Interior Designers

2025-2026 Bill 5010: Interior Designers - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 5010
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Rep. Schuessler
Document Path: LC-0594WAB26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 22, 2026
Currently residing in the House Committee on
Labor, Commerce and Industry
Summary: Interior Designers
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

1/22/2026

House

Introduced and read first time (
House Journal-page 29
)

1/22/2026

House

Referred to Committee on
Labor, Commerce and Industry
(
House Journal-page 29
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/22/2026

A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION
40-3-25
SO AS TO DELINEATE ACTIONS THAT CONSTITUTE THE PRACTICE OF REGISTERED
INTERIOR DESIGN AND SPECIFY EXCLUSIONS; BY AMENDING SECTIONS
40-3-5
;
40-3-10
;
40-3-20
;
40-3-30
;
40-3-80
;
40-3-110
;
40-3-115
;
40-3-130
;
40-3-140
;
40-3-150
;
40-3-20
0;
40-3-230
;
40-3-240
;
40-3-250
;
40-3-260
;
40-3-270
;
40-3-280
;
40-3-290
;
40-3-300
;
40-3-310
; AND
40-3-320
, ALL RELATING TO THE REGULATION OF ARCHITECTS,
SO AS TO INCORPORATE PROVISIONS SIMILARLY REGULATING REGISTERED INTERIOR
DESIGNERS; AND BY REDESIGNATING CHAPTER 3, TITLE 40, AS "ARCHITECTS AND
REGISTERED INTERIOR DESIGNERS."

B
e it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

S
ECTION 1.
S
ection
40-3-5
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-5
. Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, Article 1, Chapter 1
applies to architects
and registered interior designers
;
however, if there is a conflict between this chapter and Article 1, Chapter 1,
the provisions of this chapter control.

S
ECTION 2.
S
ection
40-3-10
(A) and (B) of the S.C. Code is amended
to read:

(
A) There is created the Board of
Architectural Examiners
and Registered Interior Designers
under
the administration of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. The
purpose of this board is to regulate the practice of architecture
and the practice of registered interior design
in South
Carolina.

(
B)
The Board of Architectural Examiners
and Registered
Interior Designers
consists of
six
nine
persons. One must be a professor of architecture in
a university or college controlled by the State who also must be an architect
registered in the State of South Carolina, four must be architects engaged in
the practice of architecture in this State,
three must be
registered interior designers engaged in the practice of interior design in the
State or professors of interior design in a public institutions of higher
learning in this State who must be a registered interior designer in this
State;
and one must be a representative of the general public. Members
serve terms of five years and until their successors are appointed and qualify.
No member may serve more than two consecutive full terms, except the professor
of architecture member. Vacancies must be filled in the manner of the original
appointment for the unexpired portion of the term.

S
ECTION 3.
S
ection
40-3-20
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-20
.
F
or purposes of this chapter:

(
1)
"Architect" means an individual who, by reason of the individual's general
knowledge of the principles of architecture acquired by professional education
and practical experience, is qualified to engage in the practice of
architecture as attested by the individual's registration as an architect.

(
2)
"Board" means the Board of Architectural Examiners
and
Registered Interior Designers
.

(
3)
"Firm
practice of architecture
" means a business
entity functioning as a partnership, limited liability partnership,
professional association, professional corporation, business corporation,
limited liability company, or other firm association which practices or offers
to practice architecture.

(
4) "Firm practice of Interior Design" means
the practice of registered interior design by a registered interior design firm
organized or domesticated in this State that holds a firm certificate.

(4)
(
5)
"Full authority" means that amount of authority
granted to a regularly employed individual in unrestricted, unchecked, and
unqualified command of the architectural practice of a firm.

(5)
(
6)
"Individual" means a single human being.

(6)
(
7)
"Practice of architecture" means a service or creative
work requiring architectural education, training, and experience and the
application of the principles of architecture and related technical disciplines
to the professional services or creative work as consulting, evaluating,
planning, designing, specifying, coordinating of consultants, administration of
contracts, and reviewing of construction for the purpose of assuring compliance
with the specifications and design, in connection with a building or site
development.

(
8) "Practice of registered interior
design" means the design of an interior space as part of an interior
alternation or construction project including the preparation analysis,
planning, design, documentation, and management of interior nonstructural
construction and alteration projects in compliance with applicable building
design and construction, fire, life safety, and energy codes, standards,
regulations, and guidelines. The practice of registered interior design also
includes and excludes the specific matters found in Section
40-3-25
.

(7)
(
9)
"Professional degree" means
:

(
a) with respect to architects,

the successful completion of a National Architectural Accrediting Board
accredited degree in architecture
.
; and

(
b) with respect to registered interior
designers, the successful completion of a degree in interior design.

(
10) "Registered interior designer"
means a person who is duly registered and who is qualified by education,
experience, and examination to engage in the practice of interior design as
authorized by the board.

(8)
(
11)
"Responsible charge" means direct control and
personal supervision of the practice of architecture.

(9)
(
12)
"Emeritus architect" means an architect who has been
registered for ten consecutive years or longer and who is sixty-five years of
age or older and who has retired from active practice.

(
13) "Emeritus Registered Interior
Designer" means an interior designer who has been registered for ten
consecutive years or longer and who is sixty-five years of age or older and who
has retired from active practice.

(10)
(
14)
"Retired from active practice" means not engaging or
offering to engage in the practice of architecture as defined in this section.

(11)
(
15)
"Intern architect" means a person who:

(
a)
has completed a NAAB accredited first professional degree and is eligible in
all respects for licensure through examination;

(
b)
is currently enrolled in and actively participating in the Architectural
Experience Program or who has completed the Architectural Experience Program;
and

(
c)
is employed by a firm which is lawfully engaged in the practice of architecture
in this State
.
; provided,
however:

(
d)

A
a
person may use the title "Intern Architect" only in
connection with the person's employment with the firm in which the person is an
intern. The title may not be used to advertise or offer to the public that the
person is performing or offering to perform architectural services, and the
person may not include himself in any listing of architects or in any listing
of persons performing architectural services. The person may use a business
card identifying himself as an "Intern Architect," if the business card also
includes the name of the architectural firm in which the person is an intern.

S
ECTION 4.
C
hapter 3, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is amended by
adding:

S
ection
40-3-25
.
(
A) The practice of
registered interior design includes:

(
1)
programming, space planning, predesign analysis, and conceptual design of
interior nonstructural elements;

(
2)
preparation of documents and technical submissions related to interior
construction, finish materials, furnishings, fixtures, and equipment;

(
3)
renderings of designs, plans, drawings, specifications, contract documents, and
other interior technical submissions;

(
4)
administration of interior nonstructural elements;

(
5)
preparation of a physical plan of space within a proposed or existing building
or structure including any or all of the following:

(
a)
determinations of circulation systems or patterns;

(
b)
determinations of egress requirements based on occupancy loads;

(
c)
assessment and analysis of interior safety factors to comply with building
codes related to interior nonstructural elements;

(
d)
design of exit access and exit components of means of egress system within a
building based on the calculated occupant load;

(
e)
interior material selection and application for all portions of an interior
construction project, including means of egress systems; and

(
f)
compliance with applicable building design and construction, accessibility
standards, fire, life safety, and energy codes, standards regulations and
guidelines.

(
B) The
practice of registered interior design does not include:

(
1)
services that constitute the practice of professional engineering or
professional architecture, except as otherwise provided in this chapter; and

(
2)
the making of changes or additions to any of the following:

(
a)
the structural system of a building, including changing the buildings live or
dead load on the structural system;

(
b)
seismic-rated walls and assemblies;

(
c)
fire rated walls and assemblies;

(
d)
the building envelope, including exterior walls, exterior wall coverings,
exterior wall openings, exterior windows and doors, architectural trim,
balconies and similar projections, bay and oriel windows, roof assemblies and
rooftop structures, and glass and glazing for exterior use in both vertical and
sloped applications in building and structures;

(
e)
the mechanical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, ventilation,
electrical, vertical transportation, fire sprinkler systems or fire alarm
systems;

(
f)
means of egress systems, except for the exit access component;

(
g)
construction that materially affect life safety systems pertaining to fire
safety of structural elements or the fire protection of structural elements,
smoke evacuation and compartmentalization systems, or fire-rated vertical
shafts in multistory structures;

(
h)
changes of building use to occupancies not already allowed by current building;
and

(
i)
the construction classification of the building or structure according to the
international building code.

S
ECTION 5.
S
ection
40-3-30
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-30
.
(
A) No individual may engage
in the practice of architecture without a license issued in accordance with
this chapter. An individual is considered to engage in the practice of or offer
to engage in the practice of architecture who in any manner represents himself
to be an architect or who performs or holds himself out as able to perform any
architectural service or other services recognized by educational authorities
as architecture.

(
B)
Only an individual licensed under this chapter may use the title "architect".
An individual assuming the title of architect or engaging in the practice of
architecture in this State must be skilled in the principles of design and
construction so that the individual may be entrusted with the design and review
of construction of buildings without undue risk to the public safety. Before
assuming the title "architect" or undertaking the work, the individual shall
have a certificate of registration from the board.

(
C) Only an individual registered under
this chapter as an interior designer may use the title "registered interior
designer." An individual who assumes the title of registered interior designer
or engages in the practice of registered interior design in this State must be
skilled in the principles of design and construction so that the individual may
be entrusted with design and review of nonstructural interior construction without
undue risk to public safety. Before assuming the title registered interior
designer or undertaking the work of an interior designer, the individual shall be
registered with the board.

(C)
(
D)
A firm offering to engage in the practice of
architecture
or registered interior design
in this
State must have a certificate of authorization issued by the board before
undertaking architectural work
or registered interior
design work
. Each firm must employ one or more architects
or interior designers
registered in this State who are
designated as being in full authority and responsible charge of the
architectural
or registered interior design
practice.
Additionally, all personnel of the firm who act in its behalf as architects
or interior designers
in this State must be registered
under this chapter and must hold a current registration. If there is a change
in ownership, management, or the architect
or registered
interior designer
in responsible charge during the year, the change must
be filed with the board within thirty days.

(D)
(
E)
It is unlawful for an individual or firm to engage in
the practice of architecture in this State, to use the title "architect", or to
use or display any title, sign, word, card, advertisement, or other device or
method to indicate that the individual or firm engages in or offers to engage
in the practice of architecture or is an architect, without being registered as
an architect or firm.

S
ECTION 6.
S
ection
40-3-80
(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

(
A) If the
director

Director
of the Department of Labor,
Licensing and Regulation or the board has reason to believe that an individual
or firm has become unfit to engage in the practice of architecture
or registered interior design
or has violated a provision
of this chapter or a regulation promulgated under this chapter or if an
individual files a written complaint with the board or the
director
Director
of the
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, charging an individual or firm
with the violation of a provision of this chapter or a regulation promulgated
under this chapter, the director or board may initiate an investigation.

S
ECTION 7.
S
ection
40-3-110
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-110
. The board may cancel, fine, suspend, revoke, or restrict the
authorization to practice architecture
or registered
interior design
of an individual who has had a license to practice a
profession or occupation regulated under Title 40 canceled, revoked, or
suspended or who has otherwise been disciplined.

S
ECTION 8.
S
ection
40-3-115
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-115
.
T
he board has jurisdiction:

(
1)
over practice undertaken by nonlicensed
or nonregistered
individuals
and firms and the actions committed or omitted by current and former licensees
or registrants
during the entire period of licensure
and registration
; and

(
2)
to act on any matter that arises during the practice authorization period of
licensed
or registered
practitioners and firms, as
provided for in Section
40-1-115
.

S
ECTION 9.
S
ection
40-3-130
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-130
. As provided for in Section
40-1-130
, the board may deny licensure
or registration
to an applicant based on the same grounds
for which the board may take disciplinary action against a licensee
or registrant
.

S
ECTION 10.
S
ection
40-3-140
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-140
. A license
or registration
may be denied
based on a person's prior criminal record only as provided in Section
40-1-140
.

S
ECTION 11.
S
ection
40-3-150
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-150
. A licensee
or registrant
under
investigation for a violation of this chapter or a regulation promulgated under
this chapter may voluntarily surrender the license
or
registration
in accordance with Section
40-1-150
.

S
ECTION 12.
S
ection
40-3-20
0 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-20
0. A person who engages in or offers to engage in the practice of
architecture
or registered interior design
in this
State in violation of this chapter or who knowingly submits false information
for the purpose of obtaining a license
or registration
is
guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned not more than
one year or fined not more than fifty thousand dollars.

S
ECTION 13.
S
ection
40-3-230
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-230
.
(
A) The privilege of
engaging in the practice of architecture
or registered
interior design
is a personal privilege based upon the qualifications of
the individual and evidenced by the person's registration certificate which is
not transferable.

(
B)
The board shall review the applications of all applicants for admission to
practice architecture
or registered interior design
.
The review shall consist of an inquiry into the record, character, education,
experience, knowledge, and qualifications of the applicant. An
architectural
applicant approved by the board as
qualified must take the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
Architect Registration Examination (A.R.E.).
A registered
interior designer's application approved by the board as qualified must take
the National Council for Interior Design Qualification Examination (NCIDQ).

(
C)
To be licensed as an architect, an individual must:

(
1)
have a professional degree in architecture from a school or college program
accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) or the
Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB). The school or program must
be accredited by NAAB or CACB not later than two years after the applicant's
graduation. Foreign-educated applicants who do not hold an accredited degree
from either accrediting body may have their educational credentials evaluated
by an organization approved by the board to determine if their foreign degree
is equivalent to the required professional degree in architecture.
Additionally, foreign-educated applicants must satisfy National Council of
Architectural Registration Boards' general educational requirements;

(
2)
have satisfactorily completed the training requirements established by the
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) for the
Architectural Experience Program (AXP). Changes in the program subsequently
adopted by the board do not affect those persons currently enrolled in a
previously adopted (AXP) program;

(
3)
have attained a passing score on all subject areas of the NCARB Architect
Registration Examination (A.R.E.). Subject areas may include, but are not
limited to, predesign, site design, building design, structural technology,
materials and methods of construction, mechanical, plumbing, electrical,
acoustical, life safety systems, and construction documents and services.

(
D) To be a registered interior
designer, an individual must:

(
1) meet the educational requirements
set for by the Council for Interior Design Qualification to sit for the NCIDQ exam,
which includes a minimum of sixty semester hours or ninety quarter credit
hours, or post-secondary interior design coursework that encompasses a degree,
certificate, or diploma from an approved educational program;

(
2) have completed the required hours
of supervised professional experience as outlined by the Council for Interior
Design Qualification for eligibility to sit for the examination, which must be documented
under the supervision of a registered interior designer or a professional
equivalent; and

(
3) have attained a passing score on
all sections of the NCIDQ Examination. The examination consists of three
sections: the Fundamentals Exam (IDFX), the Professional Exam (IDPX), and the
Practicum Exam (PRAC), which test competency in design principles, building
codes, systems, materials, and professional practice.

(D)
(
E)
An applicant may not be licensed as an architect
or registered as an interior designer
if the individual
has been convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude, misstated or
misrepresented any fact in connection with the application, violated any of the
rules of registrant conduct set forth in the law or regulations, or practiced
architecture without being registered. However, if an applicant has committed
any of these acts, the board may register the applicant on the basis of
suitable evidence of reform.

S
ECTION 14.
S
ection
40-3-240
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-240
.
(
A) An application for
licensure
or registration
must be made on board
application forms. A completed application signed and sworn to by the applicant
must be filed with the board office and must be accompanied by all applicable
fees. No application may be considered until the fees have been paid. Application
fees are nonrefundable.

(
B)
The Architectural Registration Examination must be administered in a format and
manner prescribed by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards
(NCARB) to all applicants for initial licensure. Applicants must pass all
subject areas within the time prescribed by the National Council of
Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Scores for the individual subject
areas must not be averaged.

(
C) The National Council for Interior
Design Qualification Examination must be administered in a format and manner
prescribed by the Council for Interior Design Qualification (CIDQ) to all
applicants for initial registration. Applicants must pass all subject areas
within the time prescribed by the Council for Interior Design Qualification
(CIDQ).

(C)
(
D)
An applicant must satisfy the requirements of Section
40-3-230
(C)(1) and must be currently enrolled and actively participating in the
Architectural Experience Program or be a student actively participating in an
NCARB-accepted Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure (IPAL) option within
an NAAB-accredited professional degree program in architecture in order to be
approved by the board to take the Architectural Registration Examination. Once
an applicant has been approved to take the examination, any subsequent changes
in the education or experience requirements do not affect the applicant's
eligibility to take the examination.

(D)
(
E)
The board may accept transfer credits for individual
subject areas of the examination passed by the applicant from another
jurisdiction.

S
ECTION 15.
S
ection
40-3-250
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-25
0.
(
A) An individual and
firm licensed
or registered
under this chapter
shall satisfy license
or registration
renewal
requirements as established by the board in regulation, which must include
continuing education requirements for individuals. An individual shall complete
a minimum of twelve continuing education hours annually in topics related to
safeguarding health, safety, and welfare. Emeritus architects
and emeritus registered interior designers
are not
required to meet continuing education requirements. Individuals and firms
annually shall pay the required renewal fee on a date set by the board in order
to continue practicing architecture in South Carolina.

(
B)
Both individual and firm certificates may be renewed at any time within one
year from the date of expiration upon payment of the established fee and a
penalty of fifty dollars during the first thirty days and an additional one
hundred dollars thereafter during the year.

(
C)
If an individual or firm fails to renew within one year from the date of
expiration, the certificate may be reissued upon submission of a new
application accompanied by the application fee and approval by the board.

(
D)
Emeritus architects
and emeritus registered interior
designers
who wish to return to active practice shall complete
continuing education requirements for each exempted year not to exceed two
years. Applicable fees also must be paid.

(
E)
Registrants must comply with continuing education audit deadlines and
requirements.

S
ECTION 16.
S
ection
40-3-260
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-260
. An architect
or registered interior designer
registered
in another state, territory, or foreign country, having standards of
registration equal to those in this State, may be registered upon a
satisfactory showing of character and record only.

S
ECTION 17.
S
ection
40-3-270
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-270
.
(
A) A firm desiring a
certificate of authorization shall file with the board an application on forms
provided by the board and pay an application fee. Before a certificate of
authorization may be issued to an out-of-state business or professional
corporation, the corporation must be approved to transact business in this
State. A copy of the approved certificate of authority issued by the State must
be filed with the board application.

(
B) A
firm must maintain on file in the board office the name of the individual in
full authority and responsible charge and written evidence of authority.
Failure to provide accurate and timely information may constitute a violation
of this subsection.

(
C)
For the purpose of this chapter, a sole proprietorship means a business in
which one or more registered architects
or registered
interior designers
are engaged as employees; however, the practice must
be conducted under the name registered with the board as an individual (i.e.,
John Doe, Architect
/Registered Interior Designer
).
Any other practice name, i.e., Doe & Company, or Doe & Associates,
requires a certificate of authorization to practice.

(
D)
If a South Carolina firm seeks to register under a name referring to persons
rather than a trade name, the persons referred to in the firm's name must be
licensed as individual architects, engineers, land surveyors,
or
landscape architects
, or
registered interior designers
in this State.

(
E)
If an out-of-state firm seeks to register under a name referring to persons
rather than a trade name, the persons referred to in the firm's name must be
licensed as individual architects, engineers, land surveyors,
or
landscape architects
, or
registered interior designers
in this State or in another state or
jurisdiction.

(
F)
The requirement to obtain a certificate of authorization applies to
associations for one or more projects but does not apply to an out-of-state
firm or individual retained by a registered South Carolina architect
or registered South Carolina interior designer
as a
consultant only.

(
G) A
registered architect
or registered interior designer
practicing
in his name who does not employ a registered architect
or
registered interior designer
is not required to obtain a certificate of
authority.

S
ECTION 18.
S
ection
40-3-280
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-280
.
(
A) Every architect
, registered interior designer,
and firm practicing in
this State shall have a seal containing the name, the place of business, and
the words "Registered Architect, State of South Carolina"
or
"Registered Interior Designer, State of South Carolina,"
with which they
shall seal all drawings, prints, and specifications for use in their
profession.
The seal must be of a design, content, and
size prescribed by the board. A registered interior designer shall only sign
and seal an interior technical submission within the scope of practice.

(
B)
The seal of the individual architect
or registered
interior designer
in responsible charge, as well as the seal of the
firm, must appear on each print of the drawings and the index sheet, or sheets,
of each set of specifications offered to secure a building permit and one
record set for use on the construction site. The required seal identification
may be a rubber stamp impression placed on original drawings and specification
copy. The architect
or registered interior designer
in
responsible charge shall affix his signature over his seal. An electronic seal
and signature may be used in lieu of an original seal and signature by
applicable policy or regulation.

(
C) A registered interior designer
shall possess the authority to sign and seal interior technical submission
covering the scope of practice of registered interior design and shall have the
authority to submit construction documents where the registered interior
designer is the contract holder and Designer of Record to a state or local
government entity for the purpose of obtaining requisite permits for an
interior construction project. A registered interior designer may only sign and
seal interior technical submissions within the scope of practice of interior
design defined by this chapter.

S
ECTION 19.
S
ection
40-3-290
of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

(
E) A person who prepares drawings of
the layout of materials or furnishings or in the selection of materials or
furnishings used in interior design, including:

(
1)
decorative accessories;

(
2)
wallcoverings, wall finishes, or paint;

(
3)
floor coverings, tile, wood, stone, or concrete;

(
4)
window coverings;

(
5)
light fixtures which do not disrupt structural elements;

(
6)
plumbing fixtures which do not disrupt structural elements;

(
7)
professional services limited to the design of kitchen and bath spaces or the
specification of products for kitchen and bath areas in noncommercial settings;
and

(
8)
furniture, equipment, cabinetry, or millwork, if the preparation or
implementation of those drawings or the installation of those materials or
furnishings is not regulated by any building code or other law, ordinance,
rule, or regulation governing the alteration or construction of a structure.

S
ECTION 20.
S
ection
40-3-30
0 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-300
. An architect
or registered interior designer
may
not enter into a contract for professional services on any basis other than
direct negotiation thereby precluding participation in any system requiring a
comparison of compensation. However, an architect
or
registered interior designer
may state compensation to a prospective
client in direct negotiation where architectural
or
registered interior design
services necessary to protect the public
health, safety, and welfare have been defined.

S
ECTION 21.
S
ection
40-3-310
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-310
.
(
A) Service of a notice
provided for by law upon a nonresident architect who has been admitted to the
practice of architecture
or registered interior design,
or
upon a resident architect
or registered interior designer
who,
having been admitted, subsequently becomes a nonresident or after due diligence
cannot be found at his usual abode or place of business in this State, may be
made by leaving with the administrator of the board a copy of the notice and
any accompanying documents and by sending to the architect
or registered interior designer
by certified mail an
attested copy, with an endorsement on the copy of the service upon the
administrator, addressed to the architect at his last known address.

(
B)
The return receipt for the certified mail must be attached to and made a part
of the return of service of the notice by the board. The chairman of the board
before which there was pending a proceeding in which notice has been given, as
provided in this section, may order a continuance as may be necessary to afford
the architect
or registered interior designer
reasonable
opportunity to appear and defend. The administrator shall keep a record of the
day of the service of the notice and any accompanying documents.

S
ECTION 22.
S
ection
40-3-320
of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

S
ection
40-3-320
. The building official or other
authority charged with the responsibility of issuing building or other similar
permits of any county, municipality, or other subdivision, before issuing the
permit, must be in possession of a sealed set of plans and specifications for
which the seal of a registered architect
or registered
interior designer
is required and to verify that the architect
or registered interior designer
who sealed the
architectural plans and specifications is an architect
or
interior designer
registered in South Carolina.

S
ECTION 23. Chapter
3, Title 40 of the S.C. Code is redesignated "Architects and Interior Designers."

S
ECTION 24. This act takes effect upon
approval by the Governor.

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This web page was last updated on January 22, 2026 at 10:48 AM