Products, Vendors, CAD Files, Spec Sheets and More...
Sign up for LAWeekly newsletter
Pennsylvania officials have ruled that the state?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s landscape architects are legally qualified to complete certain structural stormwater designs. The January decision reverses a previous ruling that placed stormwater design work outside of landscape architects?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'???? job description. Now the state?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s LAs can ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????prepare and seal?EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????? stormwater plans.
The Pennsylvania/Delaware ASLA Chapter reports that a Jan. 17 letter from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) reverses the department?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s earlier position that landscape architects were not qualified to design stormwater BMPs. The DEP letter states that landscape architects ?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????are qualified to design certain structural stormwater BMPs.?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????
The Pennsylvania/Delaware Chapter has been working to reverse DEP?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s decision in 2007 that recognized only professional engineers as qualified to design structural stormwater BMPs.
On Nov. 15, 2007, James Barnes, LA, chairman of the Penn. State Board of Landscape Architects submitted a list of structural stormwater management BMPS to the DEP?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s Office of Water Management that the board considered within the practice of registered landscape architects.
On Jan. 17, Mr. Barnes received a letter from Cathy Currant Myers, deputy secretary for water management within DEP. The letter states, in part:
?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????DEP staff has completed their review of the correspondence you submitted ?EUR??,,????'?????<??????????????????????(R)???????+?containing a list of structural stormwater management BMPs that fall within the practice of registered landscape architects. DEP concurs that the licensing law provides that registered landscape architects are qualified to design certain structural stormwater management BMPs. Registered landscape architects are qualified to prepare and seal plans and specifications for the structural stormwater management BMPs listed on the ?EUR??,,????'?????<??????????????????????(R)???????+??EUR??,,????'?????<????????????????? Approved List of Structural BMPs for Registered Landscape Architects, which covers BMPs contained in Chapter 6 of the Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practice Manual (Dec. 30, 2006), Technical Guidance 363-0300-002.
?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????The individual licensed professional?EUR??,,????'?????<???????????????????????(R)?EUR??,,????'????s education, training and experience will dictate individual qualifications to prepare designs for certain practices. Registered licensed professionals must apply their professional design judgment as to whether other licensed professionals are needed to complete or assist in the design. DEP will also reflect these changes in the Notice of Intent/Application for general/individual NPDES permits and in guidance documents related to the NPDES stormwater construction permits.?EUR??,,????'?????<?????????????????
Sources: Pa. State Board of Landscape Architects, Pa./Delaware Chapter ASLA
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
Sign up to receive Landscape Architect and Specifier News Magazine, LA Weekly and More...
Invalid Verification Code
Please enter the Verification Code below
You are now subcribed to LASN. You can also search and download CAD files and spec sheets from LADetails.