B-37 2020-Current: Building Permit Application Stamp and Signature Requirements

The purpose of this technical bulletin is to provide information on professional licensure stamp and signature requirements for building permit application package materials prepared by engineers, architects and unlicensed persons.

There has been confusion in the past regarding the stamping, dating, and signing certification requirements on plans and other building permit application materials, and whether licensed design professionals or unlicensed persons preparing application materials may submit draft documents that do not contain this certification information. The information contained within this document is a culmination of information from the Architects Practice Act and Professional Engineers Act provisions of the California Business & Professions Code. Assistance with clarification of B&PC provisions were provided by staff from the enforcement divisions of the state agencies charged with oversight of architects and engineers.

There are exemptions within both the Professional Engineers Act and the Architects Practice Act allowing unlicensed persons to prepare plans for certain projects. The fact both Acts contain exemptions causes confusion as to which Act applies to unlicensed persons. This jurisdiction’s position on which Act governs unlicensed persons who prepares plans and other building permit application documents is that these individuals must comply with the most restrictive Act, which is the Architects Practice Act.

It is intended for this document to accompany the information provided in Technical Bulletin B-36 – “Plans Requiring Design by Licensed Architect or Engineer.”

Version: 04/01/2020
Effective Date: 12/21/2012

Architects

• regulated by requirements of the Architects Practice Act
• required to sign and affix stamp to plans, specifications and instruments of service, as evidence of the persons responsibility for those documents
• if submitting “draft” documents and withholding the stamp and signature from those documents submitted for a building permit, the architect is required to submit a signed statement to PRMD that the person who was in responsible control of the documents is licensed to perform the work
• permit cannot be issued without materials prepared by architect being stamped and signed by architect
• the B&PC does not specify whether a stamp and signature is wet or dry, it only states materials must be stamped and signed; local jurisdiction may require wet stamp/signature
• the California Architects Board believes building officials may accept documents with a reproduced signature provided the building official obtain a signed statement that the person who was in responsible control of the documents is licensed to perform the work and such statement is affixed to the documents with the reproduced signature
  • Applicable statutes: B&PC Sections 5536.1, 5536.2

Civil & Structural Engineers

• regulated by requirements of the Professional Engineers Act
• civil (including structural and geotechnical) engineering plans, calculations, specifications and reports (i.e. documents) that are to be released for construction shall bear the signature and seal or stamp of the licensee and the date of signing and sealing or stamping
• final civil engineering calculations and reports shall bear the signature, seal/stamp and date of signing. must stamp & sign documents containing civil engineering or structural engineering
• interim documents shall include a notation as to the intended purpose of the document, such as “preliminary,” “not for construction,” “for plan check only,” or “for review only”
• the seal shall be capable of leaving a permanent ink representation, an opaque and permanent impression, or an electronically-generated representation on the documents
• signature may be applied to the documents electronically
• specifications, calculations and reports only need to be signed, sealed/stamped and dated on the title sheet, cover sheet, or signature sheet
• documents that are not professional engineering but are prepared by a professional engineer are not required to be stamped and signed
• the date of signing and sealing shall be located immediately below or next to the signature and seal
• mechanical, civil & structural engineers in responsible charge of design of small wind energy systems are exempt from stamping design documents and plans for such systems
  • Applicable statutes: CCR Title 16, Div 5, Section 411, B&PC 6735; CA Gov Code Section 65892.13;

Professional Engineers (other than Civil/Structural/Geotechnical) and Land Surveyors

• regulated by requirements of the Professional Engineers Act
• must stamp & sign documents containing professional engineering or land surveying that are within their disciplines
• the seal shall be capable of leaving a permanent ink representation, an opaque and permanent impression, or an electronically-generated representation on the documents
• signature may be applied to the documents electronically
• final engineering calculations and reports shall bear the signature, seal/stamp and date of signing. must stamp & sign documents containing engineering
• interim documents shall include a notation as to the intended purpose of the document, such as “preliminary,” “not for construction,” “for plan check only,” or “for review only”
• all professional engineering plans, specifications, reports, or documents shall be signed and stamped
• licensee shall include the date of signing and sealing immediately below or next to the signature and seal
• specifications, calculations and reports only need to be signed, sealed/stamped and dated on the title sheet, cover sheet, or signature sheet
• mechanical, civil & structural engineers in responsible charge of design of small wind energy systems are exempt from stamping design documents and plans for such systems
  • Applicable statutes: B&PC 6735.3; B&PC 6735.4; CA Gov Code Section 65892.13

Unlicensed Persons

• regulated by requirements of the Architects Practice Act
• plans prepared by unlicensed persons must be signed
• the B&PC does not specify whether a signature is wet or dry, it only states materials must be signed; local jurisdiction may require wet signature (rules should be the same as those for architect)
  • Applicable statutes: B&PC 6736.1