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Why RDPs are required to go through municipal plan review

"In most states, as an RDP, are you allowed to:
Have a general contractor come to you with a hand drawn plan on letter size that the contractor themselves drew and stamp it?"

Not in Virginia

18VAC10-20-760. Use of Seal.
A. Affixing of a professional seal, signature, and date shall indicate that the professional has exercised direct control and personal supervision over the work to which it is affixed. Affixing of the seal, signature, and date also indicates the professional's acceptance of responsibility for the work shown thereon.

1. No professional shall affix a seal, signature, and date or certification to a plan, plat, document, sketch, or other work constituting the practice of the professions regulated that has been prepared by an unlicensed or uncertified person unless such work was performed under the direct control and personal supervision of the professional while the unlicensed or uncertified person was an employee of the same firm as the professional or was under written contract to the same firm that employs the professional.
 
Washington State is a bit different. Design professionals are required to prepare or have reasonable charge over those who prepare the plans.

RCW 18.08.370 (ARCHITECTS)
Issuance of certificates of registration—Seal, use.

(1) The director shall issue a certificate of registration to any applicant who has, to the satisfaction of the board, met all the requirements for registration upon payment of the registration fee as provided in this chapter. All certificates of registration shall show the full name of the registrant, have the registration number, and shall be signed by the chair of the board and by the director. The issuance of a certificate of registration by the director is prima facie evidence that the person named therein is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a registered architect.
(2) Each registrant shall obtain a seal of the design authorized by the board bearing the architect's name, registration number, the legend "Registered Architect," and the name of this state. All technical submissions prepared by an architect and filed with public authorities must be sealed and signed by the architect. It is unlawful to seal and sign a document after a registrant's certificate of registration or authorization has expired, been revoked, or is suspended.
(3) An architect may seal and sign technical submissions under the following conditions:

(a) An architect may seal and sign technical submissions that are: Prepared by the architect; prepared by the architect's regularly employed subordinates; prepared in part by an individual or firm under a direct subcontract with the architect; or prepared in collaboration with an architect who is licensed in a jurisdiction recognized by the board, provided there is a contractual agreement between the architects.
(b) An architect may seal and sign technical submissions based on prototypical documents provided: The architect obtains written permission from the architect who prepared or sealed the prototypical documents, and from the legal owner to adapt the prototypical documents; the architect thoroughly analyzes the prototypical documents, makes necessary revisions, and adds all required elements and design information, including the design services of engineering consultants, if warranted, so that the prototypical documents become suitable complete technical submissions, in compliance with applicable codes, regulations, and site-specific requirements.
(c) An architect who seals and signs the technical submissions under this subsection (3) is responsible to the same extent as if the technical submissions were prepared by the architect.
RCW 18.43.070 (ENGINEERS)
Certificates and seals.

The board shall issue a certificate of registration upon payment of a registration fee as provided for in this chapter, to any applicant who, in the opinion of the board, has satisfactorily met all the requirements of this chapter. In case of a registered engineer, the certificate shall authorize the practice of "professional engineering" and specify the branch or branches in which specialized, and in case of a registered land surveyor, the certificate shall authorize the practice of "land surveying."

In case of engineer-in-training, the certificate shall state that the applicant has successfully passed the examination in fundamental engineering subjects required by the board and has been enrolled as an "engineer-in-training." In case of land-surveyor-in-training, the certificate shall state that the applicant has successfully passed the examination in fundamental surveying subjects required by the board and has been enrolled as a "land-surveyor-in-training." All certificates of registration shall show the full name of the registrant, shall have a serial number, and shall be signed by the chair and the secretary of the board and by the director.

The issuance of a certificate of registration by the board shall be prima facie evidence that the person named therein is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a registered professional engineer or a registered land surveyor, while the said certificate remains unrevoked and unexpired.

Each registrant hereunder shall upon registration obtain a seal of the design authorized by the board, bearing the registrant's name and the legend "registered professional engineer" or "registered land surveyor." Plans, specifications, plats, and reports prepared by the registrant shall be signed, dated, and stamped with said seal or facsimile thereof. Such signature and stamping shall constitute a certification by the registrant that the same was prepared by or under his or her direct supervision and that to his or her knowledge and belief the same was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the statute. It shall be unlawful for anyone to stamp or seal any document with said seal or facsimile thereof after the certificate of registrant named thereon has expired or been revoked, unless said certificate shall have been renewed or reissued.

"In most states, as an RDP, are you allowed to:
Have a general contractor come to you with a hand drawn plan on letter size that the contractor themselves drew and stamp it?"

Not in Virginia

18VAC10-20-760. Use of Seal.
A. Affixing of a professional seal, signature, and date shall indicate that the professional has exercised direct control and personal supervision over the work to which it is affixed. Affixing of the seal, signature, and date also indicates the professional's acceptance of responsibility for the work shown thereon.

1. No professional shall affix a seal, signature, and date or certification to a plan, plat, document, sketch, or other work constituting the practice of the professions regulated that has been prepared by an unlicensed or uncertified person unless such work was performed under the direct control and personal supervision of the professional while the unlicensed or uncertified person was an employee of the same firm as the professional or was under written contract to the same firm that employs the professional.

I am willing to bet that most states have administrative codes (laws) that state similar. It is up to each BO on how to enforce, but the rules are in place and can be enforced.
 
So generic plans (McDonald's, Starbucks, Target) made by a architect from another state and only stamped by a local state RDP cannot be used?
See the text in red below....re-posting a limited portion of RCW 18.08.370


RCW 18.08.370 (ARCHITECTS)
Issuance of certificates of registration—Seal, use.
(3) An architect may seal and sign technical submissions under the following conditions:
(a) An architect may seal and sign technical submissions that are: Prepared by the architect; prepared by the architect's regularly employed subordinates; prepared in part by an individual or firm under a direct subcontract with the architect; or prepared in collaboration with an architect who is licensed in a jurisdiction recognized by the board, provided there is a contractual agreement between the architects.
 
So generic plans (McDonald's, Starbucks, Target) made by a architect from another state and only stamped by a local state RDP cannot be used?
We have a local engineer who is licensed in 47 states. I have seen many Montana licensed stamped drawings by RDP's who I have ever been to this state.
The RDP does not need to be a local
 
We have a local engineer who is licensed in 47 states. I have seen many Montana licensed stamped drawings by RDP's who I have ever been to this state.
The RDP does not need to be a local
Exactly.

I had something submitted that was stamped in another province. I called the local engineering society to see if they had some sort of reciprocal agreement. They said they did not, but since the person was licenced in that province, they just needed to submit an application and pay the dues and they would get them their stamp that day. I decided it's not my job to drive membership for them and accepted the engineer's design with the other province's stamp on it.
 
So generic plans (McDonald's, Starbucks, Target) made by a architect from another state and only stamped by a local state RDP cannot be used?

Our state law requires a state licensed engineer/architect. So we make sure it does before we except them, but we do not go searching for contracts. If they have the seal that is what matters, the stamper is the responsible party once they put their stamp on it. Hopefully they have contracts and look thru them for compliance before they stamp them because if something does happen, goes wrong or questions asked it is them who is responsible.
 
If a building department is tempted to go beyond verifying that the design professionals license is current they should check with the state licensing board. It is not within the building departments authority to decide if the design professional was plan stamping or engaging in other improper licensing activity. If there is a concern that an individual is violating the state licensing laws the building department can always refer the concern to the state licensing board.
 
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