Planning technicians assist in creating and administering building and land regulations, distributing permits, and interpreting zoning regulations. They also maintain records and supervise customer service offices. Education requirements vary, and familiarity with office equipment and computer usage is necessary. The job is primarily done within an office environment, but technicians may also work off-site with businesses and attend civic functions.
A planning technician is employed by local, state, and regional governments to assist in the creation and administration of building and land regulations and building ordinances. It’s a basic job, and it also works as an administrative support staff for a city or regional planning office. Planning technicians are responsible for distributing permits and interpreting zoning regulations to the general public.
Collection of fees and charges associated with zoning and business permits is overseen by a planning officer. Organized and detailed records of distributed licenses are maintained by a technician, in addition to the supervision of a city or region’s customer service office for planning and development. A planning officer researches facts and presents the relevant data collection to other members of a city planning office or committee. Technicians may need to read and interpret building schematics and plans to issue zoning and permit regulations and charge appropriate fees. A planning officer can also serve as a public liaison on behalf of a planning office, such as connecting with businesses and individuals at civic events such as board meetings.
Planning technicians use communication and customer service skills to work with businesses and the public. Research and writing skills are required to prepare reports and present data. Teamwork is an important skill for planning technicians, as they often interact and work directly with other planning office staff. Methods of organization and attention to detail are required as technicians are responsible for document services and record keeping.
Education requirements and previous work experience to become a planning technician vary by regional standards. Generally, completion of at least an associate degree is required, and an undergraduate degree is often preferred. Many planning technicians have previous experience in administrative and administrative work. Some regions allow substituting related education, such as a degree in urban development, to substitute for professional experience required when hiring a planning technician. Familiarity with office equipment and general computer usage is necessary for the work performed by planning technicians.
A planning technician’s workweek is a standard 40-hour week and is primarily done within an office environment. A technician may be required to work off-site with businesses and individuals, facilitating zoning regulations and building permits, as well as attending civic functions to interact with the public. The job includes filing, answering phones, and filing license and fee records filed by citizens and businesses.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
