Zoning Enforcement Officer

TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN, RI
POSITION DESCRIPTION
POSITION: Zoning Enforcement Officer
DEPARTMENT: Assigned to Building/Zoning
REPORTS TO: Building Official or designee
GRADE CLASSIFICATION: 8A
TITLE CLASSIFICATION: Zoning Enforcement Officer / Middletown Municipal Employees
Association / NEARI
Zoning Enforcement Officer
Town of Middletown, RI
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Zoning Enforcement Officer is responsible for assisting the building official in the enforcement of
state and local zoning codes and ordinances. This position requires considerable knowledge of all state
and local zoning codes and related ordinances and focuses on field inspection and interaction with
citizens, business owners, property owners and the public to ensure and enforce compliance. The Zoning
Enforcement Officer is responsible for providing general services and support throughout the Town as
assigned. This position interfaces with the general public, employees and others on a daily basis and
requires a commitment to the highest quality of customer service. The employee must maintain
confidentiality regarding all confidential and sensitive municipal matters at all times.
I ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of
the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not
exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the class, or it
addresses business needs and changing practices:
1. Performs field inspections and re-inspections and investigates and determines the existence and type
of zoning code violations.
2. Investigates and responds to complaints concerning zoning violations and code non-compliance,
assists the building official with the issuance of notices for violation compliance.
3. Maintains logs on complaints and records of history of facts for possible legal action.
4. Recommends corrective actions to bring about compliance, to include determining the time frames
for compliance achievement.
5. Prepares and processes all required records, data, payments, documents, reports and other
associated paperwork in accordance with federal and state law and local ordinances, policies and
procedures.
6. Responds to inquiries from property owners, builders, the public and others regarding compliance
with zoning regulations and other issues.
7. Maintains files and reports including but not limited to inspection and zoning compliance check
activities and findings.
8. Attends meetings, training sessions and re-certification programs when necessary.
9. Provides support for other departments as assigned.
10. Maintains a professional, friendly and safe working environment.
11. Performs other duties as may from time to time be assigned.
II NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: The following generally describes the knowledge and
ability required to enter the position and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to
successfully perform the assigned duties:
1. Knowledge of state and local zoning codes and ordinances.
2. Ability to enforce necessary regulations with firmness, impartiality and tact.
3. Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
4. Ability to analyze, interpret and apply pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes and regulations.
Zoning Enforcement Officer Page 2 of 2
Town of Middletown, RI Revised 7/2017
5. Ability to organize and maintain detailed records.
6. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
7. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
8. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of
work including but not limited to the general public, contractors, department heads, fellow
employees and others.
III MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
1. Graduation from an accredited high school or GED certificate.
2. Must possess a valid driver's license.
3. Prior experience with code enforcement involving considerable, sensitive public contact in a
municipal setting, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
4. Must successfully pass a background investigation.
IV PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are
representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of
this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the
essential functions.
1. Environment: Work is performed primarily in outdoors, in a residential and commercial buildings and
grounds, travelling to different sites; incumbents may be required to work extended hours including
evening and weekends and may be required to travel outside Town boundaries to attend meetings.
May be subjected to varying weather conditions from extreme cold to extreme heat, to wet and
damp conditions.
2. Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work outdoors, in a
residential and/or commercial buildings and grounds, to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time;
often required to stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to move, lift, carry , push, and/or pull
moderate amounts of weight; to operate building assigned vehicle and related equipment requiring
repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including, including use of a
computer/laptop/tablet; required to travel to other locations using various modes of private and
commercial transportation; and to verbally communicate and exchange information.
3. Vision: Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision,
peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus, set in the normal vision range with
or without correction.
4. Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
V EQUIPMENT USED: Equipment used includes but is not limited to the following:
1. Personal computer, calculator, copy machine, digital camera, telephone, radio, hand-held PDA, and
car.
The Town of Middletown is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Pay Range: $27.10 per hour