                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEFINITIONS (§ 54.1-400)

As used in this chapter unless the context requires a different meaning:
		&#8220;Architect&#8221; means a person who, by reason of his knowledge of the
mathematical and physical sciences, and the principles of architecture and
architectural design, acquired by professional education, practical experience,
or both, is qualified to engage in the practice of architecture and whose
competence has been attested by the Board through licensure as an architect.
		The &#8220;practice of architecture&#8221; means any service wherein the
principles and methods of architecture are applied, such as consultation,
investigation, evaluation, planning and design, and includes the responsible
administration of construction contracts, in connection with any private or
public buildings, structures or projects, or the related equipment or
accessories.
		&#8220;Board&#8221; means the Board for Architects, Professional Engineers,
Land Surveyors, Certified Interior Designers and Landscape Architects.
		&#8220;Certified interior designer&#8221; means a design professional who
meets the criteria of education, experience, and testing in the rendering of
interior design services established by the Board through certification as an
interior designer.
		&#8220;Improvements to real property&#8221; means any valuable addition or
amelioration made to land and generally whatever is erected on or affixed to
land which is intended to enhance its value, beauty or utility, or adapt it to
new or further purposes. Examples of improvements to real property include, but
are not limited to, structures, buildings, machinery, equipment, electrical
systems, mechanical systems, roads, and water and wastewater treatment and
distribution systems.
		&#8220;Interior design&#8221; by a certified interior designer means any
service rendered wherein the principles and methodology of interior design are
applied in connection with the identification, research, and creative solution
of problems pertaining to the function and quality of the interior environment.
Such services relative to interior spaces shall include the preparation of
documents for nonload-bearing interior construction, furnishings, fixtures, and
equipment in order to enhance and protect the health, safety, and welfare of the
public.
		&#8220;Land surveyor&#8221; means a person who, by reason of his knowledge of
the several sciences and of the principles of land surveying, and of the
planning and design of land developments acquired by practical experience and
formal education, is qualified to engage in the practice of land surveying, and
whose competence has been attested by the Board through licensure as a land
surveyor.
		The &#8220;practice of land surveying&#8221; includes surveying of areas for a
determination or correction, a description, the establishment or reestablishment
of internal and external land boundaries, or the determination of topography,
contours or location of physical improvements, and also includes the planning of
land and subdivisions thereof. The term &#8220;planning of land and subdivisions
thereof&#8221; shall include, but not be limited to, the preparation of
incidental plans and profiles for roads, streets and sidewalks, grading,
drainage on the surface, culverts and erosion control measures, with reference
to existing state or local standards.
		&#8220;Landscape architect&#8221; means a person who, by reason of his special
knowledge of natural, physical and mathematical sciences, and the principles and
methodology of landscape architecture and landscape architectural design
acquired by professional education, practical experience, or both, is qualified
to engage in the practice of landscape architecture and whose competence has
been attested by the Board through licensure as a landscape architect.
		The &#8220;practice of landscape architecture&#8221; by a licensed landscape
architect means any service wherein the principles and methodology of landscape
architecture are applied in consultation, evaluation, planning (including the
preparation and filing of sketches, drawings, plans and specifications) and
responsible supervision or administration of contracts relative to projects
principally directed at the functional and aesthetic use of land.
		&#8220;Professional engineer&#8221; means a person who is qualified to
practice engineering by reason of his special knowledge and use of mathematical,
physical and engineering sciences and the principles and methods of engineering
analysis and design acquired by engineering education and experience, and whose
competence has been attested by the Board through licensure as a professional
engineer.
		The &#8220;practice of engineering&#8221; means any service wherein the
principles and methods of engineering are applied to, but are not necessarily
limited to, the following areas: consultation, investigation, evaluation,
planning and design of public or private utilities, structures, machines,
equipment, processes, transportation systems and work systems, including
responsible administration of construction contracts. The term &#8220;practice
of engineering&#8221; shall not include the service or maintenance of existing
electrical or mechanical systems.
		&#8220;Residential wastewater&#8221; means sewage (i) generated by residential
or accessory uses, not containing storm water or industrial influent, and having
no other toxic, or hazardous constituents not routinely found in residential
wastewater flows, or (ii) as certified by a professional engineer.
		&#8220;Responsible charge&#8221; means the direct control and supervision of
the practice of architecture, professional engineering, landscape architecture,
or land surveying.

HISTORY: 1970, c. 671, § 54-17.1; 1974, c. 534; 1980, c. 757; 1982, c. 590;
1984, c. 437; 1988, c. 765; 1990, c. 512; 1992, cc. 780, 783; 1998, c. 27; 2008,
c. 68; 2009, c. 309.