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Use the tables below to determine if your plans are required to be sealed.
The requirements for signing and sealing documents, including electronic signatures on ePlans, must be in accordance the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), Section 54.1 402 of the Code of Virginia.
The Building Official is permitted to require sealed drawings regardless of the requirements herein.
If you are a Virginia RDP, you must sign and seal your drawings regardless of these requirements.
The term “registered design professional” or “RDP” is defined as a Virginia licensed architect or professional engineer.
Unique structural designs require an RDP seal.
Standard design drawings certified by out-of-state RDPs require a Virginia-licensed RDP to certify the design meets local criteria.
When no RDP seal is required, the drawings must list the name, occupation and address of the designer.
Electronically submitted plans must contain a seal and electronic signature with signature protection on each sheet or only the cover sheet provided it has a table of contents.
When a Signature and Seal is Required
Based on group, area and number of stories of the proposed construction, where indicated with a “P” requires an RDP seal.
Building, Structural, Fire Protection
Area, SF
Stories
Group
Description
≤5,000
>5,000 – 15,000
>15,000
≤3
>3
A1
assembly
P
P
P
P
P
B
business
P
P
P
E
schools, daycare center
P
P
P
P
P
F
factory, industrial
P
P
H
high hazard
P
P
P
P
P
I
institutional
P
P
P
P
P
M
mercantile
P
P
P
R-1
hotel, motel, dormitory
P
P
P
P
P
R-2
multi-family residential
P
R-3
attached one-family dwelling
P
R-4
residential assisted living
P
P
R-5
one- & two-family dwelling
P
S
storage (nonfarm)
P
P
U
utility, miscellaneous
P
P
Places of worship are exempt if the building ≤ 5,000 sf or stories ≤ 3, and occupant load ≤ 100.
Electrical1
Stories
Occupant Load
Volt
Amps
Group
Description
≤3
>3
≤100
>100
≤600
>600
≤800
>800
A-1, A-4
theatre, arena
P
P
P
P
A-2
restaurant, nightclub
P
P
P
A-32
health club, museum
P
P
P
A-5
grandstand, etc.
P
P
P
B
business
P
P
P
E
school, daycare
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
F
factory, industrial
P
P
P
P
H
high hazard
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
I-1, I-2, I-3
institutional
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
I-4
daycare/nursery
P
P
P
M
mercantile
P
P
P
R
residential
P
P
P
P
S
storage
P
P
P
U
utility, miscellaneous
P
P
P
Those areas not marked with a "P" must be designed by either an RDP, licensed master electrician, or Class A electrical contractor.
Places of worship are exempt.
Plumbing and Mechanical1
Stories
Occupant Load
Threshold Level2
Group
Description
≤3
>3
≤100
>100
Below
Above
A-1, A-4
theatre, arena
P
P
P
A-2
restaurant, nightclub
P
P
A-33
health club, museum
P
P
A-5
grandstand, etc.
P
P
B
business
P
P
E
school, daycare
P
P
P
P
P
P
F
factory, industrial
P
P
H
high hazard
P
P
P
P
P
P
I-1, I-2, I-3
institutional
P
P
P
P
P
P
I-4
daycare/nursery
P
P
M
mercantile
P
P
R
residential
P
P
P
S
storage
P
P
U
utility, miscellaneous
P
P
Those areas not marked with a "P" must be designed by either an RDP, licensed master plumber or mechanical worker, or Class A plumbing or mechanical contractor.
Threshold level is plumbing and mechanical systems using packaged mechanical equipment not exceeding gauge pressures of 125 pounds per square inch, other than refrigeration, or temperatures other than fuel gas of 300 degrees F.
