Architects Practice Act (Act)
A complete PDF of the Act can be found here: Architects Practice Act.
The Architects Practice Act (Act) and its regulations are being provided to licensees, candidates, and members of the public as a reference. All licensees and candidates for licensure should have knowledge of the California Architects Board's (Board) statutes and regulations and should be familiar with and understand their provisions. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this document, it does not have legal effect. Should any difference or error occur, the law will take precedence.
If there is a question regarding an interpretation of these statutes and regulations, you may contact the Board.
Business and Professions Code
Division 3. Professions and Vocations Generally
Chapter 3. Architecture
Article 1. General Provisions
- § 5500 Architect Defined
- § 5500.1 Practice of Architecture Defined
- § 5501 Chapter Defined
- § 5502 Board Defined
Article 2. Administration
- § 5510 Existence of Architects Board
- § 5510.1 Legislature Mandate of the Board
- § 5510.15 Priority of Board; Protection of the Public
- § 5514 Qualifications of Members
- § 5515 Tenure and Appointment of Board Members; Vacancies
- § 5515.5 Board Member Terms
- § 5516 Compensation of Members; Per Diem; Expenses
- § 5517 Executive Officer Powers
- § 5518 Officers of Board
- § 5520 Seal
- § 5521 Records
- § 5522 Meetings in General
- § 5523 Special Meetings
- § 5524 Quorum: Act or Decision of Board
- § 5525 Prosecutions by Board; Employees
- § 5526 Rules and Regulations
- § 5526.5 Title Pending
- § 5527 Injunction
- § 5528 Consultants
Article 3. Application of Chapter
- § 5535 Person Defined
- § 5535.1 Responsible Control Defined
- § 5535.2 Partnerships with Non-Architects
- § 5535.25 Business Entity Defined
- § 5535.3 Corporation Responsible Control
- § 5536 Practice Without License or Holding Self Out as Architect; Misdemeanor
- § 5536.1 Signature and Stamp on Plans and Documents; Unauthorized Practice; Misdemeanor
- § 5536.2 Statement of Licensure
- § 5536.22 Written Contract
- § 5536.25 Liability; Damages Caused by Subsequent, Unauthorized, or Unapproved Changes or Uses of Plans, Specifications, Reports or Documents; Construction Observation Services
- § 5536.26 Use of Certify or Certification by Licensed Architect
- § 5536.27 Liability; Building Inspections
- § 5536.3 Natural Disasters; Damage to Residential Real Property; Release of Copy of Plans
- § 5536.4 Instruments of Service—Consent
- § 5536.5 State of Emergency; Practice Without License or Holding Self Out as Architect; Penalty
- § 5537 Exemptions; Dwellings, Garages, Agricultural and Ranch Buildings; Supervision of Licensed Architect or Registered Engineer Required
- § 5537.1 Exemptions; Structural Engineer
- § 5537.2 Exemptions; Contractors
- § 5537.4 Exemptions; Professional Engineer
- § 5537.5 Exemptions; Civil Engineer
- § 5537.6 Exemptions; Landscape Architect
- § 5537.7 Exemptions; Land Surveyor
- § 5538 Planning or Design Affecting Safety of Building or Its Occupants; Nonstructural Store Front or Interior Alterations or Additions Excepted
Article 4. Issuance of Certificates
- § 5550 Examination
- § 5550.1 Exterior and Interior Barrier Free Design; Inclusion in Examination
- § 5550.2 Examination Eligibility—Integrated Degree Program
- § 5550.3 Grading of Examinations; Delegation of Authority
- § 5550.5 Social Security Number Exemption
- § 5551 Issuance of License
- § 5552 Qualifications of Applicant
- § 5552.1 Title Pending
- § 5552.5 Implementation of Intern Development Program
- § 5553 Denial of License; Grounds; Conduct of Proceedings
- § 5554 Contents of Certificate; Index and Record
- § 5555 Duration of License
- § 5557 Duplicates
- § 5558 Mailing Address and Name and Address of Entity Through Which License Holder Provides Architectural Services; Filing Requirements
Article 5. Disciplinary Proceedings
- § 5560 Investigations; Suspension or Revocation of License
- § 5561 Time for Processing
- § 5561.5 Powers and Proceedings
- § 5565 Extent of Discipline; Conditions
- § 5570 Review of Board by Court; Stay
- § 5571 Review of Superior Court
- § 5573 Reinstatement of Suspended License; Expiration of Suspended or Revoked License; Renewal
- § 5577 Conviction of Certain Crimes; Record; Evidence; Procedure
- § 5578 Violation as Ground for Discipline in General
- § 5579 Fraud in Obtaining License
- § 5580 Impersonation; Use of Assumed or Corporate Name
- § 5582 Aiding Unlawful Practice
- § 5582.1 Signing Other’s Plans or Instruments; Permitting Misuse of Name
- § 5583 Fraud in Practice of Architecture
- § 5584 Negligence or Willful Misconduct
- § 5585 Incompetency or Recklessness
- § 5586 Public Agency; Disciplinary Action
- § 5588 Report of Settlement or Arbitration Award
- § 5588.1 Requirement that Insurer Report Certain Judgment, Settlement, or Arbitration Awards
- § 5588.2 Application of Reporting Requirements
- § 5588.3 Report to Board Not a Violation of Confidentiality
- § 5588.4 Adoption of Reporting Requirement Regulations
- § 5590 Malpractice Judgment in Civil or Criminal Case; Clerk’s Report
Article 6. Revenue
- § 5600 Expiration of License; Renewal of Unexpired Licenses
- § 5600.05 License Renewal Process; Conditions; Certifications; Audit; False or Misleading Information; Disciplinary Action; Coursework Regarding Disability Access Requirements; Submission of Letter to Legislature
- § 5600.1 Renewal Notice
- § 5600.2 Renewal of Expired License; Applications; Fees; Effective Date of Renewal
- § 5600.3 Failure to Renew Within Five Years; Issuance of New License; Conditions
- § 5600.4 Retired License; Conditions
- § 5601 Disposition of Fees
- § 5602 Use of Fund
- § 5603 Roster of Licensees
- § 5604 Fee Schedule
Article 7. Architectural Corporations
- § 5610 Definition
- § 5610.2 Reporting Requirements; Fee; Signature and Verification
- § 5610.3 Name; Restrictions
- § 5610.4 Individual Licensure; Necessity
- § 5610.5 Corporate Income for Professional Services; Prohibition Against Accrual to Disqualified Person or Shareholder
- § 5610.6 Unprofessional Conduct; Conduct of Practice
- § 5610.7 Rules and Regulations
California Code of Regulations
Title 16. Professional and Vocational Regulations
Division 2. California Architects Board
Article 1. General Provisions
- § 100 Location of Offices
- § 101 Tenses, Gender and Number [Repealed]
- § 102 Definitions
- § 103 Delegation of Certain Functions
- § 104 Filing of Addresses
Article 2. Applications
- § 109 Filing of Applications
- § 109.1 Retired License Application
- § 110 Substantial Relationship Criteria
- § 110.1 Criteria for Rehabilitation
- § 111 Review of Applications
- § 112 Processing Times [Repealed]
Article 3. Examinations
- § 116 Eligibility for Examination
- § 117 Experience Evaluation
- § 118 Time and Place of Examination
- § 118.5 Examination Transfer Credit
- § 119 Written Examination—Transition Plan
- § 119.5 1989 and 1990 Transition Plan
- § 119.6 Computer-Based Examination Transition Plan
- § 119.7 Examination Transition Plan—ARE 3.1 to ARE 4.0
- § 119.8 Examination Transition Plan—ARE 4.0 to ARE 5.0
- § 120 Re-Examination
- § 121 Form of Examinations; Reciprocity
- § 122 Examinations; Waivers
- § 122.5 Refund of Fees
- § 124 California Supplemental Examination
- § 124.5 Review of California Supplemental Examination
- § 124.7 Expired License; California Supplemental Examination
- § 125 Examination Appeals. [Repealed]
Article 5. Miscellaneous
- § 134 Use of the Term Architect; Responsible Control within Business Entity
- § 135 Association. [Repealed]
- § 136 Stamp
- § 137 Public Information Disclosure
Article 6. Certificates
- § 138 Issuance of Original Certificates [Repealed]
- § 139 Issuance of Duplicate Certificates
- § 140 Notification of Licensure to Clients
Article 7. Fees
- § 144 Fees
- § 145 Fees for Building Designers. [Repealed]
- § 146 Renewal of Building Deigner Registration. [Repealed]
Article 8. Disciplinary Proceedings
- § 150 Willful Misconduct
- § 151 Aiding and Abetting
- § 152 Citations
- § 152.5 Contest of Citations, Informal Conference
- § 153 Dwellings
- § 154 Disciplinary Guidelines
Article 9. Professional Conduct
Article 10. Continuing Education
Business and Professions Code
General Provisions
- § 12.5 Authority to Issue Citation for Violation of Regulation
- § 22 Board—Definition
- § 23.7 License—Definition
- § 23.8 Licentiate—Definition
- § 27 Disclosure of License Status Information on Internet for Entities within the Department of Consumer Affairs
- § 29.5 Compliance with Support Orders; License Qualifications
- § 30 Federal Employer Identification Number or Social Security Number Required of Licensee
- § 31 Noncompliance with Support Orders or Judgments—Effect on Registration and Licensing of Businesses
Division 1. Department of Consumer Affairs
Chapter 1. The Department
- § 101.6 Purpose of Boards, Bureaus, and Commissions
- § 101.7 Number and Location of Board Meetings; Exemption; Special Meeting
- § 103 Member Compensation and Reimbursement
- § 105 Oath of Office—Board Members
- § 105.5 Tenure of Office—Board Members—Others
- § 106 Board Members—Removal
- § 106.5 Board Members—Disclosing Exam Questions
- § 107 Boards—Executive Officer
- § 108 Boards—Functions and Powers
- § 108.5 Witness Fees, Expenses
- § 109 Decisions Non-Reviewable; Director Powers
- § 111 Appointment of Commissioners on Examination
- § 112 Directories—Publication, Sale
- § 113 Travel Expenses
- § 114 Reinstatement—Expired License of Person on Active Duty
- § 114.3 Waiver of Fees and Requirements for Licensees Called to Active Duty
- § 114.5 Military Service Information Provided on Licensure Applications
- § 115 License Obtained While in the Armed Services
- § 115.5 Expedited Licensure for Spouses of Active Duty Members
- § 118 Withdrawal of Application—Effect of Suspension or Forfeiture
- § 119 Illegal Uses of License
- § 121 License Offenses; Legality of Practice Between Renewal and Receipt of License
- § 122 Issuance of Duplicate Copies of Certificates of Licensure; Fees
- § 123 Subversion of Licensing Examinations; Misdemeanor
- § 123.5 Engagement in Practices Constituting a Violation Under §123; Injunction or Restraining Order
- § 124 Giving Written Notice
- § 125 Conspiracy with Unlicensed Person to Violate Code
- § 125.3 Investigation and Enforcement Costs; Payment by Licentiate
- § 125.5 Injunction; Restitution; Reimbursement of Expenses Incurred by Board
- § 125.6 Discrimination—Physically Handicapped
- § 125.9 System for Issuance of Citation to a Licensee
- § 128 Unlawful Sale of Equipment, Supplies, and Services
- § 128.5 Unencumbered Funds; Reduction of Fees
- § 129 Complaint Procedure—Notification of Complainant and Licentiate
- § 135 Re-Examination After Failure
- § 136 Address Change—Notice Required
- § 137 Advertising by License—Inclusion of License Numbers, Exemptions
- § 138 Requirement that Licentiates Provide Notice of Licensing to Clients or Customers; Regulations; Periodic Evaluation of Licensing Examination
- § 139 Examination Development, Validation, and Occupational Analysis Policy
- § 140 Failure to Record and Preserve Cash Transactions Involving Wages; Disciplinary Action; Costs
- § 141 Effect of Disciplinary Action Taken by Another State or the Federal Government
- § 143 Suit for Collection of Compensation—License Prerequisite
- § 143.5 Provision Prohibited in Settlement Agreements; Adoption of Regulations; Exemptions
- § 144 Title Pending
Chapter 1.5. Unlicensed Activity Enforcement
- § 145 Unlicensed Activity—Criminal, Civil Sanctions, Fines
- § 147 Power to Issue Written Notices of Court Appearances
- § 148 System for Issuance of Citation to an Unlicensed Person
- § 149 Advertising in Telephone Directory Without License—Agency Citation
Chapter 2. The Director of Consumer Affairs
- § 161 Public Records—Sale of Copies
- § 162 Certificate of the Officer Admitted as Evidence
- § 163 Fee—Certification of Copy of Records
- § 166 Guidelines for Mandatory Continuing Education Programs
Chapter 3. Funds of the Department
Chapter 4. Consumer Affairs
Article 1. General Provisions and Definitions
Chapter 6. Public Members
- § 450 Public Board Member Qualifications; Employment or Contractual Relationship
- § 450.2 Public Board Member; Conflict of Interest
- § 450.3 Public Member; Financial Interest in Organization Subject to Regulation
- § 450.5 Public Member Qualifications; Conflicting Pursuits
- § 451 Delegated Duties to Board Members; Restrictions
- § 453 Training and Orientation Program for Appointed Board Members
Chapter 7. Licensee
Division 1.5. Denial, Suspension, and Revocation of Licenses
Chapter 1. General Provisions
Chapter 2. Denial of Licenses
- § 480 Applicant’s Grounds for Denial
- § 485 Denial Procedure
- § 486 Denial—Notice Required
- § 487 Hearing
- § 488 Requests for Hearing
- § 489 Denial of License for Lack of Good Character
Chapter 3. Suspension and Revocation of Licenses
- § 490 Conviction of Crime; Suspension, Revocation—Grounds
- § 490.5 Noncompliance with Child Support Order or Judgment as Grounds for Suspension
- § 491 Suspension, Revocation—Procedure
- § 493 Record of Conviction Related to a Licensee’s Qualifications, Functions, and Duties
- § 494.5 Licensee Names Included on Certified Lists; Tax Delinquencies