Architect or residential designer: who can design your Oregon home?

What Oregon law says

Oregon's architecture statute, ORS Chapter 671, reserves the title "architect" and the practice of architecture for people registered with the State Board of Architect Examiners. The same chapter lists work that is not considered the practice of architecture. Under ORS 671.030(2)(b), a person who is not an architect may prepare technical submissions for erecting, enlarging, or altering a building that:

• is a single-family residential dwelling or farm building;
• is used with or auxiliary to a single-family dwelling or farm building, such as a three-car garage, barn, or shed; or
• has a ground area of 4,000 square feet or less and is no more than 20 feet from the lowest floor to the highest interior finish.

Where an architect is required

Buildings outside those exemptions, such as larger commercial buildings and many multifamily projects, need a registered architect acting as the design professional in responsible charge. If your project is a single-family home, an ADU, an addition, or a garage or shop, it falls within the exemptions and a residential designer can prepare the plans.

Where engineering comes in

Design exemptions from the architecture law do not replace structural engineering. When a home uses framing, beams, lateral bracing, or foundations beyond what the prescriptive Oregon Residential Specialty Code covers, a licensed structural engineer designs and stamps those elements. A residential designer coordinates that engineering into the drawing set.

Choosing between them

For a custom home, the practical differences are scope and fit. Architecture firms often provide full-service design and construction administration and may be the right choice for very large or complex projects. A residential designer focuses on homes: the floor plan, the exterior, the renderings, and a buildable permit set, often at a more approachable scope. Look at each firm's completed homes, how they communicate, and whether they design in your community.

Preedin Design is a residential design and drafting studio, not an architecture firm. Michael Preedin is a residential designer, not a registered architect.