Delaware Landscape Architect seal requirements: proper sizing, signing and sealing of documents

Delaware Landscape Architect seal

Board

Delaware Board of Landscape Architecture (Division of Professional Regulation, Department of State)

Seal requirements

24 Del. C. § 212(a); 24 Del. Admin. C. § 200-5.0

Legend

“Registered Landscape Architect, State of Delaware”

Diameter

Two concentric circles; "the outside circle measures across the center 1 13/16 inches."

Expiration date

The inner circle "shall contain only" the words "NO." and "State of Delaware", so no expiration or renewal date belongs on the seal.(24 Del. Admin. C. § 200-5.1.3)

Signature date

No date is placed on the seal itself; the date belongs on the document — final drawings, specifications, plans and reports issued or filed for public record must be dated and bear the signature and seal.(24 Del. Admin. C. § 200-5.1.3; 24 Del. C. § 212(a))

City on seal

Rule 5.1.3 specifies the whole content of the seal — name, "NO." and number, "State of Delaware" and "Registered Landscape Architect" — and no city or address.(24 Del. Admin. C. § 200-5.1.3)

• "For the purpose of signing and sealing drawings, specifications, contract documents, plans, reports and other documents ..., each landscape architect shall have an individual seal of design and size as approved by the Board to be used as hereinafter directed on documents prepared by the landscape architect or under direct supervision for use in the State of Delaware."(24 Del. Admin. C. § 200-5.1.1)
• "The seal to be used by a licensee of the Board shall be consistent with the image in this subsection. It shall be of the embossing type or a rubber stamp and have 2 concentric circles. The outside circle measures across the center 1 13/16 inches. The inner circle shall contain only the words 'NO.' and 'State of Delaware.' At the bottom the words 'Registered Landscape Architect' reading counterclockwise, and at the top the name of the licensee." The illustrated specimen shows the Delaware state coat of arms at the centre.(24 Del. Admin. C. § 200-5.1.3)
• "The application of the seal impression or rubber stamp to the first sheet of the bound sheets of the drawings with index of drawings included, title page of specifications, and other drawings and contract documents shall constitute the licensed landscape architect's stamp."(24 Del. Admin. C. § 200-5.1.2)
• "An impression of the seal is to be submitted to the Board to be included in the licensee's records."(24 Del. Admin. C. § 200-5.1.4)
• "All final drawings, specifications, plans, reports or other papers or documents involving the practice of landscape architecture, as defined within this chapter, when issued or filed for public record, shall be dated and bear the signature and seal of the landscape architect or landscape architects who prepared or approved same."(24 Del. C. § 212(a))
• "Landscape architects shall not sign or seal drawings unless they were prepared by them or under their direct supervision", direct supervision meaning responsible control over and detailed professional knowledge of the contents of the drawings throughout their preparation; reviewing or correcting drawings prepared by others is not responsible control.(24 Del. Admin. C. § 200-5.2.1, 5.2.2)
• "The seal appearing on any drawings shall be prima facie evidence that said drawings were prepared by or under the direct supervision of the individual who signed or sealed the drawings."(24 Del. Admin. C. § 200-5.2.3)
• The rule authorises only an embossing-type seal or a rubber stamp; Rule 200 (sections 1.0 through 11.0) was read in full and contains no electronic-seal or digital-signature provision.(24 Del. Admin. C. § 200-5.1.3)

Delaware landscape architect seal questions