Oregon law prohibits the practice of architecture and provision of architectural services by businesses and unregistered firms and the use of the architect title by unregistered individuals and firms. To protect public health, safety, and welfare through regulating the practice of architecture, those seeking to become registered to practice architecture in Oregon must meet established education, experience, training, and examination requirements.
Oregon law requires that building projects that fall outside the parameters listed below are to be designed and have a registered architect in responsible control.
Projects that do not require a licensed architect are:
- Any single-family residence or its auxiliary structure
- Farm buildings or their auxiliary structures
- Buildings with a ground area of less than 4,000 square feet (measurements extend to the outside face of the exterior walls and the edge of horizontal projections) and less than 20 feet tall (measured from the top surface of the lowest occupiable floor to the highest interior overhead finish of the structure)
- Any buildings that will be remodeled and in which the occupancy type, construction type, or structural component of the building is not being changed
Individual architects and architectural firms registered in Oregon are governed by
Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 671 and
Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 806. Please refer to the
Oregon Revised Statutes and Administrative Rules for more information.
The Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners has jurisdiction over use of the architect title, offering of architectural services as a business, the practice of architecture as an individual, and issues of misconduct, competence, or negligence. The Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners does not have jurisdiction over contractual issues or fee disputes. If you believe that Oregon architecture laws have been violated, please complete the
Complaint Form and submit it to the Oregon State Board of Architect Examiners.
It is the complainant's responsibility to file a complaint with supporting evidence. Complainants may not withdraw their complaint once it is received by OSBAE. If you have any questions, please contact our office directly at 503-763-0662 x 3.
OSBAE accepts anonymous complaints. However, circumstances arise when the anonymity of the complainant makes it difficult to proceed to an investigation. For example, if insufficient evidence is provided, there may not be support for allegations against the respondent to result in a penalty or sanction. Therefore, if filing an anonymous complaint, it is important to provide clear and specific information in relation to the alleged violation(s).
Complaint Form