Landscape ArchitectureApplication of Chapter
Section § 5640
This law makes it a crime, specifically a misdemeanor, for anyone to practice landscape architecture without a valid license in California. The penalties can include a fine ranging from $100 to $5,000, jail time up to six months, or both. It also forbids using the title 'landscape architect' or any similar terms, using a licensed landscape architect's stamp, and advertising oneself as licensed if they are not.
Section § 5641
This law allows people to create design concepts and basic plans for landscaping and plant selection at a single-family home, but if you need official construction documents or plans that involve grading or drainage, those must be done by a licensed professional.
Section § 5641.1
This law allows individuals to create plans, drawings, or specifications for their own property, without any restrictions from the chapter mentioned.
Section § 5641.2
If you have a license in California to sell nursery stock, you can make planting plans or drawings as part of your business. However, you're not allowed to call yourself a landscape architect, and you don't need a special license for doing this extra planning work.
Section § 5641.3
This law says that if you're an architect, engineer, or land surveyor with a valid California license, you don't have to follow the rules in this specific chapter, as long as you're doing your usual professional work. However, you can't call yourself a 'landscape architect' unless you have the proper license for that title.
Section § 5641.4
This law states that a landscape contractor, as long as they work within their licensed scope, can design systems and facilities related to their work and are generally exempt from the regulations of this chapter. However, they cannot call themselves a 'landscape architect' unless they have the proper license for that title.
Section § 5641.5
This law makes it clear that people can work as golf course architects without any restrictions from this chapter. A golf course architect is defined as someone who provides professional services like consulting, researching, and designing golf courses, ensuring they meet acceptable health and safety standards.
Section § 5641.6
This law clarifies that people can work as irrigation consultants without violating any rules from this chapter. An irrigation consultant is defined as someone who designs systems for watering landscapes and offers related services like planning, research, and supervision while adhering to public health and safety standards.
Section § 5642
This law says that landscape architects in California can team up with non-landscape architects as long as the licensed architect's name, signature, date, and license number are on all professional documents. The licensed architect's name must also be connected with the firm in all professional contexts. Additionally, any work must be supervised by a licensed landscape architect, and failure to follow these rules can lead to discipline.
Section § 5644
If you already have a valid state license to conduct a certain business or profession, you don't need to get another license under this specific chapter to do that work.