Find a Florida Engineer for Your Project

Buildings, roads, drainage systems, utilities, and other constructed works can affect public safety long after the permit is issued. Professional engineer licensure exists to put qualified people in responsible charge of technical decisions involving loads, materials, soils, water, electricity, mechanical systems, and other engineering risks. A PE who signs and seals final engineering documents identifies the work as final and accepts professional responsibility for it.

Architects and professional engineers often work on the same building, but they are not interchangeable. Architects typically organize the building as a place for people: its relationship to the site, floor plans, circulation, exits, accessibility, exterior form, and overall design coordination. Engineers typically design and calculate the systems that make the project stand up and function, including structural framing and foundations, civil grading and drainage, utilities, and mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems.

A building permit set may contain architectural sheets and several engineering disciplines, with each licensed professional signing and sealing the work under that professional's responsible control. A civil or infrastructure project may be led entirely by engineers, while some smaller projects qualify for exemptions. The right team and required seals depend on the project scope and the local authority reviewing the permit.