Quick answer
A PE stamp is the official seal of a licensed Professional Engineer. It shows that the engineer prepared or directly supervised the design and accepts professional responsibility for it. Building departments require one on structural, civil and MEP drawings that go beyond what the code lets non-engineers design. The engineer must be licensed in the state where the project is built.
Clients often ask for “just a stamp” on drawings they already have. The stamp is not a formality: it represents the engineer’s legal responsibility for the design, which is why the engineer reviews and, where needed, corrects the work before sealing it.
When does a permit need a PE stamp?
- Structural designs outside the residential code’s prescriptive tables, such as beams for removed walls, additions and foundations on poor soil
- Retaining walls above the height your jurisdiction allows without engineering
- Grading, drainage and stormwater plans
- Mechanical, electrical and plumbing designs for larger or commercial projects
- Repair designs after damage, and many lender or insurer letters
Who can stamp drawings?
Only an engineer with an active license in the state where the project is located. Each state licenses engineers separately, so an engineer licensed in Texas cannot seal drawings for a project in Florida unless also licensed there. Some states also require the engineering firm to be registered.
Can an engineer stamp drawings someone else prepared?
Engineering boards require the engineer to take full responsibility for anything sealed. In practice, the engineer reviews your drawings in detail, checks them against the code and the calculations, corrects or redraws whatever is needed, and then seals the sheets they have taken responsibility for. That is how our review and stamp service works.
Digital stamp or wet stamp?
Most states and building departments now accept digitally signed and sealed PDFs, which is what online permit portals expect. A few departments still ask for printed sets with an original signature for certain submittals. We confirm what your department accepts before delivering.
What a PE stamp costs
The fee reflects the engineering behind the stamp, not the seal itself. At Residential PE, review and stamp of small residential work starts at $249, and engineered plans start at $599, quoted as one fixed fee. See pricing.
How long it takes
Most residential review-and-stamp jobs are returned in 48 to 72 hours once we have everything needed. Design work depends on scope, and your quote states a firm date.
What to send us
- Your drawings as PDF or CAD files
- The project address and state
- What the building department asked for, including any comment letter
Common questions
Is a PE stamp the same as an architect’s stamp?
No. Architects seal architectural designs and engineers seal engineering designs. Some projects need both.
Does a PE stamp expire?
The seal on a set of drawings does not expire, but the engineer’s license must be active when the drawings are sealed, and departments may ask for updated drawings if codes change before you submit.
Can I get drawings stamped online?
Yes. Engineers licensed in your state can review, correct and digitally seal drawings remotely. Site visits are arranged when the work requires one.
Why did my building department reject unstamped drawings?
Because part of your design falls outside what the code allows without engineering. The reviewer’s comment letter usually says which part.