Tahoe Truckee | Residential Design · Land Use Planning · Commercial Tenant Improvements · Permit Plans

Correct. To be 100% clear—we are not architects. In California (and most other states), "Architect" is a strictly protected legal term. The California Architects Board (https://www.cab.ca.gov/docs/publications/can_i_call_myself_architect.pdf)is very serious about the "A-word," and they've made it clear that only people with a specific license can use it. You can call us designers, consultants, or "the folks designing my dream home"—we’re fine with all of it. We just have to follow the rules and make sure nobody confuses us with the licensed crowd. We take our legal obligations as seriously as our design work. So, call us whatever you like... just maybe skip the "A-word." The Legal Note: • California Architects Practice Act (§ 5500): Defines an "architect" (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=5500.&nodeTreePath=5.6.1&lawCode=BPC)strictly as a person licensed to practice architecture in this state. • California Architects Board Fact Sheet: For more on how the state protects these terms, you can check out their official Fact Sheet.(https://www.cab.ca.gov/docs/publications/can_i_call_myself_architect.pdf)

In California, "architecture" is a legally protected word. Even though we handle the same heavy lifting—site planning, code compliance, and complex construction docs—the law says only licensed architects get to use this particular "A-word." Why it doesn't slow us down: We’ve spent over 45 years in the AEC industry and 11+ years running a successful design firm. At the end of the day, we’re qualified in the eyes of the people who matter most: the building officials who approve our plans and the clients who get to live in the homes we design. We’ve got the track record, the happy homeowners, and all of the acumen and skills to get the job done right—we just use a different set of words to describe it. The Legal Nitty-Gritty: For those who want to see the fine print, the California Architects Practice Act 2025, § 5500.1 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=5500.1.)defines "The Practice of Architecture" as everything from site planning and preliminary studies to code compliance and construction observation. We do all of that; we just do it as elite designers, not licensed architects.

Absolutely. It’s a bit ironic—the laws that govern our work are literally found in the “Architecture” chapter (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=5537.)of the California Business and Professions Code. The state puts us in that category, yet tells us we can't use the "A-words." It’s a little silly not to be able to use the everyday language people are familiar with, but we play by the rules. The Residential "Green Light" California law (specifically BPC § 5537)(https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=5537.) is very clear. It says that anyone—licensed or not—is allowed to prepare plans and drawings for: • Single-family homes (woodframe construction, up to two stories and a basement in height). • Multi-family dwellings (up to 4 units on a single lot). • Garages, barns, and ranch buildings. Essentially, for the vast majority of residential projects, we are 100% cleared for takeoff. Do we need someone to "stamp" our plans? We get asked this often enough. The answer is no. As long as we are designing within those legal boundaries, we don't need an architect to "bless" or stamp our work. However, don't mistake "unlicensed" for "unregulated." We are legally required to sign every set of plans we produce (BPC § 5536.1)(https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=5536.1.&nodeTreePath=5.6.3&lawCode=BPC). That signature is our bond—it means we own the work, we're responsible for it, and we are liable for it. We take that responsibility very seriously. When things get "fancy" If your project steps outside the "standard" woodframe rules—if you want massive steel spans or complex concrete structures—we do exactly what architects do: we bring in our structural engineering partners to handle the necessary calculations and guidance for those specific assemblies. We’ve spent years operating strictly within these laws. Whether you’re in California or almost anywhere else in the U.S., we can legally (and skillfully) handle your project from the first sketch to the final permit. The Legal Note: • BPC § 5537:(https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=5537.) Outlines exemptions allowing non-architects to design single-family dwellings, multi-family dwellings, and appurtenant structures. • BPC § 5536.1:(https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=5536.1.&nodeTreePath=5.6.3&lawCode=BPC) Requires all persons preparing plans to sign their work and contracts, establishing legal responsibility and liability for the documents.