Permit Technician
Salary
$44.01 - $56.17 Hourly
Location
Sunnyvale, CA
Job Type
Full-Time
Job Number
26-00096
Department
Community Development
Division
Planning
Opening Date
08/03/2026
Closing Date
8/31/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
Description
The position opens Monday, August 3, 2026, and the final filing date is Monday August 31, 2026, at 5:00 pm or after receiving 75 qualified and complete applications, whichever is first.
The City of Sunnyvale is seeking a regular, full-time Permit Technician to join the Planning Division in the Community Development Department. The Permit Technician will work in the Current Planning team. This position will perform counter duty, data entry with our permit system and processing permits varying from signs and tree removals to single-family home additions and commercial tenant improvements, and other duties as assigned.
City of Sunnyvale Benefits:
(*Prorated based on date of hire)
For a complete job description, please click here: Permit Technician
Under direction of an assigned manager from Planning performs responsible technical work in one or more specialized divisions which involves researching and responding to customer questions regarding department policies and procedures, the receipt of fees, and assisting with processing permit applications; and performs related work as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Permit Technician is a fully qualified journey-level technical classification. This classification supports the Community Development and provides a high level of customer contact. This classification differs from the lower-level classifications of Permit Clerk and Senior Office Assistant. The Permit Technician performs more responsible duties involving the review and processing of applications requiring knowledge of codes and permit process for the Planning Division and the Senior Office Assistant classification is responsible for more clerical and less technical duties.
Essential Job Functions
(May include, but are not limited to, the following):
If assigned to the Planning Division in the Community Development Department, duties will span both design and construction activities listed below.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near and far vision in reading written reports and work-related documents and using a computer. Acute hearing is required when providing phone and personal customer service. The need to lift, drag and push files, paper, books, and documents weighing up to 25 pounds is also required. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodations.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience:
The minimum qualifications for education and experience can be met in the following ways:
(1) An Associate's degree with major coursework in construction, engineering, fire protection, drafting, mathematics, statistics, economics, planning or a related field; AND One year of increasingly responsible office/clerical experience that involves extensive public contact in planning, zoning, engineering, architecture, or building construction trades;
OR
(2) Graduation from high school or tested equivalent; AND Three years of increasingly responsible office/clerical experience that involves extensive public contact in planning, zoning, engineering, architecture, fire protection, or building construction trades.
Knowledge of:
In addition to the above, if assigned to the Planning Division, knowledge of:
Ability to:
Licenses/Certificates:
Possession and continued maintenance of a valid class C California drivers license or the ability to provide alternative transportation as approved by the appointing authority and a safe driving record.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Application and Selection Process
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS & PROCESS
The application submitted must meet the minimum qualifications listed in the job description in order to move forward in the recruitment process with the City of Sunnyvale. The information provided in the Work Experience, Education, and Certificates/Licenses sections of the application will be used to determine if the application meets the minimum qualifications. A resume, employment history provided elsewhere in the application, or other attachments will not be accepted in lieu of the completed application.
Note: The minimum qualifications for experience are based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Experience included in the Work Experience section of the application is calculated to the full-time equivalent (hours are pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week). Volunteer experience is not considered qualifying experience.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a City of Sunnyvale employment application and responses to the supplemental questions to the Department of Human Resources. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as the posting will close after receiving 75 qualified and complete applications or by Monday, August 31, 2026, at 5:00pm, whichever is first.
Candidates are asked to fully describe any training, education, experience, or skills relevant to this position. Electronic applications may be submitted online through the Citys employment page at Sunnyvale.ca.gov and click on JOBS. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
EXAM PROCESS
Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position. Based upon a review of the application materials, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the oral examination process scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2026. (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Director of Human Resources.)
SELECTION PROCESS
Those candidates that receive a passing score on the examination will be placed on an eligibility list for up to one year, in accordance with the Citys Civil Service Rules and Administrative Policies. Top candidates on the eligibility list will be invited to participate in an in-person selection interview with the department tentatively scheduled for the week of October 5, 2026.
Any candidate that is selected by the hiring department will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, which may consist of a background history check, as well as a medical exam(s) administered by a City selected physician(s) before hire. Prior to starting work, all newly-hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however, failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination. Positions which are covered by the Department of Transportation regulations are required to submit to a pre-employment drug test and to random drug and alcohol testing.
INFORMATION ABOUT PROOF OF EDUCATION
Any successful candidate, selected by the hiring department will be required to submit proof of education (i.e. original copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts). A candidate with education obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credential evaluation service at the candidates expense to determine its equivalency in the United States. Candidates may utilize any third-party agency for the evaluation. If you search 'education equivalency verification' or similar online, you will obtain results for agencies that provide this evaluation service.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Positions in this job classification are represented by the Sunnyvale Employees Association (SEA).
For assistance on how to fill out your job application, watch the following video:
The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.
The City of Sunnyvale is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state, or local laws. The City of Sunnyvale is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 730-7490 or recruitments@sunnyvale.ca.gov.
Summary of Sunnyvales Employees Association (For Full Time Positions) SEA Benefits
Summary of Service Employees International Union, Local 521 (For Part Time Positions)SEIU Benefits
Notice of CFRA (California Family Rights Act) Rights and Obligations
01
Instructions for completing the Supplemental Questionnaire: The following supplemental questions constitute an examination. Responses are reviewed and rated by Subject Matter Expert(s). The supplemental question examination determines the most qualified candidates to move forward in the recruitment process. The responses to the supplemental questions should be specific, thorough and must be reflected in the Work Experience, Education, and Certificates/Licenses sections of the application. Please note the information provided in the supplemental questions will not be accepted in lieu of the completed application. Incomplete responses, false statements, copying and pasting responses from Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs, and/or entering "See Resume" will result in an incomplete application and/or disqualification from the recruitment process. Note: The minimum qualifications for experience are based on full-time experience (40 hours per week). Experience included in the Work Experience section of the application is calculated to the full-time equivalent (hours are pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week). Volunteer experience is not considered qualifying experience. Please be advised that you will be timed out of this page after 30 minutes. It is recommended to copy the supplemental questions that require text answers into a document that you can save on your computer. Prepare your responses in that document and then copy and paste the responses into the spaces provided. Additionally, please save your work continuously. By checking the Yes response below, I indicate that I have read the instructions for completing the application (located in the job posting) and supplemental questionnaire. In accordance with these instructions, I understand that a completed application and written responses to the supplemental questionnaire are required. I understand the completed application and supplemental question responses will be used to evaluate my qualifications for this position and further identify the most qualified candidates to continue in the recruitment process. Additionally, I certify that I have completed the application and supplemental questionnaire on my own; the information provided accurately reflects my training, education and experience; and I understand the information provided is subject to verification.
02
Select the option that best demonstrates how you meet the minimum qualifications for the Permit Technician position:
03
Based on your selection to the above question (Question 2), please describe your experience of increasingly responsible office/clerical experience that involves extensive public contact in planning, zoning, engineering, architecture, fire protection, or building construction trades. Please provide your year(s) of experience, your role(s), and specific job responsibilities. If you do not have this experience, indicate N/A in the box below.
04
Describe your experience with reviewing and processing applications requiring knowledge of codes and the permit process. If you do not have this experience, indicate N/A in the box below.
05
Do you have work experience at a public agency? If so, describe where you obtained your experience, the dates you worked for each agency and your specific job responsibilities. If you do not have such experience, indicate N/A in the box below.
06
Describe your experience providing customer service to members of the public and include any experience you have related to explaining policies, procedures or regulations to customers. Also, in your response describe your approach to assisting an upset customer. If you do not have this experience, please indicate N/A in the box below.
Required Question
Employer City of Sunnyvale
Address 456 W. Olive Avenue
Sunnyvale, California, 94086
Phone 408-730-7490
Website https://sunnyvale.ca.gov
| Location | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Salary | $44.01–$56.17 Per Hour |