The Board regulates the practice of landscape architecture in Oregon through registration (licensing) of Landscape Architects, Landscape Architects in Training, and businesses providing landscape architecture services. OSLAB's authority is found in Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 671.310 to 671.459 and Oregon Administrative Rule Chapter 804. OSLAB’s primary mandate is to protect public health, safety, and welfare by enforcing these statutes and rules. OSLAB responsibilities include the review of complaints alleging statutory or rule violations.
Complaints filed with OSLAB have most commonly focused on allegations of practice without registration, use of title without registration, failure to register a business providing landscape architecture services in Oregon, failure to use a registered Landscape Architect for public projects, negligence or incompetence in practice by a registered Landscape Architect, or failure to adhere to the Code of Professional Conduct by a registered Landscape Architect. Note that OSLAB generally has no jurisdiction over fee disputes between its registrants and other parties.
Some key statutory provisions related to OSLAB are as follows:
ORS 671.316 (1) "Except as provided in this section, unless an individual is registered as a landscape architect by the State Landscape Architect Board, the individual may not engage in the practice of landscape architecture. Unless an individual is registered as a landscape architect by the board, the individual may not use the title of “landscape architect,” “registered landscape architect” or “landscape architectural designer” or use other titles or any words, letters, figures, signs, cards, advertisements, symbols or other devices to represent that the individual or a business associated with the individual is authorized to practice landscape architecture."
ORS 671.318 "A business may not provide landscape architecture services unless the work is under the full authority and responsible charge of a registered landscape architect who is also an owner or officer of the business. A business shall file a form with the State Landscape Architect Board identifying responsible landscape architects by name and registration number. The filing must also describe the services that the business is offering to the public. The filing must be in a form prescribed by the board. The business shall notify the board in writing no later than 30 days after a change of registered owners or officers or a change of business name or address."
ORS 671.393 requires the Board to adopt by rule a code of professional conduct which shall be known by every landscape architect and applicant for registration. This Code of Conduct is in OAR 804 Division 50.
ORS 671.404 and 671.408 grant the Board authority to impose various forms of disciplinary action against a registrant of the Board. Disciplinary action can include refusal to renew a registration, suspension of a registration, probationary status, revocation of a registration, restriction of practice in some manner, imposition of peer review, imposition of specific continuing education requirements, and issuance of a written reprimand. The Board also has authority to refuse to register an applicant in certain circumstances even if the applicant meets minimum Board standards.
ORS 671.412 (1) "The state or a political subdivision may contract for landscape architecture service projects only with registered landscape architects, as defined in ORS 671.310."
ORS 671.412 (2) "Drawings, plans, specifications, estimates and construction observation for public works of the state or a political subdivision that require landscape architecture services must be prepared by, or under the direct supervision of, a landscape architect registered in an appropriate category."