Steve Arnold
Steve has lived in Vallejo since 1975, attending Vallejo public schools and graduating early with CHSPE certification. Steve built a house with his family in unincorporated Vallejo in 1984 and soon after completion founded Arnold’s Home Services, specializing in building decks and fences. By 1991, he obtained a California Contractors’ license and founded Arnold Construction and Arnold Home Inspection Services; privately inspecting over 1000 properties between 1991 and 2021.
In 1994, Steve became an Alameda County Employee, working for the Alameda County Housing Authority as a Housing Inspector. In 1996, he became a Housing Specialist with the Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, then in 1997, Steve became a Building Inspector with Alameda County. From 1999 to 2007, he was a Senior Building Inspector for Contra Costa County. From 2007 to 2018; a Building Inspector in the City of Walnut Creek. In 2010 Steve became a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) by the California Division of State Architect.
In 2018, Steve became the Chief Building Official for the City of Vallejo. He is currently a member of the CALBO Access Committee. Steve is interested in publishing barrier removal guides to assist the construction community in removing barriers in the built environment for persons with disabilities.
Steve currently holds certifications by International Code Council (ICC) as Building Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, Mechanical Inspector, Electrical Inspector, Combination Inspector, Plans Examiner, Certified Building Official, and a Certified Access Specialist from the California Division of State Architect. He has extensive experience in accessibility and construction, including a working knowledge of the building codes, disabled access, and emerging trends in construction technology and “green”/sustainable development practices.
Steve is known for demonstrating a strong customer service ethic and a dedication to continuous performance improvement. He is one who looks at what can be done, instead of what can’t be done.
Steve is happily married with three grown children. In 2012, Steve and his wife Jackie built an addition onto their wheelchair-bound parent’s 1984 house, allowing them to age in place in the house they built together as a family while Steve and Jackie took care of them until 2020 when both parents passed away naturally at home.
Steve lives in unincorporated Vallejo, with his wife Jackie and their two dogs Lola and Mia. They enjoy traveling, golf, kayaking, or just staying home. The most recent addition to the family; a beautiful 21-year-old quarter horse “She’s Easy on the Eyes” or “EZ” for short, at the American Canyon Training Center has become a big part of life.