Job Description

This is a Citywide Exam posting Your application to this posting is an application to take a citywide exam.

If you pass the exam, you will be emailed your score and ranking on the eligible candidate list. When a department has an open position with this job classification, they will use this eligible list to hire for that position. Departments will contact candidates from this list to gauge interest in their specific roles. Learn more about the City’s hiring process here: https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/process/

Application Opening: Friday, July 31st, 2026

Application Deadline:Apply Immediately. Application filing will be open at least through Friday, August 7th, 2026, at 11:59 pm and will close any time thereafter. 

Salary Range: $103,792 - $126,152 annually

San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco.

Under general supervision, inspects the use, condition, and construction of streets, sidewalks, trench excavations and repair projects to ensure compliance with federal, state, and municipal codes, specifications, regulations, permits, and plans; inspects building exteriors and lots visible from the public right of way that may constitute a public nuisance.

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Performs site inspections of streets, sidewalks, trench excavations, and utility repair projects including inspecting the general condition or defects of streets and sidewalks; inspecting permit use for obstructions such as news racks, flower stands, restaurant furniture encroachments, produce stands, building construction, or other obstructions to paths of travel, especially with regard to compliance with the Americans with Disability Act and Title 24; inspecting excavation sites or sewer projects and utility companies to ensure that proper shoring practices and traffic and pedestrian safety procedures are followed.

2. Inspects the placement of signs, flyers, or notices within the public right-of-way; inspecting the placement or storage of refuse receptacles either on or visible from the public right-of-way.

3. Reads and interprets permits, plans and specifications to determine if condition and use of street, sidewalk, excavation, or repair projects are in compliance with codes, regulations, ordinances, and permit conditions.

4. Enforces codes, regulations and ordinances by notifying responsible parties of the need to repair sidewalks or maintain structures and lots on their property; of non-compliance with permit use and of violations of health and safety codes and regulations, Title 24, or ADA mandates; performing follow-up inspections to ensure compliance.

5. Investigates requests, inquiries, and claims related to public right-of-way, encroachment, permit use, appearance/condition of buildings, structures, or lots and public safety.

6. Writes reports and correspondences such as field reports, inspections records, notifications for corrective action, letters, warnings, citations, meeting documentation, and preparing diagrams and reports regarding findings of investigations; using a computer for report-writing, correspondence, and data entry and retrieval.

7. Exterior inspections of buildings, structures, and lots that would be classified as a public nuisance such as deteriorated painted structures, broken windows, deteriorated awnings, graffiti, accumulated litter or debris, overgrown vegetation and other quality of life issues.

8. Communicates orally with a variety of people in meetings, conferences, hearings, and on the phone as well as in person with contractors, utility company representatives, property owners, permit holders, business owners, other City agencies, and the general public.

9. Provides depositions and testimony in court proceedings as a City representative.

10. Performs mathematical calculations including percentage, slope, area, and volume related to construction, maps, plans, and drawings.

11. Operates a motor vehicle in the course of making site visits or attending meetings.

Qualifications

Experience:

Three (3) years of experience in construction related to streets, roadways and sidewalks; or in code enforcement affecting the public right-of-way; or in permit issuance; or construction materials testing; or plan checking related to construction, maintenance or use of the public right-of-way.

License and Certification:

Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license.

Substitution:

Completion of the City and County of San Francisco 6229 Street Inspector Trainee Program may be substituted for the required experience.

Verification of Education and Experience:

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review  SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations taken when reviewing applications.  

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at  https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/ 

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

What else should I know?

SELECTION PROCEDURES:

1. Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire - Weight: Qualifying

Candidates who meet minimum qualifications may be required to complete a Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire that will be sent as a link via email. This Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications for this position. Candidates must complete this questionnaire to move forward in the selection process.

2. Street Inspector Core Exam - Standardized Multiple - Choice Exam (100% Weight)

Candidates who meet the Minimum Qualifications will be invited to participate in the standardized online Street Inspector Core Exam. Candidates will be sent a web link via email that will allow them to take the online multiple-choice exam that is designed to measure knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in job-related areas which have been identified as critical for positions in the Street Inspector classification.

This computer-administered test can be taken at home but only within the time period specified on the test notification Candidates must have access to a computer and reliable internet connection to participate in this exam.

Additional Information

Eligible List/Score Report:

A confidential eligible list of qualifying candidates will be created and used for certification purposes only. A score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection upon request once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this selection process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., because of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

Duration of Eligible List:

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be Twenty-Four (24) months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Certification: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of the List. The hiring department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures prior to making final hiring decisions.

To find Departments which use this classification, please see the city’s Position Counts by Job Codes and Departments.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights: Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations.  [Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at  https://careers.sf.gov/] The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4.  Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement.  Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements, applications and examination policies, including applicant appeal rights, can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at  https://sf.gov/departments/civil-service-commission

What else should I know?

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

Information About the Hiring Process           
Conviction History
Employee Benefits Overview
Equal Employment Opportunity
Disaster Service Worker
ADA Accommodation
Veterans Preference
Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
Right to Work
Copies of Application Documents
Diversity Statement

Where to Apply 

All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit  https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.  

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the  City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110. 

Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues. 

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from  notification@smartrecruiters.com that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. 

Note: 

1. Please ensure the information on your application is accurate. It may not be possible to change after you’ve applied.

2. Your first and last name should match your legal ID for verification purposes. A preferred first name may be included in parentheses. Here is an example: Samuel (Sam) Jackson

3. Your email address should be consistent across all jobs applied to on our website.

4. Use a personal and not a shared email address. Doing so may prevent your application from submitting properly.

5. Upon successful submission of your application, applicants will receive a  confirmation email from notification@smartrecruiters.com Keep this email for your records. If you do not receive the confirmation email, your application was not submitted successfully, and you will need to resubmit.

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please get in touch with the exam analyst, Reshma Shelke, at reshma.shelke@sfdpw.org.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.