Fire Permit Technician - Palm Desert

Fire Permit Technician - Palm Desert

Salary

$63,619.63 - $93,782.56 Annually

Location

Palm Desert

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

26-37859-02

Department

Fire

Opening Date

11/03/2026

Closing Date

11/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Riverside County Fire Department is currently seeking to fill Fire Permit Technician vacancy located in Palm Desert. The Incumbent will perform a variety of administrative support duties and provides customer assistance and services for Riverside County Fire; responds to questions regarding Fire's permit application, procedures and fire code requirements as they relate to permit application and processes; receives and routes applicable documents to staff; performs other related duties as required.

Competitive candidates will possess knowledge and experience using PLUS (Public and Land use System) or ENERGOV/Tyler EPL or similar software.

The Fire Permit Technician is a journey-level classification. The position will report to an appropriate supervisory or manager-level position. The Fire Permit Technician position primarily will engage in issuing County Fire construction and fire code permits, processing fire protection and construction plans for residential, commercial, and industrial projects, performing code compliance reviews of minor fire protection projects, and scheduling appointments.

Meet the Team!

The Riverside County Fire Department is one of California's largest integrated, cooperative, regional fire protection organizations. The Department, a unique partnership between State of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the County of Riverside, serves 19 partner agencies and 1 community service district. The Department has five core values: Leadership, Competence, Integrity, Safety, and Customer Service.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Provide quality customer service to the public at a public counter; process construction plans, forms, and permit applications for issuance of development and construction permits for commercial, industrial, and residential projects; perform the more complex functions related to County Fire's development and permitting processes; resolve or assist in resolving difficult or complex permitting issues.
• Coordinate fire permit process; receive and review fire applications for completeness and compliance with related laws, codes, ordinances, and legislation; process plan check submittals, applications and other related documents; answer code related questions and supply information regarding permit processing policies and procedures.
• Receive and review applications for Fire Permits; approve and issue permits; calculate and collect fees and perform plan reviews for minor projects.
• Review, confirm and research invoices, verify encumbrances, and research discrepancies as they relate to County Fire vendors.
• Receive requests for inspection and schedule appropriately using specialized records management and permit software to create and maintain project files and check project status.
• Enter and update information in the computerized permit system to prepare a variety of forms, letters, reports, and other materials to include permit issuance database; maintain accurate and detailed records and files; verify accuracy of information; provide status reports, research discrepancies and records information; calculate and maintain statistical data and records and prepare a variety of reports as required.
• Recommend and participate in implementation and improvement of policies and procedures.
• Research, review and compile data for special projects and various reports.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge, skills and abilities would be:

OPTION I

Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.

Experience: Two (2) years of performing clerical office duties and in reviewing, reading and understanding simple blueprints or interpreting and explaining simple planning or building regulations.

OPTION II

Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.

Experience: One (1) year in municipal planning, building or a related field comparable to that of a Building or Planning Permit Technician.

ALL OPTIONS

Knowledge of: Principles and procedures of recordkeeping and reporting; modern office equipment and procedures including use of a variety of software applications related to fire prevention and plan review; California Fire Code and other applicable federal, state and local laws; principles and practices of customer service and public relations; English usage, spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Ability to: Learn, interpret, apply, and explain policies and procedures; intermittently review documents related to County Fire operations; observe, identify and problem solve procedural issues; receive, research and resolve questions from the public, outside agencies and other County departments; learn to review construction drawings and plans; learn to process fire inspections, new construction and life safety permits.

Other Requirements

License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

For questions regarding this recruitment

Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

Please contact Joe Olivares, at 951-955-9554 or email jomendoz@rivco.org. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.

____

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veterans Preference

The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouses) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouses death certificate, a letter of spouses disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veterans Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies

Reasonable Accommodations

The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability

Schedule, Overtime, Standby/On-Call, and Travel Obligations

The County of Riverside offers a variety of alternative work schedules, dependent upon department operations and needs. Certain assignments may involve overtime, standby/on-call shifts, and/or travel; however, scheduling, shift assignments, overtime work, standby/on-call duty, and travel obligations are subject to management approval, operational needs, and/or may be modified or discontinued at any time. Applicants should contact the assigned recruiter for additional information regarding the schedule, overtime and standby/on-call expectations, and travel obligations.

Proof of Education

If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Pre-Employment

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

Probationary Period

As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

General Information

Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.

Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the Apply link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veterans preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com.

If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.

BENEFIT PROGRAM: UPE

MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable LIUNA Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here.

MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).

• Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
• Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
• Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023 employee contributions are 7.25% and will increase to 7.75% effective July 1, 2024.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

• A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
• A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
• A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.

Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,

Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If theres any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0 < 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)

4 < 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)

10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance)

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

DISABILITY:

Employees contribute to State Disability Insurance (SDI), which provides wage replacement benefits for those unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. SDI also includes Paid Family Leave benefits. The wage replacement rate, as defined by current law, is between 60-70% of wages earned during the SDI eligibility period. Benefits can be coordinated with other available leave balances to provide up to 100% of regular pay.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.

01

Select the answer that best describes your current drivers license status:

• I have a valid California drivers license.
• I am able to obtain a valid California drivers license.
• I currently have a valid out-of-state drivers license, and I am able to obtain a valid California drivers license.
• I do not have and/or I am not able to obtain a California drivers license.

02

Do you possess a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate?

• Yes
• No

03

How many years of experience do you have performing clerical office duties and reviewing, reading and understanding simple blueprints or interpreting and explaining simple planning or building regulations? *If applicable, this experience must be listed on your application/resume.

• None
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2
• 2 years or more, but less than 3
• 3 years or more, but less than 4
• 4 years or more, but less than 5
• 5 years or more, but less than 6
• 6 years or more

04

How many years of experience do you have in municipal planning, building or a related field comparable to that of a Building or Planning Permit Technician? *If applicable, this experience must be listed on your application/resume.

• None
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2
• 2 years or more, but less than 3
• 3 years or more, but less than 4
• 4 years or more, but less than 5
• 5 years or more, but less than 6
• 6 years or more

05

How many years of experience do you have using PLUS (Public and Land use System) or ENERGOV/Tyler EPL or similar software? *If applicable, this experience must be listed on your application/resume.

• None
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2
• 2 years or more, but less than 3
• 3 years or more, but less than 4
• 4 years or more, but less than 5
• 5 years or more, but less than 6
• 6 years or more

06

How many years of experience do you have reviewing applications for Permits; approving and issuing permits; calculating and collecting fees and/or performing plan reviews for minor projects? *If applicable, this experience must be listed on your application/resume.

• None
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2
• 2 years or more, but less than 3
• 3 years or more, but less than 4
• 4 years or more, but less than 5
• 5 years or more, but less than 6
• 6 years or more

07

How many years of experience do you have receiving requests for inspection and scheduling appropriately?

• None
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2
• 2 years or more, but less than 3
• 3 years or more, but less than 4
• 4 years or more, but less than 5
• 5 years or more, but less than 6
• 6 years or more

08

Please Which of the following areas best describes your work experience? Check all that apply. (Must be reflected on your application/resume.)

• None of these
• Public Works/Community Development
• Fire Prevention/Inspections
• Building/Planning
• Construction/Engineer
• Code Enforcement
• Other

09

If you selected "Other," please briefly describe your experience.

Required Question

Employer County of Riverside

Address County Admin. Center P.O. Box 1569

4080 Lemon St., 7th floor

Riverside, California, 92502-1569

Phone Contact Recruiter for Job Information

Website http://www.rc-hr.com