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This is the part that surprises people. Across much of the country a single-family house can be permitted from drawings no architect ever touched. California exempts plans for single-family dwellings of woodframe construction not more than two stories and basement in height, and multiple dwellings containing no more than four dwelling units of the same construction and height, with the caveat that clusters of four cannot be stacked up to form a larger complex on one lawfully divided lot. Florida exempts any one-family or two-family residence building, townhouse, or domestic outbuilding appurtenant to any one-family or two-family residence, regardless of cost.

The exemptions have edges, and the edges are where the seal comes back. California's exemption ends where a portion of the structure deviates from conventional woodframe code standards, and those portions must be prepared by a licensed architect or a registered engineer. Practically, that means the long clear span over the folding glass wall, the cantilever, the tall stud wall or the steel moment frame lands on an engineer's desk even when the rest of the house does not. Seattle tells homeowners directly that house drawings rarely require a professional stamp indicating they were created by an architect or engineer, and that you may prepare the drawings yourself or hire a professional. Ask your own building department which parts of your project they will accept unsealed, before you hire anyone.

Sources: California Business and Professions Code section 5536: unlicensed practice and use of title · California Business and Professions Code section 5537: exemptions for woodframe dwellings · Florida Statutes section 481.229: exceptions and exemptions from architect licensure · NCARB: Get Licensed · NCARB: Architectural Experience Program requirements · NCARB: a guide to commonly used licensure terms · Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections: house additions and remodels