Code Enforcement Inspector 1

Join the City of Chattanooga Team

Chattanooga, a vibrant and growing community of over 190,000 residents within a metropolitan area of nearly 600,000 is known as the "Scenic City" for a reason. Nestled along the Tennessee River and surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, we are a hub of outdoor adventure and innovation. Home to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) and Chattanooga State Community College, our city blends a rich industrial history with a tech-forward future—famously powered by the nation’s first community-wide "Gig" fiber-optic network.​  The City of Chattanooga was also recently designated as a "National Park City,” the first of its kind in the United States.  

Our Organization

As a City, we are powered by a dedicated workforce of approximately ​2,600 employees committed to excellence in public service and making Chattanooga the best community in the country. Our team ensures our city thrives through a wide range of municipal services, including:

• Public Safety: Chattanooga Police and Fire Departments.
• Infrastructure & Utilities: Public Works, Waste Resources, and specialized Stormwater management.
• Quality of Life: Award-winning Parks and Outdoors and Community Development systems and the Chattanooga Public Library.
• Transportation: The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA) and citywide transit and pedestrian friendly initiatives.
• Innovation: Leading-edge  smart-city programs with a commitment to cutting edge workforce development policies to ensure all our residents can get ahead.

Why Choose Chattanooga?

The City of Chattanooga’s workforce is the heartbeat of our community. We don't just offer jobs; we offer careers with purpose: making Chattanooga the best city in America. We are committed to being the premier employer of choice in Southeast Tennessee by providing:

• Competitive Compensation: Robust pay scales that reflect our commitment to our staff.
• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off and flexible scheduling where possible.
• Exceptional Wellness: Comprehensive health benefits and wellness programs designed for you and your family that deliver savings to you beyond your paycheck, featuring a centralized health clinic and pharmacy for all City employees. .
• Growth: A focus on professional development and upward mobility within the organization.
• ​The Great Outdoors: Your Backyard Playground:  Chattanooga isn't just near nature, it's immersed in it.  As one of the most biodiverse cities in North America, the "Scenic City" offers an ecological richness that few places on earth can claim.  Whether you are an adrenaline junkie or a weekend wanderer, world-class adventure is always less than an hour away.
• ​Vertical Adventures: Scale legendary sandstone cliffs in what is widely considered the premier rock climbing hub of the Southeast.
• Water & Rapids: From the high-octane whitewater kayaking of the Ocoee River to world-class bass fishing and peaceful paddling on the Tennessee River.
• Trails for Miles: Explore a massive network of mountain biking and hiking trails that wind through lush ridges, hidden waterfalls, and deep river gorges.

In Chattanooga, "work-life balance" means you can finish your shift and be at a trailhead or on the water before the sun sets.

Our mission is to work together to build a safe, vibrant, and sustainable city for all Chattanoogans. To do that, it takes a team of skilled and passionate individuals. So, if you’d like to call Chattanooga home – or maybe you already do! – and want to further your career through meaningful work that makes a true impact where you live, we’d love to talk to you.

Salary: $19.30 - $23.32 per hour (GS.6)

Work Hours:  Monday – Friday, 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. (EST)
*Hours may vary due to work assignments, or projects.*

Work Location: 1250 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN OR 4063 N. Hawthorne, Chattanooga, TN

FLSA Status:  This is a Non-Exempt position.

Department:  Public Works- Land Development Office & Solid Waste

CLASSIFICATION SUMMARY:  

Incumbents in this classification are responsible for conducting on-site inspections of minimum standards for housing and commercial properties,  litter, overgrowth, graffiti, illegal dumping on private property and ROW, abandoned/inoperable vehicles, garbage, bulky trash, yard trash, receptacle compliance, and removing illegal (bandit) signs. Duties include: maintaining records of inspections; issuing warrants and citations; presenting court cases; and conducting title searches. Work is performed with moderate supervision.  

SERIES LEVEL: 
The Code Enforcement Inspector is the first level of a four level code enforcement series.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
(The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.)

An Essential Worker, responsible for enforcing life safety issues (even during pandemics); inspect dangerous properties for safety violations; required to enter dilapidated structures;  condemns structures; prepare documents and present cases for Demolition Hearings, City Court, Administrative Hearings, and testify in Chancery Court.

Conducts field inspections of residential properties and neighborhoods to identify and/or ensure compliance with applicable City codes, standards, and regulations related to minimum housing standards, litter, vegetation overgrowth, illegal dumping, abandoned or inoperable vehicles, trash, recycling, brush, illegal signs and/or other applicable items; identifies violations and issues warnings, notices, and/or citations to ensure compliance; enters inspection notes and activities into applicable database; and, performs follow-up inspections to ensure violations are resolved.

Prepares documentation of code violations, which includes: taking and downloading photographs of properties in violation of City codes; preparing case files; developing instructions regarding the preparation and processing of violation notices; and, performing other related activities. 

Issues citations and prepares files for court hearings; testifies in court for code violations and/or demolition hearings. 

Responds to requests for information or service from property owners, landlords, citizens, and/or other interested parties. 

Prepares and maintains case files and information related to code enforcement activities and operations. 

Performs research to locate title and legal documents associated with properties in violation of City codes. 

Uses, carries, and answers their cell phone for business purposes as determined by the assigned job duties and the department head. 

Performs other duties as assigned.

DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES (if any):

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

High School Diploma or GED and two years (2) of any combination of relevant education, training or experience sufficient to perform the essential duties of the job will be considered. Examples of relevant experience include building construction or code enforcement or any combination of equivalent experience and education.

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS: 
Valid Driver's License
ICC/AACE Property Maintenance & Housing Inspector within 12 months of employment
Special Police Commission (unarmed) within 12 months of employment.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Knowledge of applicable Federal, State and Local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures; basic investigation techniques; caseload management principles; construction and building maintenance principles; inspection procedures; customer service principles and basic courtroom procedures and practices.

Skill in providing customer service; conducting field inspections of properties; identifying code violations; interpreting and applying applicable laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, policies and procedures; using a computer and related software applications; preparing documentation for court proceedings; handling a caseload; mediating hostile situations; preparing and maintaining records and communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 
Positions in this class typically require reaching, lifting, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 
Medium Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Incumbents may be subjected to fumes, odors, dusts, gasses, extreme temperatures and infectious diseases.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Safety Sensitive: N
Department of Transportation - CDL: N
Child Sensitive: N

The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

This position requires pre-employment screening(s) that include: background check 
The City of Chattanooga, Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

JES 3.12.25

KJF