Rental Housing Inspector

The Neighborhood Services Division of the City of GaithersburgDepartment of Community, Neighborhood & Housing Services is accepting applications for a Rental Housing Inspector to enforce municipal codes and ordinances that deal primarily with rental housing and landlord/tenant issues and have an impact on public health, personal safety, property values, and overall welfare and quality of life for the Gaithersburg community.

We are looking for a self-motivated individual with experience in residential housing and property inspections or enforcement (rental housing related experience is preferred) who can work independently but enjoys being part of a collaborative team that plays a significant role in ensuring that Gaithersburg is a clean, safe, and attractive community. As a member of the Neighborhood Services team, you will be performing work involving inspection, regulation, and enforcement of rental housing, property maintenance, and life safety codes and ordinances. You must quickly develop a working knowledge of the City and applicable laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations and have a proactive philosophy toward enforcement and regulation and a commitment to providing excellent customer service, as you'll interact with the general public, residents, and property owners on a daily basis. Fluency in English (speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension) is required. Spanish fluency is preferred and eligible for a multilingual stipend if approved.
40 hours per week, Monday through Friday; a core work schedule will be determined upon hire. Additional hours may be necessary to meet operational needs. This position could be filled at Level I, II, or III in the Code Administration Officer class series, consistent with the relevant experience, qualifications, and certifications of the candidate. Starting salary is negotiable within the anticipated target hiring range at each level:

• Level I - $60,000 to $75,000
• Level II - $68,000 to $83,000
• Level III - $77,000 to $92,000

We provide comprehensive insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, life), paid time off, generous retirement contributions, health and wellness programs, tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans, training and professional growth opportunities, and excellent work/life balance.What you will do with us:

• Conduct proactive and reactive landlord/tenant and rental housing enforcement.
• Inspect new and renewal rental dwellings for compliance with all City and property maintenance codes.
• Conduct building and property maintenance inspections, including checks of life safety, egress, electrical, heating, plumbing, sanitary systems, vermin infestations, and overcrowding conditions.
• Investigate complaints regarding rental housing properties, issue violation inspection reports and official notices or citations to correct violations.
• Explain requirements of the Property Maintenance Code and City codes to property owners, agents, management companies, community associations, and other interested parties.
• Provide mediation and negotiate equitable settlements of complaints.
• Prepare reports and cases, testify in court, coordinate with City Attorney's Office to obtain court orders to abate violations, and appear as a witness in court or other authorized proceedings.
• Inspect and electronically document the results of inspections of the exterior and interior areas of rental properties to determine compliance with City Code.
• Perform other Code Administration Officer and rental housing-related tasks as required.
• Provide outstanding service, pursue continuous improvement, and exceed expectations.

Key responsibilities are highlighted above; please click here to view the complete classification description for this position (Code Administration Officer I/II/III). The classification description indicates the full salary range established for each position to provide opportunity for growth and development (Grades 106, 108, and 110 in the City's FY 2026 Schedule of Salary Ranges).What you will need to be considered:

• High School Diploma or equivalent; associate degree preferred for Level III.
• Entry level candidates (Level I) must have a minimum of 1 year of experience working in an inspection, regulatory, or enforcement environment (rental housing related experience preferred). A candidate must have additional directly related experience and be able to demonstrate possession of all required training, knowledge, skills, and experience to be hired at a Level II or III position.
• Valid driver's license and safe driving record to drive a City vehicle (not a take-home vehicle).
• International Code Council (ICC) Certification 64 - Property Maintenance and Housing Inspector certification or equivalent (required upon hire or must be obtained within 6 or 12 months of hire, depending on level of hire).
• Fluency (speaking, reading, writing and comprehension) in English required; fluency (speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension) in Spanish preferred; eligible for a $2,080 annual multilingual stipend if approved.
• Strong customer service skills and ability to present information, respond to questions, and interact courteously, professionally, and diplomatically with customers.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, bulletins, technical manuals, and governmental regulations.
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer use, including case management systems and Microsoft 365 tools (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Demonstrated proficiency in preparing factually clear, concise, and complete written reports and correspondence.
• Or any acceptable equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the position.

Interested applicants must submit the following to be considered:

• A complete online application
• Current resume (attached to the online application)
• Letter of interest (attached to the online application)

Your letter of interest should highlight why you are interested in the position, and your resume and letter should discuss past relevant experience and convey how that experience, in addition to your other special skills and abilities, make you uniquely qualified to serve in this position.
Review of applications will begin immediately, so prompt application is strongly encouraged. The position will remain open until filled; recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of qualified applicants are identified or all hiring decisions have been made.
This is a full-time, non-exempt position, which means an individual in this position is eligible for overtime compensation under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the City's personnel regulations. The position can accommodate limited remote work (at the discretion of the Division Manager and Department Director). Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees.
The successful candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation. The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee, as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post accident and random testing.
For more information about the position, contact Neighborhood Services Division Manager Sebastian Andion at Sebastian.Andion@gaithersburgmd.gov or 240.805.1037. Questions regarding the online application process may be directed to the Department of Human Resources at hr@gaithersburgmd.gov or 301.258.6327.
This recruitment will establish an eligibility list which will be used to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other openings in this classifications which occur in the next 12 months.