closing date.


Benefits included in position:
-Health Care Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Basic Life and Basic LTD)
-Retirement Benefits
-Paid Vacation
-Paid Holidays
-Paid Sick Leave

Note: This is a Public Services CTP Bargaining Position.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that occur within 90 days of the closing of this position. (This excludes Yakima County Sheriff's Office and Department of Corrections)

Responsibilities:

Essential Duties:

Prepares and issues technical and investigative reports, violation notices, stop work orders, notice of

violation and order/nuisance notice and order with recorded claim of liens, final notices, and imposing associated fees/fines. Documents all complaints, communication, interactions, photos, and compliance progress. Develops information for use by the department and the Prosecutor’s Office in case preparation. Studies and researches building and abatement codes and writes interpretations and recommendations. Evaluates laws and regulations for applicable safety standards. Provides testimony in court proceedings as required.

Investigates, researches, and responds to questions, concerns, and complaints regarding

building, zoning, environmental, stormwater, and public nuisances. Explains code applicability to the

public in person and over the phone. Provides testimony in hearings of nuisance decisions that are

appealed.

Examines construction plans and details on projects, structures and properties to ensure proper materials, equipment and installation.  Confirms accuracy of compliance and completeness to adopted codes and standards.

Researches technical engineering data to evaluate acceptability of products and equipment; determines applicability of comparable materials; appraises conformance with performance-based codes. 

 

Coordinates with property owners, complainants,  inter-divisional departments/divisions, government agencies, and law enforcement in conducting investigation, researches, and prioritizes response based on nature of violations.  

 

Schedules and conducts site visits to investigate violations and interacts with complainants, property owners, law enforcement, and interested governmental agencies.  Work with property owners to correct violations or abate public nuisances to meet the intent of the code. 

Other duties required such as presenting staff reports at appeals hearings in the absence of the senior staff member; performing building code plan reviews as assigned. Provides support and assists outreach services and law enforcement of unhoused individuals on county-owned properties and cleanup activities.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in  Construction Management,  Urban and Regional Planning, Criminal Justice or a related field OR an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides knowledge, skills and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

Required:

• Work / formal experience related to safety and health management, investigation and inspection, planning, building, environmental, construction management and techniques, or law enforcement 

• Valid Washington State driver’s license at time appointment;

• Microsoft Office 365 or equivalent, (Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook) Windows;

• International Code Council (ICC)  International Residential Code (IRC) Residential Building Inspector Certification within 1 year of hire date and preferred at time of hire; and

• Completion of a criminal history background check to obtain a limited Commission from the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office and general employment verification.

Equipment Used: County vehicle for travel in making investigations, visual data, cell phone for making contacts with county personnel, complains, property owners, contractors, and others as needed. Desktop computer and iPad for researching, data entry, taking photos, and documentation using the county permit management database (Accela IPMS), and mapping applications, Typical hand tools like calculator, tape measure for measuring square footage of illegal structures.

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements: Heavy Work:  Exerting up to or in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Work is performed out in the field.

In some cases, property violators are also involved in criminal activities and constitute an element of danger that isn’t present with typical code and building inspection work.  The Code Enforcement Officer works closely with various law enforcement agencies such as YSO, WSP, ATF, DEA, FBI, and BIA, and even Secret Service when the properties have drug labs or other illegal activities located on them.  Some of the illegal activities, such as the exposure to fentanyl, methamphetamine labs, and homeless encampments are associated with hazardous chemical and biological materials.  The Officer needs to be aware of the dangers and the precautions to take.

 Knowledge:

Building construction, dangerous buildings or conditions;

International property maintenance code requirements;

Urban and Regional Planning concepts, zoning, and land use;

Shorelines and critical areas;

Junk/inoperable vehicles;

Investigation practices and methods employed in code enforcement;

Techniques of reviewing and applying codes, ordinances and other regulations to the development of a case;

Dangerous building code and abatement processes;

Local government organizations and functions;

Practices and methods used in dangerous building and scene investigation;

Rules and methods of collecting evidence;

Public hearing processes, governmental regulation and resolutions process;

Customer service and communication techniques; and

Techniques of photography, technical writing and case documentation.

 Skills:

Using personal computers and related software applications, copiers, measuring devices, other investigative tools, and operating basic office equipment;

Performing professional investigations including collecting, compiling, organizing and evaluating information in the preparation of a case;

Managing time and prioritizing case work;

Locating and diagnosing existing and potentially hazardous conditions;

Reading and interpreting blueprints, maps,  plats and charts;

Preparing and presenting oral and written reports and writing correspondence;

Maintaining records;

Interpreting codes and ordinances;

Maintaining composure in difficult situations;

Communicating complex laws and ordinances in a manner that is understood by the public, violator, complainant, agencies, and organizations;

Establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal relationships with County and other officials, at all organizational levels and with the public; and

Listening and following instructions.

“AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER”
Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans and the Disabled are encouraged to apply.

Yakima County ensures equal employment opportunities regardless of a person’s age, color, creed, sensory, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, national origin, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and military status, or any other protected status under federal or state statute.

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION
The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish the information.

Disabled applicants may request accommodation to participate in the job application and/or selection process for employment. Please contact Human Resources for further information.

Yakima County is a qualified Public Service entity for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more information, go to https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service or contact your federal loan servicer.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Yakima County will hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Yakima County is an E-Verify Employer.