HomeMy WebLinkAboutAffidavit request for plans 2016Page 1 of 3
CITY OF PALM DESERT
Building & Safety Department
73-510 Fred Waring, Palm Desert, CA (760) 776-6420
PLANS PREPARED & SIGNED BY CALIFORNIA LICENSED ARCHITECT
AND REQUESTING COPIES OF ARCHIVED PLANS
WHAT REQUIRES A SIGNATURE OF A CALIFORNIA PROFESSIONAL
ENGINEER OR CALIFORNIA LICENSED ARCHITECT?
All plans submitted for permit are required to be signed by either a California Professional Engineer or California
Licensed Architect, except as follows:
1. Sections 5537 and 6737 of the California Business & Professions Code:
These sections of the Business & Professions Codes provide the following exceptions for building plans that have
been designed in accordance with the most recent edition of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations or tables of
limitation for wood frame construction, as defined by the applicable building code duly adopted by the local jurisdiction
or the state.
An unlicensed person may prepare plans, drawings or specifications for the following:
Single-family dwelling of wood frame construction not more than two stories and basement in height.
Multiple dwellings containing no more than four dwelling units of wood frame construction not more than two
stories and basement in height. However, this paragraph shall not be construed as allowing an unlicensed
person to design multiple clusters of up to four dwelling units each to form apartment or c ondominium
complexes where the total exceeds four units on any lawfully divided lot.
Garages or other structures appurtenant to single-family dwelling, of wood frame construction not more than
two stories and basement in height.
Agricultural and ranch buildings of wood frame construction, unless the building official having jurisdiction
deems that an undue risk to the public health, safety, or welfare is involved.
However, if any portion of any structure exempted by this section deviates from substantial compliance with
conventional framing requirements for wood frame construction found in the most recent edition of Title 24 of the
California Code of Regulations or tables of limitation for wood frame construction, as defined by the applicable building
code duly adopted by the local jurisdiction or the state, the building official having jurisdiction shall require the
preparation of plans, drawings, specifications, or calculations for that portion by, or under the responsible control¹
of, a licensed architect or registered engineer. The documents for that portion shall bear the stamp and signature of
the licensee who is responsible for their preparation. Substantial compliance for purposes of this section is not
intended to restrict the ability of the building officials to approve plans pursuant to existing law and is only intended to
clarify the intent of Chapter 405 of the Statutes of 1985.
2. Sections 5538 and 6745 of the California Business & Professions Code:
These sections of the California Business & Professions Code do not prohibit any person from furnishing plans for any
of the following:
Nonstructural or no seismic storefronts, interior alterations or additions, fixtures, cabinetwork, furniture, or
other appliances or equipment, including nonstructural or non-seismic work necessary to provide for their
installation.
However, an unlicensed person may not design any component that changes or affects the safety of any
building, including but not limited to structural or seismic components or its occupants.
NOTE: Building officials may require plans, computations, and specifications to be prepared and designed by an
engineer or architect licensed by the state to practice as such even if not required by state law.
¹The phrase “responsible control” means that amount of control over the content of all architectural instruments
of service during their preparation that is ordinarily exercised by architects applying the required professional standard
of care. (B&P 5535.1)
Page 2 of 3
Except as specifically noted above, here are some examples of projects that require plans to be prepared,
signed and stamped by a California Professional Engineer or California Registered Architect²:
New buildings or additions to existing buildings
Projects with interior or exterior structural
alterations
Interior alteration with an occupancy change
All Group A (Assembly) Occupancies
All Group E (School and Day Care) Occupancies
All Group F (Factory and Industrial) Occupancies
All Group H (Hazardous) Occupancies
All Group I (Institutional) Occupancies
All Group R , Division 1 or 2 Occupancies
Projects with mixed occupancies
Interior alteration with walls and partitions over 5
feet 9 inches in height or ceiling work which cover
a floor area greater than 3,000 square feet, for
Groups B, S-1, S-2 or M Occupancies
Storage racks over 8 feet in height
Remodeling projects that creates or alters 1-hr
fire rated corridors, fire rated occupancy
separations or area separation walls
Alteration which changes the means of egress
(exit) requirements
Tanks and vessels
Nonstructural component or equipment attached
to building requiring design per Section 1632.1
Lateral force resisting systems utilizing poles
embedded in the ground
Any project deemed by Building Official to require
design by a California
Professional Engineer or California Registered
Architect
All garden walls over 6 feet in height and all
retaining walls
WHAT REQUIRES STAMP and SIGNATURE?
Title sheet of the calculations, specifications, reports and every sheet of the plans prepared by a licensed architect or
engineer shall bear the seal or stamp (with the expiration date or the license) and signature of the architect or engineer
at each (including initial) subm ittal.
²Plumbing, Electrical and Mechanical system design content within the scope of exemption of architectural or
engineering licensure shall be designed by licensed contractor performing services in the classification f or which the
license is issued. Those services may include the preparation of shop and field drawings for work which he or s he has
contracted or offered to perform, and designing systems and facilities which are necessary to the completion of
contracting services which he or she has contracted of offered to perform. Plans shall bear the contractor’s name,
company, license, telephone number and wet signature. (B&P 5537.2)
BUILDING DESIGN LIMITATIONS
ARCHITECTS
May design any building of any type except:
Structural portion of a hospital ( Applicable Statutes, Section 129805 of Health & Safety Code
Sections 5500.1 and 6737 of Business & Professions Code)
CIVIL ENGINEERS
May design any building of any type except:
Hospitals
Schools (Applicable Statutes, Section 129805 of Health & Safety code, Section 17302 of Education Code
Sections 5537.5, 6731, and 6735 of Business & Professions Code)
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS
May design any building of any type except:
No limitations (Applicable Statutes, Sections 5537.1, 6731, and 6736 of Business & Professions Code)
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In order to make copies of plans from our archives, we ask that you follow this procedure:
1. Come to the Building and Safety Department, review the plans to select the pages that you are interested in copying
and determine the name of the licensed, registered, or certified professional to retrieve the contact information
from the State website or company employed by. The most recent address of the licensed, registered, or certified
professional is available from the California State Board of Architectural Examiners-http://www.cab.ca.gov/
2. Building and Safety staff will provide the Affidavit Request form that the applicant will mail Certified to the licensed
architect or engineer in question. The design professional and current property owner must wet sign the form. We
do not accept the letters by fax or e-mail.
3. When applicant receives form back from design professional and property owner with wet signatures bring form into
the Building and Safety Department to retrieve hard copy or email of pages requested. It may take staff up to 10
business days to provide requested copies.
4. If you can’t find the current contact information for the licensed, registered, or certified professional send a certified
return receipt letter to the last known address. When you receive notice from the Post Office as undeliverable then
bring in the envelope that states “undeliverable” and that will suffice for approval.
5. The cost of the copies is $1.00 per page.
If you have any further questions, please contact the Department of Building and Safety (760) 776-6420.
12/4/2017