Are you passionate about doing work that matters and making a difference and protecting the health, safety and welfare of our communities? Are you looking for a unique opportunity that allows you to be a part of the City’s growth and have an impact on our built environment? CPD is seeking a highly motivated and organized Commercial Zoning Plans Reviewer with plans review and zoning code compliance experience to join our Commercial Zoning Team in the Development Services Division of CPD. We offer w excellent work/life balance, unmatched benefits, and a pension plan for life! Apply today!

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The City and County of Denver’s Community Planning and Development Department (CPD) is responsible for visionary city planning and ensuring safe, responsible, sustainable building. CPD works with Denver’s communities to prepare plans, as well as regulations for land use and design, that guide the city’s growth, enhancement, and preservation. Our staff also reviews, permits, and inspects development applications to ensure that future construction meets the community-led regulations laid out in Denver's zoning codes as well as meets the rigorous standards of the city's building, fire, and energy codes. We're working hard to make Denver a great place to live, work and play! Visit www.DenverGov.org/CPD. 

Development Services staff helps to make the city's vision a reality. This is where building projects are reviewed, permitted, and inspected. It's also the home for neighborhood inspections, ensuring quality-of-life standards for Denver's communities. Through each of these critical roles, Development Services helps to implement the city's vision for an outstanding Denver.

The work assigned to the Commercial Zoning Plans Reviewer may include performing full performance professional level plans review and permitting work, working directly with contractors and homeowners to approve complex commercial zoning permit and letter requests that adhere to the Denver Zoning Code.

Schedule: Hybrid, at least 3 days in office per week. 9/80 flex schedule optional after successful completion of probation.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Reviews and approves construction plans for zoning and building permits, which includes researching historical maps and documents, reviewing past permit usage, and reviewing land dedication and easement plans for compliance with zoning codes, property setback requirements, land use designations, bulk plane and height restrictions, and the mixed use of property
• Works directly with contractors and homeowners to review and approve a variety of complex construction plans to ensure compliance with zoning codes and regulations for the issuance of zoning and building permits, and zoning letters
• Ensures compliance with zoning codes for commercial construction projects that may consider transportation district requirements, landmark and historic preservation requirements, and potential impacts to the public right-of way, neighboring businesses, and residential areas
• Consults with development engineers, design professionals, and technical experts on more complex permitting requests, unusual designs, issues of conformity and compliance, coordinates zoning reviews as part of a comprehensive construction committee project review and works directly with projects managers as part of the full building permit review, which includes the Fire Department, Excise and Licensing, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Engineering/Right-of-Way, and Zoning and Building Inspection
• Ensures administrative requirements have been completed such as permit fees are paid, surety bonds are retained, professional engineering stamps are on blueprints, and issues zoning permits and letters for a variety of commercial construction projects such as new construction, tenant finishes, change of use, accessory structures, over-height fences, signs, special event, temporary use, telecom, egress windows, and additions and expansions
• Prepares reports for management detailing projects, permits, which includes maintaining files and reports for projects, and researching special zoning compliance issues
• By position, prepares variance requests for the Board of Adjustment, which are typically granted for financial hardships and code compliance complications
• By position, prepares documents and materials for Colorado Open Records Act Requests. Performs other related duties as assigned

About You

Research shows that women and people of color are less likely to apply for a position if they do not meet almost 100% of the desired skills. Please note this is not necessary. If you meet the minimum requirements and have a passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply! 

Our ideal candidate has:

• Experience reviewing, preparing, and examining construction documents for conformance with either building code or zoning code regulations
• Proficient with using Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, Bluebeam, and Adobe Acrobat
• Experience using electronic permitting systems and programs, such as Accela
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Ability to communicate effectively – verbally and in writing
• Efficiently demonstrates excellent time/work management skills
• Problem solver that can envision various outcomes and plan accordingly to mitigate risky outcomes
• Strong attention to detail and highly organized
• Self-motivated and motivated to help others
• Bilingual skills preferred, but not required

We realize your time is valuable so please do not apply if you do not have at least the following required minimum qualifications:

• Education Requirement: Bachelor's Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Urban and Regional Planning, or a related field
• Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of plans review and/or permitting experience reviewing blueprints and plans for zoning and/or construction projects with regard to the compliance of zoning codes and regulations
• Education & Experience Requirement: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education
• Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements

To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachments to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):

• Resume
• Cover Letter (preferred)

Unsure if you meet the minimum qualifications? See more information below to help you understand if you qualify.

When determining if a candidate meets the minimum qualifications for a job, we take into account both their education and experience. We offer flexibility with education and experience equivalency to ensure a fair evaluation of all candidates.

Here's how we count education and experience:

Education to Years of Experience conversion:

• Associate's degree = 2 years
• Bachelor's degree = 4 years
• Master's degree = 2 years (in addition to a Bachelor's degree)
• Juris degree = 2 years (in addition to a Master’s degree)

Years of Experience to Education substitution:

• If a degree is required but not possessed by the candidate, additional relevant experience can be used in place of the degree (e.g., 4 additional years of experience for a required Bachelor's degree)
• If a degree is not required, but you possess one, it can be counted as additional experience
• If a Bachelor's degree is required, a Master's or Juris degree can be used toward experience
• Internships may be counted depending on the level of the position you are applying for and the relevance of the internship duties to the position you are applying for
• Please note that the type of experience that qualifies for equivalency will need to match the type of experience listed in the minimum qualifications
• Please note: depending on the position, the degree may be required to be in a relevant field to the position you are applying for in order to substitute as experience