This is field work inspecting houses, other residential buildings and/or residential day care facilities for conformance with housing and fire prevention codes and related ordinances and citing violations of these codes. Employees in this class may also be assigned to the inspections of such dwellings for use in relocating persons and families from unsuitable housing. A significant aspect of the work is explaining code and ordinance requirements and nature of violations and requirements to achieve compliance to property operators, landlords and tenants. Work is performed under the supervision of an inspection or housing supervisor.

ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be approved for this class.

• Positions must perform field work inspecting housing, other residential buildings and\or residential day care facilities for conformance to housing and fire prevention codes and related ordinances.
• Positions must be located in the Department of Licenses and Inspections or Office of Emergency Shelter and Services.

Both Specialties

• Receives list of properties to be inspected; proceeds to site; shows proper identification to landlord, operator or tenant; obtains from occupants the number of dwelling units, the number of persons living there and means of egress; inspects each dwelling unit for conformance to codes, ordinances and standards such as the Philadelphia Housing and Fire Prevention Codes, National Building Code, National Fire Prevention Association Standards, and Building Officials and Code Administrators Standards by testing water faucets and closets for proper operation, insuring operation of fire safety equipment and observing hazardous conditions such as broken plaster, exposed electrical wiring, poor lighting, unsanitary conditions, broken windows and other violations; records nature and location of violations in the inspection report; discusses conditions with tenants, operators or landlords and explains the nature and seriousness of violations; conducts follow-up inspections to see if violations have been corrected; makes referrals of conditions not coming under their jurisdiction to the appropriate departmental, interdepartmental or other governmental unit; participates with these units in the enforcement of housing and fire prevention codes and related ordinances; may collect money orders or checks for licensing fees from operators of day care centers.
• Lists and describes violations of specific codes and ordinances on inspection report forms; may testify in court on code violations, conditions found during an inspection and needed repairs; may photograph area of premises violating codes.
• Attempts to locate vacant housing for use in City's relocation of displaced families or persons; reviews want ads; contacts real estate agencies and property owners for admission to properties; inspects and rates such premises against standards for acceptable occupancy; notifies owners or agents of deficiencies; re-inspects to ascertain that corrections have been made; makes inspection of premises in which tenants have been placed and monthly inspections of dwellings occupied by families receiving rent subsidies and follows up on continuing problems; notifies other agencies of status of relocations.
• Performs related work as required.

Bilingual Specialty

• Performs the duties shown above with members of the English language speaking and designated non-English language speaking populations.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• the methods and techniques of dealing with the general public.
• inspectional methods and techniques.

ABILITY TO:

• learn housing and fire prevention codes, reference codes and standards and related ordinances and regulations as they apply to dwelling units.
• ascertain facts through observations, interviews and inspections.
• learn photographic work of limited complexity.
• learn the functions of departmental, inter-departmental and other governmental agencies related to enforcing the housing and fire prevention codes and related ordinances.
• enforce codes, ordinances and regulations firmly, tactfully and impartially.
• communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the public.
• make proper decisions concerning courses of action used on facts uncovered.
• make accurate arithmetic computations.
• maintain records and prepare reports.
• speak and understand English and the designated non-English language for the Bilingual specialty.

Both Specialties

EDUCATION:
• Education equivalent to the completion of the twelfth school grade.

  AND

  EXPERIENCE

• Two years of field inspectional or investigational work gathering facts by inquiry, observation and examination.

Or any combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Personnel Department.

NOTE: Successful completion of an associate's degree or sixty (60) college level coursework credits from an accredited college or university will be accepted in lieu of experience.

Additional Requirement for the Bilingual Specialty

• Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to converse effectively in English and the designated non-English language.