STAMP REQUIREMENTS · CA
Do you need an architect's stamp in California?
California does not require an architect for a wood-frame single-family home of up to two stories plus a basement, but any part that departs from conventional wood framing must be designed and stamped by a licensed architect or engineer.
What the law says
Business and Professions Code §5537 lets anyone prepare plans for single-family dwellings, multifamily buildings of up to four units, and their garages and outbuildings, as long as they are wood-frame and no more than two stories and a basement.
Where the exemption stops
- Wood-frame construction only, two stories plus a basement at most.
- Up to four units per lawfully divided lot; clusters that add up to more than four units are not covered.
- If any portion deviates from the conventional framing tables in Title 24, the building official must require that portion to be designed, stamped and signed by a licensed architect or engineer (§5537(b)).
When an engineer is still required
The structural carve-out does real work in California: steel beams, large openings, tall walls, hillside foundations and much of the lateral design in high seismic categories fall outside conventional framing, so expect an engineer on those sheets. Building officials can also require a licensed professional where they see an undue risk.
What this means if you're using a drafting service
A drafting service can prepare the architectural set for a typical one- or two-story wood-frame house, ADU, addition or garage conversion. Unlicensed designers must still sign the plans they prepare. Structural portions outside conventional framing go to a California-licensed engineer, whom you hire directly.
ArchWorkPro drafts permit sets for $1 per square foot of drawn area with a $1,200 minimum, or $195 per sheet for new construction under 1,200 sq ft. We don't seal drawings. When your project needs an engineer or architect, you hire them directly and we draft to their direction. See what a permit set includes or permit drawings for owner-builders.
City pages for California, with plan check times and energy code details: Los Angeles, San Jose, Fresno, Visalia, Irvine, Chula Vista.
Questions
Do I need an architect to build a house in California?
California does not require an architect for a wood-frame single-family home of up to two stories plus a basement, but any part that departs from conventional wood framing must be designed and stamped by a licensed architect or engineer.
Do I need an engineer's stamp in California?
The structural carve-out does real work in California: steel beams, large openings, tall walls, hillside foundations and much of the lateral design in high seismic categories fall outside conventional framing, so expect an engineer on those sheets. Building officials can also require a licensed professional where they see an undue risk.
Can a drafting service prepare my permit plans in California?
A drafting service can prepare the architectural set for a typical one- or two-story wood-frame house, ADU, addition or garage conversion. Unlicensed designers must still sign the plans they prepare. Structural portions outside conventional framing go to a California-licensed engineer, whom you hire directly.
Who has the final word on stamps for my project?
Your local building department. State law sets the floor, and the building official can ask for a licensed professional's seal on any portion that falls outside the code's prescriptive rules. Ask before you order drawings.
Sources
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §5537 (FindLaw, current as of Jan. 1, 2026)
- Contra Costa County: When is a licensed professional required? (June 2025)
Read from the statute and regulation text on . This is general information, not legal advice. Your building department decides what your specific project needs, and laws change; confirm before you rely on it.
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