Code Inspector ( Plumbing / Mechanical)

About the City

The City of Alexandria, located in northern Virginia, is a vibrant and historic community bordered by the District of Columbia, Arlington, and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000, it is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth. Alexandria boasts a charming waterfront and unique historic character, with one-quarter of its land area designated as a national or local historic district. The City proudly embraces its rich history while seizing endless opportunities for the future.

Our work is driven by four guiding principles: aligning our efforts with our strategic plan, executing against strategy with accountability, fostering a culture of leadership and ownership at all levels, and promoting service excellence, creativity, and entrepreneurship.

About the Department

The Department of Code Administration works in concert with other City agencies and our diverse customer base—including residents, business owners, architects, engineers, and builders—to form a "safe building team." Our objective is to assist customers in achieving compliance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building and Maintenance Codes (USBC) and City Code nuisance and development provisions. We accomplish this through permit processing, plan review, timely and consistent inspections, and education regarding code requirements. The department is organized into five divisions: Permit Center, Property Maintenance Inspections, New Construction Inspections, Plan Review Services, and Administrative Services.

About the Role

The Mechanical/Plumbing Code Inspector serves as a customer advocate, ensuring the highest level of service for all stakeholders while performing commercial inspections for mechanical and plumbing trades. This role involves conducting combination residential inspections on new and existing construction and renovation projects to ensure compliance with the Virginia USBC.

In this position, you will act as a technical resource, providing guidance and direction to Code Inspectors I and II. You will assist in developing technical training regarding applicable codes, ordinances, policies, and regulatory requirements. The role requires interpreting complex plans across architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical, fire protection, and plumbing disciplines and communicating findings clearly to contractors, homeowners, and city staff. You will also review construction documents, evaluate materials and assemblies for compliance, and address complaints by communicating abatement actions and follow-up procedures.

Hiring Process

Candidates selected for this position must successfully complete the Virginia Building Code Academy (VBCA) Core Module and obtain necessary Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) certifications within 12 months of appointment. These certifications include Residential and Commercial Mechanical, Plumbing, Building, Electrical, Energy, ICC Fuel Gas, and ICC Accessibility Inspector credentials as referenced in the Code Inspector Systems Career Ladder Matrix.

Equal Opportunity

The City of Alexandria is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity in its workforce. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, military status, or disability.