54.1-402 - Further exemptions from license requirements for architects, professional engineers, and land surveyors.
§ 54.1-402. Further exemptions from license requirements for architects,professional engineers, and land surveyors.
A. No license as an architect or professional engineer shall be requiredpursuant to § 54.1-406 for persons who prepare plans, specifications,documents and designs for the following, provided any such plans,specifications, documents or designs bear the name and address of the authorand his occupation:
1. Single- and two-family homes, townhouses and multifamily dwellings,excluding electrical and mechanical systems, not exceeding three stories; or
2. All farm structures used primarily in the production, handling or storageof agricultural products or implements, including, but not limited to,structures used for the handling, processing, housing or storage of crops,feeds, supplies, equipment, animals or poultry; or
3. Buildings and structures classified with respect to use as business (UseGroup B) and mercantile (Use Group M), as provided in the Uniform StatewideBuilding Code and churches with an occupant load of 100 or less, excludingelectrical and mechanical systems, where such building or structure does notexceed 5,000 square feet in total net floor area, or three stories; or
4. Buildings and structures classified with respect to use as factory andindustrial (Use Group F) and storage (Use Group S) as provided in the UniformStatewide Building Code, excluding electrical and mechanical systems, wheresuch building or structure does not exceed 15,000 square feet in total netfloor area, or three stories; or
5. Additions, remodeling or interior design without a change in occupancy oroccupancy load and without modification to the structural system or a changein access or exit patterns or increase in fire hazard; or
6. Electric installations which comply with all applicable codes and which donot exceed 600 volts and 800 amps, where work is designed and performed underthe direct supervision of a person licensed as a master's level electricianor Class A electrical contractor by written examination, and where suchinstallation is not contained in any structure exceeding three stories orlocated in any of the following categories:
a. Use Group A-1 theaters which exceed assembly of 100 persons;
b. Use Group A-4 except churches;
c. Use Group I, institutional buildings, except day care nurseries andclinics without life-support systems; or
7. Plumbing and mechanical systems using packaged mechanical equipment, suchas equipment of catalogued standard design which has been coordinated andtested by the manufacturer, which comply with all applicable codes. Thesemechanical systems shall not exceed gauge pressures of 125 pounds per squareinch, other than refrigeration, or temperatures other than flue gas of 300§ F(150 degrees C) where such work is designed and performed under the directsupervision of a person licensed as a master's level plumber, master's levelheating, air conditioning and ventilating worker, or Class A contractor inthose specialties by written examination. In addition, such installation maynot be contained in any structure exceeding three stories or located in anystructure which is defined as to its use in any of the following categories:
a. Use Group A-1 theaters which exceed assembly of 100 persons;
b. Use Group A-4 except churches;
c. Use Group I, institutional buildings, except day care nurseries andclinics without life-support systems; or
8. The preparation of shop drawings, field drawings and specifications forcomponents by a contractor who will supervise the installation and where theshop drawings and specifications (i) will be reviewed by the licensedprofessional engineer or architect responsible for the project or (ii) areotherwise exempted; or
9. Buildings, structures, or electrical and mechanical installations whichare not otherwise exempted but which are of standard design, provided theybear the certification of a professional engineer or architect registered orlicensed in another state, and provided that the design is adapted for thespecific location and for conformity with local codes, ordinances andregulations, and is so certified by a professional engineer or architectlicensed in Virginia; or
10. Construction by a state agency or political subdivision not exceeding$75,000 in value keyed to the January 1, 1991, Consumer Price Index (CPI) andnot otherwise requiring a licensed architect, engineer, or land surveyor byan adopted code and maintenance by that state agency or political subdivisionof water distribution, sewage collection, storm drainage systems, sidewalks,streets, curbs, gutters, culverts, and other facilities normally andcustomarily constructed and maintained by the public works department of thestate agency or political subdivision; or
11. Conventional and alternative onsite sewage systems receiving residentialwastewater, under the authority of Chapter 6 of Title 32.1, designed by alicensed onsite soil evaluator, which utilize packaged equipment, such asequipment of catalogued standard design that has been coordinated and testedby the manufacturer, and complies with all applicable codes, provided (i) theflow is less than 1,000 gallons per day; and (ii) if a pump is included, (a)it shall not include multiple downhill runs and must terminate at a positiveelevational change; (b) the discharge end is open and not pressurized; (c)the static head does not exceed 50 feet; and (d) the force main length doesnot exceed 500 feet.
B. No person shall be exempt from licensure as an architect or engineer whoengages in the preparation of plans, specifications, documents or designs for:
1. Any unique design of structural elements for floors, walls, roofs orfoundations; or
2. Any building or structure classified with respect to its use as highhazard (Use Group H).
C. Persons utilizing photogrammetric methods or similar remote sensingtechnology shall not be required to be licensed as a land surveyor pursuantto subsection B of § 54.1-404 or 54.1-406 to: (i) determine topography orcontours, or to depict physical improvements, provided such maps or otherdocuments shall not be used for the design, modification, or construction ofimprovements to real property or for flood plain determination, or (ii)graphically show existing property lines and boundaries on maps or otherdocuments provided such depicted property lines and boundaries shall only beused for general information.
Any determination of topography or contours, or depiction of physicalimprovements, utilizing photogrammetric methods or similar remote sensingtechnology by persons not licensed as a land surveyor pursuant to § 54.1-406shall not show any property monumentation or property metes and bounds, norprovide any measurement showing the relationship of any physical improvementsto any property line or boundary.
Any person not licensed pursuant to subsection B of § 54.1-404 or 54.1-406preparing documentation pursuant to subsection C of § 54.1-402 shall note thefollowing on such documentation: "Any determination of topography orcontours, or any depiction of physical improvements, property lines orboundaries is for general information only and shall not be used for thedesign, modification, or construction of improvements to real property or forflood plain determination."
D. Terms used in this section, and not otherwise defined in this chapter,shall have the meanings provided in the Uniform Statewide Building Code ineffect on July 1, 1982, including any subsequent amendments.
(1982, c. 590, § 54-37.1; 1988, cc. 294, 765; 1992, cc. 780, 783; 2005, cc.359, 440; 2008, c. 68.)