Fire Inspector (Sworn/Non-Sworn)

Job Description:

Fire Inspector (Sworn/Non-Sworn)

Description

Description

Build on your fire prevention experience as a Fire Inspector with the Palo Alto Fire Department, where every inspection helps shape a safer community.

The Department

The Palo Alto Fire Department is a professional team dedicated to safeguarding and enriching the lives of everyone it serves, anytime and anywhere, with compassion and pride. The department is focused on meeting the community’s evolving needs and strives to reflect the community through meaningful opportunities for diversity and inclusion. The department is comprised of highly trained professionals prepared to respond effectively to a wide range of emergencies, including structure and wildland fires, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues, code enforcement, and fire investigations. Administrative professionals also play an essential role in supporting the department’s operations and overall success. To learn more about the Palo Alto Fire Department, click here.

The Position
The Fire Prevention Bureau of the Palo Alto Fire Department is seeking qualified candidates for multiple Fire Inspector positions, with opportunities for both sworn or non-sworn candidates.

The Fire Inspector (sworn and non-s worn) conducts routine and special inspections of commercial buildings, public assemblies, retail, high rise, and certain residential buildings; checks building plans for compliance with fire and life safety standards, participates in Fire Department public education programs and performs related duties as needed. May act as a liaison with other City departments in the performance of duties.

This position is key to the enforcement of fire codes, standards, and city ordinances. Fire Inspector is a multi-position classification found within the Fire Department, Fire Prevention Bureau and investigation division. The Fire Inspector may be classified as sworn (Public Safety) or non-sworn.

This position provides code enforcement activity and may be the technical liaison between the fire department and other agencies, e.g. City Attorney, Building, Planning, Police, Code Enforcement, and Water Quality Control.

Fire Inspector Sworn (EMT): For full job description, click here.

• Salary: $181,417.60 - $234,457.60 Annually

Fire Inspector Non-Sworn: For full job description, click here.

• Salary: $149,260.80 - $183,289.60 Annually
  

If this position is filled as a sworn position, your CalPERS pension formula will be:

• 3% @ 55 formula for Classic Safety employees
• 2.7% @ 57 for New Safety CalPERS Members

If this position is filled as a non-sworn position, your CalPERS pension formula will be:

• 2% at 60 formula for Classic Employees
• 2% at 62 formula for New CalPERS Members

To learn more about CalPERS pension, please review the publication below.

• Benefit Guide for CalPERS Retirement

A rewarding career in fire prevention starts here.

Explore the opportunity with the Palo Alto Fire Department and take the next step in your career.

Apply today!

Compensation (IAFF): Comprehensive compensation plan. To learn more, click here .

Essential Duties

Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• The Fire Inspector makes inspections of industrial plants, certain commercial establishments, and places of public assembly, determines compliance with applicable code and ordinances, writes reports and generates necessary correspondence to obtain code compliance and issues appropriate permits.
  
• Check plans for new building construction and confers with other concerned city departments to determine compliance with fire and life safety requirements and makes necessary contacts with developers, property owners, architects, engineers, and contractors; follows through with related field inspections and tests.
  
• Investigates complaints received by the department and determines whether a fire hazard exists, and issues notices to abate and follows through with the City Attorney's office when necessary to secure abatement.
  
• Participates in public education programs, advises public on general and specific fire and life safety matters, advises, and assists in the formation of evacuation and emergency action plan for large public and private buildings. Additionally, he/she makes and maintains records and reports related to all activities.
  
• Participates in Fire Department training programs relating to areas of expertise.
  
• Participation may be advisory to the training division or may involve organizing lesson plans and providing instruction under direction of the training officer.
  
• May issue citations to gain compliance.
  
• Conducts investigations related to apprehending and prosecution of suspected arsonists and evaluates fire scenes to determine origin and cause of fires.
  
• May be requested to perform complex field inspections for conflict resolution in the areas of architectural, construction, hazardous materials, alarm systems, sprinkler systems as it relates to new or existing buildings.
  

Minimum Qualifications

Sufficient education, training and/or work experience to demonstrate possession of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities which would typically be acquired through:

• College level fire science courses in fire prevention and hazardous materials.

Fire Inspector-EMT (Sworn)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree in Fire Science.
• Certification by State Board of Fire Services as Fire Investigator I or Hazardous Materials Technician/Responder.
• College level education in Chemistry.

Special Requirements:

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
• Possession of or ability to obtain International Code Council (ICC) Inspector I Certification or completion of State Fire Inspector 1 series or equivalent within 1 year of hire.
• Possession of a valid California Emergency Medical Technician License.
• Possession of a valid American Heart Association CPR card.
• Two years’ experience as a fire fighter.

Fire Inspector (Non-Sworn)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree in Fire Science.

Special Requirements:

• Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.
• Possession of or ability to obtain International Code Council (ICC) Inspector I.
• Certification or completion of State Fire Inspector 1 series or equivalent within 1 year of hire.

Supplemental Information

Recruitment Timeline (tentative):

Application Deadline: Sunday, October 11, 2026

Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) Submissions: October 15, 2026

Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ) Submission Review: October 19, 2026
Panel Interviews (in-person): Week of October 26, 2026
Fire Chief Interviews (in-person): Week of November 9, 2026

Selection Process:

• Applicants will receive recruitment status notifications via email (governmentjobs.com account also has notification status updates).
• Applicants will be screened throughout the posting process, and highly qualified candidates may be invited to interview at any time.
• The screening process for this position typically may include a virtual recorded interview and/or panel interviews preceding final interviews with the hiring manager or their designee.
  

Technical Support:

Our online application system is provided by NeoGov. If you have problems while applying online, please contact NeoGov's Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday.

The City of Palo Alto is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

See our Benefits at a Glance Bookletfor more details.
Learn more about our Memorandum of Agreements (MOAs) between the City and its bargaining units, by clicking HERE.

Closing Date/Time: 10/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Salary:

$149,260.80 - $234,457.60 Annually