§ 37:155 — Exemptions

§155. Exemptions
A. The provisions of this Chapter, except as provided in this Section, requiring
persons to be registered and licensed and forbidding the practice of architecture by
unlicensed persons shall not apply to:
(1) Officers and employees of the United States in the execution of their official
duties in the practice of architecture for the federal government.
(2)(a) Subject to the provisions of Subsection B of this Section, civil engineers
licensed in accordance with the terms of R.S. 37:681 through 703 or acts amendatory thereto,
if such engineers do not use the designation "architect" or any term derived therefrom,
working on a building included in the following occupancy classifications listed in this
Subparagraph:
(i) For Factory Industrial and Storage, the total proposed occupant load shall be
unlimited.
(ii) For High Hazard, the total proposed occupant load shall not exceed two hundred
ninety-nine occupants. The occupant load shall be defined and determined by the method
set forth in the currently enforced building code.
(iii) For Utility and Miscellaneous, the total proposed occupant load shall not exceed
two hundred ninety-nine occupants. The occupant load shall be defined and determined by
the method set forth in the currently enforced building code.
(b) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any civil engineer working
on a building included in the following occupancy classifications: Mercantile, Residential,
Educational, Institutional, Assembly, or Business.
(3) Registered architects of other states when associated with any registered architect
of this state who will seal or stamp and bear professional responsibility for all specifications
and other construction documents pertaining to work in this state.
(4) Persons acting as designers for:
(a) Single family residences.
(b) Buildings or projects that are to be constructed for personal use, provided such
buildings are not intended, or adaptable for public employment, assembly, or other
occupancy by the public.
(c) Renovations or alterations of any size building which do not affect the structural
integrity, or life safety, exclusive of building finishes and furnishings, or which have been
preapproved by the state fire marshal where life safety is affected and does not exceed one
hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. "Life safety" as used in this Subsection shall be
governed by the interpretation of the state fire marshal in accordance with the authority of
R.S. 40:1561 et seq.
(d) New buildings and buildings with changes in occupancy classifications which
do not exceed the gross floor areas in Subsection (f) of this Section.
(e) Building additions that do not cause the gross floor areas to exceed those in
Subsection (f) of this Section.
(f)(i) Occupancy Classifications and Gross Floor Area Sq. Ft.
Storage 6250
Factory and Industrial 5000
Mercantile 4000
Residential 4000
Education 2500
Institutional 2500
High Hazard 1500
Assembly 2650
Business 4000
Utility and Maintenance 5000
(ii) Occupancy classifications and gross floor areas are as defined in the current
editions of the codes which comprise the state uniform construction code and which are
identified in R.S. 40:1730.28.
(5) Routine maintenance projects that do not exceed the contract limit for public
bidding as defined in R.S. 38:2212(A)(1)(d).
B. No exempt person under Paragraph (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this Section shall do any
of the following:
(1) Practice any fraud, deceit, dishonesty, gross negligence, misrepresentation, gross
incompetence, or misconduct in the practice of architecture.
(2) Wilfully mislead or defraud any person employing him.
(3) Violate the laws of the United States or any state.
(4) Provide false testimony before the board.
(5) Affix his seal, stamp, or name to any specification, drawing or other related
document which was not prepared by him or under his responsible supervision and control,
or permit his seal, stamp, or name to be affixed to any such document.
(6) Fail to provide, within thirty calendar days of mailing of notice by certified mail,
information requested by the executive director as a result of a formal complaint to the board
alleging a violation of this Chapter.
(7) Use any advertising or solicitation which is false or misleading.
(8) Otherwise violate any provision of this Chapter.
C. The procedures set forth in R.S. 37:154(C) shall apply to actual or alleged conduct
enumerated in Subsection B of this Section, and the board may investigate a complaint
alleging such conduct, issue an order to any person prohibiting such conduct after a hearing
held in accordance with R.S. 37:154(C), and impose a civil penalty in accordance with R.S.
37:154(C) to any person who violates an order of the board. In the alternative, the board may
present its findings to the district attorney in whose district the violation has occurred in
accordance with R.S. 37:154(D).

Legislative History

Acts 1983, No. 472, §1; Acts 1989, No. 653, §1; Acts 1991, No. 418, §1; Acts 1995, No. 238, §1; Acts 1997, No. 365, §1; Acts 2011, No. 18, §1, eff. June 7, 2011; Acts 2024, No. 104, §1, eff. July 1, 2025.