ARTICLE 2. Administration [5510. - 5528.]

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC 2.

in effect

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5510. Section 5510.

There is in the Department of Consumer Affairs a California Architects Board which consists of 10 members. Any reference in law to the California Board of Architectural Examiners shall mean the California Architects Board. This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed. Notwithstanding any other law, the repeal of this section renders the board subject to review by the appropriate policy committees of the Legislature.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5510.1. Section 5510.1.

The Legislature finds and declares that it is the mandate of the board to regulate the practice of architecture in the interest and for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare. For this purpose, the board shall delineate the minimum professional qualifications and performance standards for admission to and practice of the profession of architecture. The board shall establish a fair and uniform enforcement policy to deter and prosecute violations of this chapter or any rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter to provide for the protection of the consumer.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5510.15. Section 5510.15.

Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the California Architects Board in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public shall be paramount.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5514. Section 5514.

The membership of the board shall be composed of 10 members, five of whom shall be architects and five of whom shall be public members. The five professional members of the board shall be selected from architects in good standing who have been licensed and in practice in this state for at least five years at the time of appointment, all of whom shall be residents and in practice in California. The public members of the board shall not be licensees of the board. This section shall become operative on January 1, 1988.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5515. Section 5515.

(a) Every person appointed shall serve for four years and until the appointment and qualification of their successor or until one year has elapsed since the expiration of the term for which they were appointed, whichever occurs first. (b) No person shall serve as a member of the board for more than two consecutive terms. (c) Vacancies occurring before the expiration of the term shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term. (d) Each appointment shall expire on June 30 of the fourth year following the year in which the previous term expired. (e) The Governor shall appoint three of the public members and the five licensed members qualified as provided in Section 5514. The Senate Rules Committee and the Speaker of the Assembly shall each appoint a public member.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5515.5. Section 5515.5.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 130 or 5515, the following provisions shall apply: (1) Of the three licensed members appointed by the Governor whose terms commence on July 1, 2013, the term of two members shall expire on June 30, 2017, and the term of one member shall expire on June 30, 2019. (2) Of the two licensed members appointed by the Governor whose terms commence on July 1, 2014, the term of one member shall expire on June 30, 2018, and the term of the other member shall expire on June 30, 2020. (3) The term of the public member appointed by the Governor that commences on July 1, 2014, shall expire on June 30, 2019. (4) Of the two public members appointed by the Governor whose terms commence on July 1, 2016, the term of one member shall expire on June 30, 2020, and the term of the other member shall expire on June 30, 2021. (b) Except as provided in subdivision (a), this section shall not be construed to affect the application of Section 130 or 5515 to the terms of a current or future member of the board.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5516. Section 5516.

Each member of the board shall receive a per diem and expenses as provided in Section 103.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5517. Section 5517.

The board may appoint a person exempt from civil service who shall be designated as an executive officer and who shall exercise the powers and perform the duties delegated by the board and vested in the executive officer by this chapter. This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5518. Section 5518.

The board shall elect from its members a president, a vice president, and a secretary to hold office for one year, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5520. Section 5520.

The board shall adopt a seal for its own use. The seal used shall have the words, “California Architects Board” inscribed thereon. The executive officer shall have the care and custody of the seal.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5521. Section 5521.

The executive officer shall keep an accurate record of all proceedings of the board.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5522. Section 5522.

The board shall meet at least once each calendar quarter for the purpose of transacting such business as may lawfully come before it. The board may hold meetings at such other times and at such places as it may designate.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5523. Section 5523.

Special meetings of the board shall be called by the executive officer upon the written notice of four members by giving each member of the board 10 days’ written notice of the time and place of the meeting.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5524. Section 5524.

Six of the members of the board constitute a quorum of the board for the transaction of business. The concurrence of five members of the board present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be necessary to constitute an act or decision of the board, except that when all 10 members of the board are present at a meeting duly held, the concurrence of six members shall be necessary to constitute an act or decision of the board.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5525. Section 5525.

The board may prosecute all persons guilty of violating the provisions of this chapter. Except as provided in Section 159.5, the board may employ inspectors, special agents, investigators, and such clerical assistants as it may deem necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter. It may also fix the compensation to be paid for such services and incur such additional expense as may be deemed necessary.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5526. Section 5526.

(a) The board shall adopt rules and regulations governing the examination of applicants for licenses to practice architecture in this state. (b) The board may, by rule or regulation, adopt rules of professional conduct that are not inconsistent with state or federal law. Every person who holds a license issued by the board shall be governed and controlled by these rules. (c) The board may adopt other rules and regulations as may be necessary and proper. (d) The board may, from time to time, repeal, amend, or modify rules and regulations adopted under this section. No rule or regulation shall be inconsistent with this chapter. (e) The board shall adopt, by regulation, a system as described in Section 125.9 for the issuance to a licensee of a citation and a system as described in Section 148 for the issuance of an administrative citation to an unlicensed person who is acting in the capacity of a licensee or registrant under the jurisdiction of the board. (f) The adoption, repeal, amendment, or modification of these rules and regulations shall be made in accordance with Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5526.5. Section 5526.5.

(a) In addition to requesting an administrative hearing as provided for in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 125.9, the cited person may request an informal conference to review the acts shared in the citation. The cited person shall make the request for an informal conference in writing, within 30 days of the date of issuance of the citation, to the executive officer. (b) The executive officer or their designee shall hold, within 60 days from the receipt of the request, an informal conference with the cited person. The executive officer or their designee may extend the 60-day period for good cause. (c) Following the informal conference, the executive officer or their designee may affirm, modify, or dismiss the citation, including any fine that is levied, order of abatement, or order of correction issued. The executive officer or their designee shall state in writing the reasons for the action and transmit a copy of those findings to the cited person within 30 days after the informal conference. (d) If the citation, including any fine that is levied or order of abatement or correction, is affirmed or modified following the informal conference, the respondent may make a request in writing to the executive officer within 30 days of the affirmed or modified citation, for a formal hearing, which shall be conducted as provided for in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 125.9. (e) A cited person shall not request an informal conference for a citation which has been affirmed or modified following an informal conference.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5527. Section 5527.

Whenever any person has engaged in or is about to engage in any act or practice which constitutes or which will constitute an offense against this chapter, the superior court of the county in which the offense has occurred or is about to occur, on application of the board, may issue an injunction or other appropriate order restraining such act or practice. The proceedings authorized by this section shall be in accordance with the provisions contained in Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

Cal. Business and Professions Code - BPC § 5528. Section 5528.

(a) The board may select and contract with necessary architect consultants who are licensed architects to assist it in its enforcement program on an intermittent basis. The architect consultants shall perform only those services that are necessary to carry out and enforce this chapter. (b) For the purposes of Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code, any consultant under contract with the board shall be considered a public employee.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026