Housing and Community Development

Yes, Florida requires a licensed Architect for home designs to get a construction permit. We also do not use the ICC, there are strict structural regulations due to hurricanes. Plus some Faiir Housing Accessibility requirements.

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Kristine Young AIA
Gould Evans Associates, LLC
Tampa FL
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This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Residential Knowledge Community .
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Does anyone from the state of Florida know if you need an architect's seal or license to design a single family home?  I am licensed in NJ but have a friend who wants me to design their house but am not sure of the law in that state.  Does Florida accept "designers" for single family houses? 
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Thomas Wagner AIA
Thomas B. Wagner, Architect
Haddonfield NJ
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Thank you, it is interesting that I received three personal emails from Florida Architects and some say you need a license and some say you don't.  The "don'ts" say to check with the local municipality, because some will require a license from Architect or Engineer but the state does not?
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Thomas Wagner AIA
Thomas B. Wagner, Architect
Haddonfield NJ
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-09-2011 14:19
From: Kristine Young
Subject: Florida Requires a Licensed Architect

Yes, Florida requires a licensed Architect for home designs to get a construction permit. We also do not use the ICC, there are strict structural regulations due to hurricanes. Plus some Faiir Housing Accessibility requirements.

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Kristine Young AIA
Gould Evans Associates, LLC
Tampa FL
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You are correct; the Florida Bldg Code does not require a licensed architect for single family residences. But some municipalities do, so it does depend on where the house is to be built.  the FBC also has windload requirements that should be performed by and architect or structural engineer.

I am a Wisconsin architect doing a single family residence in Florida currently and when I checked into this

I received the following answer from a well known building designer who lives and does high end residential work in Florida. Until recently he was partnered with an architect.

He writes:

"No, Ms. Young's answer is in error. Fla. Statutes, Section 481.229 states: No person shall be required to qualify as an architect in order to make plans and specifications for.... One and two family residences, townhouses or domestic outbuildings appurtenant to any one family or two family residence, regardless of cost....

If you go to the AIBD Forum, in the business section, there is a thread about exemptions that lists many states and their statutes.

Plans do have to be "engineered" for uplift, they can be certified by an architect, an engineer or by two or three prescriptive methods. Most people, including every architect I know, use an engineer."

As to limitations by municipality, it is always good practice to know what the local ground rules are prior to starting or even bidding on a job.

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Richard Wilken AIA
Architect-owner
R.B. Wilken-Architect
Pacific Palisades CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-09-2011 14:19
From: Kristine Young
Subject: Florida Requires a Licensed Architect

Yes, Florida requires a licensed Architect for home designs to get a construction permit. We also do not use the ICC, there are strict structural regulations due to hurricanes. Plus some Faiir Housing Accessibility requirements.

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Kristine Young AIA
Gould Evans Associates, LLC
Tampa FL
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