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

Texas Landscape Architect seal

Board

Texas Board of Architectural Examiners

Seal requirements

22 TAC §§ 3.101–3.105 (Subchapter F, The Landscape Architect's Seal)

Legend

“Registered Landscape Architect, State of Texas”

Diameter

The diameter of the seal shall be no smaller than one and one-half (1.5) inches. No maximum diameter is stated.

Expiration date

The rule directs that only the name and registration number be substituted into the sample seal, and the sample seal carries no expiration or renewal date.(22 TAC § 3.102(b))

Signature date

The date of signing, including the month, day and year, must be affixed with the seal and signature before a Construction Document is issued, and may not obscure the name or registration number on the seal.(22 TAC § 3.103(a)(1)(C), (a)(2))

City on seal

Neither the prescribed seal design nor the sealing rules call for a city or place of business; the seal carries only the fixed legend, the registrant's name and the registration number.(22 TAC §§ 3.102(b), 3.103(a))

• A Landscape Architect may not issue or authorize the issuance of a document regulated by this Subchapter unless the document is (1) sealed, signed, and dated, thereby indicating that it may be used for regulatory approval, permitting, or construction; or (2) labeled with the Landscape Architect's name and the date and clearly marked to indicate that it may not be used for regulatory approval, permitting, or construction.(22 TAC § 3.101)
• "The design of a Landscape Architect's seal shall be the same as the design of the sample seal shown in this Subsection except that the name of the Landscape Architect and the Landscape Architect's registration number shall be substituted for the name and registration number shown on the sample seal. The diameter of the seal shall be no smaller than one and one-half (1.5) inches." The sample seal reproduced in the rule is a circular rope-bordered seal reading REGISTERED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT around the upper edge and STATE OF TEXAS around the lower edge, with the registrant's name arced above a Texas star and the registration number below it.(22 TAC § 3.102(b))
• On every document requiring a seal the Landscape Architect shall affix a seal that will produce a clearly visible and legible image when the document is copied or reproduced; an impression or embossing seal may not be used unless it also reproduces clearly and legibly.(22 TAC § 3.102(a))
• A document may be issued electronically or in any other format selected by the Landscape Architect, and the seal, signature and date of signing may be affixed electronically or by any other means so long as they produce a clearly visible and legible image on any copy or reproduction.(22 TAC § 3.102(c))
• On every Construction Document the Landscape Architect shall affix the seal, the signature (across the face of the seal's image or directly under or adjacent to it), and the date of signing including the month, day and year, before the document is issued.(22 TAC § 3.103(a)(1))
• The signature and the date may not conceal or obscure the name or registration number on the seal.(22 TAC § 3.103(a)(2))
• Documents requiring a seal, signature and date include each sheet of drawings or its electronic equivalent; each specification (a bound grouping with a table of contents may be sealed in at least one conspicuous location, but an individually issued specification sheet must be sealed individually); each title sheet, table of contents or index; and each drawing and specification forming part of an addendum, change order, construction change directive or other supplemental document.(22 TAC § 3.103(a)(3))
• A drawing or specification issued for a purpose other than regulatory approval, permitting or construction must instead show the Landscape Architect's name, the date of issue, and the statement "Not for regulatory approval, permitting, or construction" in a conspicuous location.(22 TAC § 3.103(b)(1))
• For a minimum of ten years from the date of signature the sealing Landscape Architect is responsible for maintaining the sealed, signed and dated original, or a copy bearing the clearly visible and legible seal, signature and date.(22 TAC § 3.103(c))
• A Landscape Architect may not seal a document not prepared by or under the Landscape Architect's supervision and control; where only part of a document was so prepared, that portion and the limited scope of the seal must be clearly identified. Once a Construction Document bearing a seal is issued, the seal may not be removed.(22 TAC § 3.104(a), (b), (e))

Texas landscape architect seal questions