Professional Design Limitations

Plans Not Requiring a Licensed Professional

Unless the Chief Building Official deems an undue risk to the public health, safety or welfare is involved; or the work affects the structural system or safety of the building; or the design deviates from substantial compliance with the conventional framing requirements for wood framed construction found in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations or Tables of Limitations for wood frame construction in Chapter 23 of the 2022 California Building Code, then unlicensed persons may prepare plans, drawings or specifications for the following:

1. Single-family dwellings of wood frame construction not more than two stories and a basement in height.
2. Multiple dwellings containing not more than two dwelling units of wood frame construction, and not more than two stories and a basement in height. A single lot may have a maximum of two dwelling units per lot.
3. Garages or other structures appurtenant to single family dwellings, of wood frame construction not more than two stories and a basement in height.
4. Non-structural interior alterations or additions including the installation of fixtures, cabinetwork, furniture, appliances, or equipment.
5. Agricultural and ranch buildings of wood frame construction.

Note: Unlicensed persons must sign all plans (per the Architect's Practice Act). Additionally, unlicensed persons may not prepare plans for those alternations that will change or affect any components of the structural system or safety of the building or its occupants, including but not limited to, structural or seismic components.

If any portion of any listed structure exempted above deviates from conventional framing requirements for wood framing construction per Chapter 23 of the California Building Code or Chapters 5, 6, and 8 of the California Residential Code, the Chief Building Official may require the preparation of plans, drawings, specifications, and calculations for that portion of work by, or under the direct supervision of, a registered engineer or architect. Those documents prepared by a registered engineer or architect shall bear the stamp and signature of the licensee who is responsible for their preparation.

Unless the project is deemed by Chief Building Official to require professional design by a California registered engineer or architect, or the plans include any of the following work, which shall be deemed as affecting the safety of a building or its occupants, then in these cases all plans shall be stamped and signed by a registered engineer or architect:

1. New commercial buildings and additions to existing commercial buildings.
2. Projects with interior or exterior structural alterations.
3. Projects with interior alteration and a change in occupancy.
4. Interior alteration with walls and partitions over 5’-9” in height or ceiling work which cover a floor area greater than 3,000 square feet in B, F-1, F-2, S-1, S-2 and M occupancies.
5. Storage racks over 8’ in height.
6. Remodeling projects with changes to firewalls, barriers, or partitions.
7. Alterations with change to exiting requirements.
8. High-Hazard group H occupancies.
9. Assembly occupancies A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, and A-5.
10. Tanks and vessels.
11. Roof mounted mechanical equipment.
12. School and day care occupancy E.
13. Institutional occupancies I-1, I-2 and I-3.
14. Projects with S-1, S-2 and F-2 occupancies.
15. Hotel, motel and apartment occupancies R-1 and R-2.
16. Projects with mixed occupancies.
17. Remodeling projects in a high-rise (having floors over 75’ in height) building.
18. Lateral force resisting systems utilizing poles embedded in the ground.
19. Cripple walls exceeding 4’ in height or adjacent to garage door openings.
20. Any project deemed by the Chief Building Official to require a professional design by a California Registered Engineer or Architect.