An Alabama architect seal must be a circle two inches in diameter, with STATE OF ALABAMA along the upper part of the outer ring, REGISTERED ARCHITECT along its lower part, and your name and registration number within the inner ring. Rubber stamps and impression seals are allowed outright. A computer-generated seal needs the approval of the authority having jurisdiction. This page covers the face, size, devices, documents and reinstatement.
Engineer Seal Stamps compliance desk. Checked against Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-5-.03. Sources read September 2026.
| Requirement | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Outline and diameter | A circle, two inches across. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-5-.03 |
| Rings | An outer circle and an inner circle. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-5-.03 |
| Upper outer ring | STATE OF ALABAMA | Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-5-.03 |
| Lower outer ring | REGISTERED ARCHITECT | Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-5-.03 |
| Inner circle | Your name and your registration number. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-5-.03 |
| Rubber stamp or impression seal | Both allowed without any condition. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-5-.03 |
| Computer-generated seal | Allowed only where the authority having jurisdiction allows it. No electronic signature standard follows. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-5-.03 (no electronic signature standard) |
| Signature, date and placement | The rule mentions none of them. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-5-.03 (silent as to signature and date) |
| Documents to seal | Every final drawing, plan, specification, plat and report you present to a client, or to a public or governmental agency when seeking a construction permit, must carry it. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-5-.03, 100-X-5-.04 |
| Reinstated registration | An approved reinstatement reissues the same registration number. | Ala. Admin. Code r. 100-X-2-.06 |
Alabama is one row in our architect seal requirements by state table, which sets each jurisdiction's rule side by side. The seal follows registration; the degree, experience and exam routes that lead to a Alabama license are compared in how to become a licensed architect.
What goes on the face of an Alabama architect seal?
Four items arranged in two rings. The outer ring reads STATE OF ALABAMA along its top and REGISTERED ARCHITECT along its bottom, while the inner ring holds your name and your registration number. All four come from rule 100-X-5-.03.
- Outer ring, top: STATE OF ALABAMA.
- Outer ring, bottom: REGISTERED ARCHITECT.
- Inner ring: your name.
- Inner ring: your registration number.
The two legends are fixed text, so the only details that change from one architect to the next are the name and the number. For examples of how the elements come together, see our page on Alabama architect stamp designs.
Does an Alabama architect seal need two separate circles?
Yes. The rule places both legends in the outer circle and your name and number inside the inner circle, so the design needs an outer and an inner circle. A single ring holding all four items does not follow that layout.
Placement is part of the rule, not a style choice. When you review a proof, check where each item sits as well as how it is spelled: legends on the outer ring, name and number inside.
What size must an Alabama architect seal be?
Two inches in diameter, and circular. Rule 100-X-5-.03 states a single figure rather than a range, so a seal that measures smaller or larger than two inches does not match it.
At two inches, the inner circle has to hold your full name and your registration number together, so check on the proof that both stay readable.
Which devices can apply an Alabama architect seal?
Three: rubber stamp, impression seal, or computer-generated seal. The first two are allowed outright. The computer-generated seal is allowed only if the authority having jurisdiction over the submission allows it, which makes it the one conditional option.
For paper permit sets, a rubber stamp or an impression seal avoids that extra approval question. If a set will be copied or scanned, test how your chosen device reproduces before relying on it. For a broader overview, see our Alabama architect seal guidelines.
When can an Alabama architect use a computer-generated seal?
Only when the authority having jurisdiction allows it. Rule 100-X-5-.03 grants the permission on that condition and adds nothing further, which means it sets no standard for electronic signatures to go with the computer-generated seal.
Because the rule hands the decision to the authority reviewing the particular submission, the answer can differ from one project to the next. Confirm acceptance for that project before you rely on a computer-generated seal in place of a stamp.
Which documents must an Alabama architect seal?
Final drawings and plans, specifications, plats and reports, whenever you present them to a client, or to a public or governmental agency to obtain a construction permit. The sealing duty comes from rules 100-X-5-.03 and 100-X-5-.04.
Plats and reports sit on the list alongside drawings, so a final written report bound for a client needs the seal as much as a sheet in the plan set does. For more background, see our overview of Alabama architect seals.
Does Alabama require a signature and date with the architect seal?
The seal rule is silent on both. Rule 100-X-5-.03 tells you to affix the seal and stops there, with no signature, no date and no placement for either one relative to the impression.
So this page states no Alabama signature or date requirement for architects. Any signature or date you add is not something this rule requires, and nothing in it tells you where to put one.
What happens to your seal if an Alabama registration lapses?
The seal rule does not address use after a lapse. What rule 100-X-2-.06 does settle is reinstatement: if approved, you get the same registration number back, so the number cut into your existing seal still matches.
That matters for the face of the seal. Because the registration number is unchanged after an approved reinstatement, the inner ring does not need a new number.
What should you provide when ordering an Alabama architect seal?
Your name and your registration number. The legends STATE OF ALABAMA and REGISTERED ARCHITECT, the two-ring layout and the two-inch diameter are all fixed by rule 100-X-5-.03, so those need no input from you.
- Name: for the inner ring.
- Registration number: for the inner ring.
- Device: rubber stamp or impression seal, or a computer-generated seal where the authority having jurisdiction allows it.
For a condensed checklist, see our short summary of Alabama architect stamp requirements.
How do you check an Alabama seal impression before use?
Measure the impression at two inches across, confirm there are two circles, and read each ring: STATE OF ALABAMA at the top and REGISTERED ARCHITECT at the bottom of the outer ring, with your name and number in the inner one.
Check the registration number digit by digit against your registration record. For more on how the layout reads in practice, see how Alabama architect stamps are laid out.
If you also hold an Alabama geologist license, the Alabama geologist seal rules set out what that seal must carry.
Frequently asked questions
Can an Alabama architect seal be smaller than two inches?
No. The rule gives one diameter, two inches, rather than a range of sizes.
Does the seal carry an expiration date?
The rule's four items are the two legends, your name and your registration number. An expiration date is not among them.
Can I place a computer-generated seal in a PDF set?
Only where the authority having jurisdiction accepts computer-generated seals. The rule attaches no other condition to that device.
Can I use an impression seal by itself?
Yes. The impression seal is one of the two devices the rule allows without a condition.
Is there an Alabama rule on electronic signatures for architects?
Not in the seal rule. It permits a computer-generated seal on the authority's approval and sets no electronic signature standard.
Once your name and registration number are confirmed, order a two-inch seal from our Alabama stamps and seals collection.
