Do I need an architect or civil engineer for my project?

It’s a good question! There are many building projects that do NOT require the technical guidance of a licensed architect. Professionals of Record, like architects, engineers, and surveyors, are people who have gone through extensive training to plan, design, and specify parts of a design. We spend a lot of time in the world of code compliance and understanding the latest updates in our field. Some projects can be stamped by either an architect OR a civil engineer, and some projects require only an architect.

Which brings me to some news. Louisiana passed a law last year to close a loophole that was allowing licensed civil engineers to practice Architecture. I won’t go into detail, but even locally I’ve noticed structural engineers and civil engineers stamping architectural plans. This becomes dangerous when unlicensed designers pass their work over for an engineer’s stamp. People do this - at MKS, we don’t because it is against the law for an engineer or architect to stamp your floor plans if they did not participate in, review, or exercise direct professional control over the design process—this illegal practice is known as "plan stamping".

Which Professional of Record (POR) do you need?

Here’s a clear explanation from the Louisiana Office of the State Fire Marshal:

Specifically, after July 1, 2025, an architect OR a civil engineer (subject to the limitations above), that is licensed in the State of Louisiana will be required to be identified on the plan submittal for new construction, changes in occupancy, additions, and renovations costing in excess of $125,000, where the gross floor areas listed below are exceeded:

Factory and Industrial (Group F) - 5,000 square feet

Storage (Group S) - 6,250 square feet

Utility and Miscellaneous (Group U) - 5,000 square feet

High Hazard (Group H) - 1,500 square feet

After July 1, 2025, an architect that is licensed in the State of Louisiana will be required to be identified on the plan submittal for new construction, changes in occupancy, additions, and renovations costing in excess of $125,000, where the gross floor areas listed below are exceeded:

Mercantile (Group M) - 4,000 square feet

Residential (Group R) - 4,000 square feet

Education (Group E) - 2,500 square feet

Institutional (Group I) - 2,500 square feet

Assembly (Group A) - 2,650 square feet

Business (Group B) - 4,000 square feet

As usual, plans submittals do not require an architect to be identified as the Professional of Record where the thresholds listed above are not exceeded.

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We hope you find this information helpful. Need a Civil Engineer? We can refer you to one too. :)