Every registered architect is required by law to obtain a stamp bearing their name only, together with the city and state in which the architect’s principal office is located. The stamp must bear the legend, “REGISTERED ARCHITECT, STATE OF OREGON.” The stamp may, but need not, include the architect’s registration number. To the left is an example of the design and the lettering of the stamp.
A registered architect’s preliminary drawings not intended to be used for permitting or construction documents are not required by law to be stamped and signed. Only those documents prepared for permitting or construction (technical submissions) must be stamped and signed.
ORS 671.025(3) states:
Each jurisdiction that requires the issuance of a permit as a condition precedent to the construction, alteration, improvement or repair of any building or structure shall require the signature and an impression of the stamp described in ORS 671.020(3) on the technical submissions from a person authorized to prepare the technical submissions.
Registered architects are required to place their stamp and signature on all technical submissions relating to architectural work that they perform, whether the building or structure in question is exempt or non-exempt.
OAR 806-010-0045(5) requires that the
… stamp with the registrant’s manual or digital signature must appear on all technical submissions including the title page of specifications and on every sheet of the drawings intended for permit or construction, whether or not the project is exempt. … The originals may be reproduced for permit and construction purposes.
OAR 806-010-0115 requires that
Modifications to technical submissions for buildings/structures are an integral part of the practice of architecture; and as such, modifications which become part of change orders and/or addenda to alter those documents must bear the stamp and signature, as required, of the registered architect responsible for the modifications.
Commentary
The architect must exercise the requisite professional judgment about, and make the decisions upon, all matters embodied within the technical submissions they have stamped and signed. According to ORS 671.020(3): the stamp and signature constitutes the registered architect's attestation that
the registered architect has responsible control over the content of the technical submissions. The registered architect is reponsible for controlling the custody and use of the stamp.
Architects who are provided with a pre-existing set of construction documents may not simply review, stamp, and sign them (OAR 806-010-0045(7)).
(7) An architect may not stamp and sign, or countersign, or allow their stamp or signature to be affixed to any technical submissions or reports not prepared by them or under their responsible control.
All technical submissions issued by an architectural firm, corporation, or partnership are required by law to bear the corporate or assumed business name, in addition to the stamp and signature of the responsible architect (ORS 671.041(6)).
(6) Any technical submission that a registered architecural firm submits to comply with a requirement under the laws of this state, or an ordinance or other law of a jurisdiction in this state, must bear the stamp of a registered architect who has responsible control of the technical submission and must display the name of the registered architectural firm.