Architectural Designs

How do I get House plans "Stamped" for a permit? We found them online. Do I need an architect to stamp them?

We got blueprint sized plans from the source (a university). But our zoning office needs "stamped" plans to issue a building permit. How do I go about getting them stamped?

Public Comments

1. I'm not sure, because each area is different. An architect may not be willing to stamp something that isn't his work. But, if he inspects them and sees that they meet code, he may. You could also try the building inspector. If he determines they meet local codes, he may sign off on them.
2. It is against the state licensing agreement for an Architect to stamp drawings that were not prepared under his supervision. Most ( if not all!) online plans are not prepared to meet your particular soil, climate, zoning, or code provisions. If you are required to have a stamp on your drawings, you need a structural engineer to look at the foundation, floor joists, roof truss or framing, and shear walls, as well as ensure that the soil will hold the loads. She will also look at and specify connections and hold downs, and make sure the loads ( wind, shear, snow, etc) and taken care of. You can find structural engineers to do a house plan set for as low $1 to $1.50 per square foot. If you purchased a set of plans off of the web, you probably only have a paper set, or a reproducible set , not the cad set..To do threse structural drawings you will need ot get your paper sset turned into cad, you ccan get that done very affodably at my site http://www.autocadconversion.com where you can have each sheet manually redrawn into cad for around $70 per sheet ( ask me for the yahoo answers special discount).