Job Description

Code enforcement officers perform a variety of field and office work to ensure compliance with property maintenance, minimum housing standards, ordinances, and land use regulations. The position works closely with zoning and building staff to safeguard existing and new developments throughout the county against the impact of deferred property maintenance and inappropriate land use.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for enforcement of minimum housing standards, minimum maintenance standards for commercial buildings, environmental codes, abandoned or derelict properties, land development regulations, occupational licensing, and related codes and ordinances.
• Knowledge of the various codes and inspection procedures and exercise of initiative and judgement to identify violations to codes, ordinances, and regulations.
• Effectively correspond with citizens, HOAs, and business and property owners in a tactful manner. Possess a high level of attention to detail. Routinely use office equipment such as computers for various applications, phones, cameras, photocopiers, filling systems and fax machines to engage the public and collaborate with other departments.
• Maintains records of enforcement activities; enters data regarding work activities and violations into computer system; maintains comprehensive case files; and conducts records maintenance activities in compliance with guidelines governing record retention.
• Ability to receive, investigate, and process complaints; enforce city codes and ordinances; and prepare cases for code enforcement court hearings.
• Maintains a comprehensive and current knowledge of applicable codes, ordinance, regulations, and standards; maintains an awareness of code enforcement methods, practices, trends, and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; and attends workshops and training sessions as appropriate.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Qualifications

Required minimum qualifications:

Education: High School diploma/G.E.D.

Experience: Three (3) years of work experience to include at least one (1) year of experience in one of the following disciplines: code enforcement, zoning, blight remediation, property maintenance, building inspections, law enforcement, or plan review.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Extensive knowledge of municipal codes and regulatory frameworks, including zoning, property maintenance, construction/trade codes, and associated legal processes.
• Strong familiarity with the geography, infrastructure, and development patterns of Augusta–Richmond County.
• Advanced investigative and analytical skills, including the ability to research property ownership, interpret maps and spatial data, and analyze information from multiple databases and records systems.
• High level of technical proficiency with computers, case management systems, GIS platforms, and standard office software and equipment.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey technical and regulatory information to diverse audiences, including public presentations.
• Ability to independently analyze complex situations and exercise sound judgment in code interpretation and compliance matters.
• Strong aptitude for interpreting and applying codes, ordinances, regulations, policies, and procedures with accuracy and consistency.
• Skilled in identifying non-compliance through observation, analysis, and evaluation of site conditions and documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to apply regulations fairly, consistently, and objectively in a regulatory environment.
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills, with the ability to communicate tactfully, resolve concerns, and build cooperative relationships with the public.
• Ability to manage and de-escalate potentially confrontational situations using appropriate conflict resolution techniques while maintaining professionalism and safety.
• Strong research and data analysis capabilities to support informed decision-making and case development.
• High attention to detail with the ability to produce clear, accurate, and thorough documentation, reports, and correspondence.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to manage records, logs, and files in a structured and compliant manner.
• Ability to manage time effectively, prioritize tasks, and adapt to changing demands in both office and field environments.
• Capacity to travel regularly between office and field locations to support operational needs.

Certification:

• Must possess ICC International Property Maintenance Certification within 12 Months of hire andMust maintain certification from the International Code Council for duration of employment in the position.

License:

• Possession of a valid dr iver 's license with good driving historyIf State license is other than Georgia or South Carolina , applicant must obtain a license in Georgia or South Carolina within 30 days of employment.

PERFORMANCE APTITUDES:

• Data Utilization: Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze dataIncludes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships
• Human Interaction: Requires the ability to work with and apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others to coordinate programs or activities of a project, and resolve typical problems associated with the responsibilities of the
• Equipment: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions
• Verbal: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, andor advisory data and
• Math: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.
• Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.
• Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.
• Physical Abilities: Tasks require the ability to exert very moderate physical effort in light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of moderate weight (12-20 pounds)
• Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally
• Environmental Factors: Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, fumes, temperature and noise extremes, unsafe structures, heights, confined spaces, or rudeirate customers

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.