Do I Need an Architect for My Project?
For many residential projects in California, no.
California allows residential designers who are not licensed architects to prepare plans for wood-frame single-family homes up to two stories plus a basement. The exemption also covers wood-frame multifamily buildings up to two stories and a basement, with no more than four dwelling units per lot.
Wood-frame accessory dwelling units (ADUs) can fall within these exemptions too. The California Architects Board’s design limitations explain the specifics for unlicensed designers.
When do you need an architect or engineer?
Most new commercial buildings require a licensed architect or an appropriately licensed engineer. Some nonstructural alterations are exempt, so the scope of work matters.
Permitting an existing, previously unpermitted building may also require a licensed professional. Depending on the project and the building department’s requirements, a residential designer may be able to work alongside an engineer to prepare the submittal package without an architect being needed.
Structural changes often involve engineering too. New or enlarged door and window openings, removal of load-bearing walls, changes to roof framing, additions and new construction can all fall into that category. When the work goes beyond conventional wood-frame construction requirements, the affected portions need to be designed by a licensed architect or registered engineer. Needing an engineer does not automatically mean you need an architect
Our FAQ covers more of the basics.
Regardless of who you hire, ask what their plans include.
At Coastline Design and Development, we develop the plans in stages, with more detail added as the design takes shape.
During conceptual design, size, layout and overall functionality are our priorities. For new construction, we also consider how the building is oriented to sunrise and sunset, along with the existing trees on the property. Those things deserve attention early.
During the construction document phase, we refine and document window sizes, roof slopes, utility placement and the details needed to communicate how the project will be built.
Does your dream home have detailed trim? Who is going to dictate that if the details are not on the plans?
Items left unspecified in the plans or other project documents leave room for assumptions. When comparing bids, that makes it difficult to understand what is included and what could become a change order later.
When interviewing a designer or architect, ask to see a sample set of construction documents for a similarly scoped project. Building departments publish minimum plan submittal requirements, and SLO County’s residential requirements are one example. Meeting those requirements and documenting every detail you care about are not necessarily the same thing.
For a large custom home or an architecturally complicated project, an architect may be the right fit. That does not make the early feasibility work any less valuable.
Understanding the property, identifying constraints and clarifying what you want to accomplish can help you decide how to move forward before committing to a full design. If a designer and architect will both be involved, I would coordinate their roles early. The goal is to build on that initial work, not pay to do it twice.
How a feasibility study saved a client time and money.
Cal Poly parents bought a home in San Luis Obispo for their daughter and her roommates during college. The contractor remodeled the kitchen, bathrooms and put new flooring throughout before they moved in. A few years later in 2022, their daughter wanted more privacy, so the family decided to add an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in the front yard.
During early research, we found a City requirement tied to the size of the new unit. At the time, an ADU of 450 square feet or more meant the owner had to pay to replace a failing sewer lateral elsewhere in the same part of the city. We had planned about 500 square feet to maximize floor space. Ultimately we designed it at 449 square feet instead, which kept the project from triggering this requirement.
Without that early research, the client would have paid for a full design and then run into the cost of the sewer improvement. They would have had to accept the cost or pay to redesign the ADU. Instead, we designed around it from day one, and that saved time, money and heartache.
In 2026, the City removed the mandatory wastewater offset requirement, although certain development projects can still be subject to sewer-capacity review and related requirements. Its code amendment notice explains the change. Rules like this change, which is why we check the current ones at the start of every project. That early work is what our feasibility services cover.