Written by Acorn Sales Company, manufacturing stamps and seals since 1964 · Reviewed by Holly R, VP of Sales and Marketing at Acorn Sales, against the Montana Board of Architects and Landscape Architects, within the Business Standards Division of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry and Mont. Code Ann. § 37-65-308 on 21 September 2026 · Updated 21 September 2026
The city of your office goes on a Montana architect seal. Mont. Code Ann. § 37-65-308 requires four things and one of them is not a credential at all: “Every licensed architect must have a seal that must contain the name of the architect, the city and state of the architect’s place of business, the architect’s license number, and the words ‘Licensed Architect, State of Montana’.” Almost no other state puts a business location on the face, and the practical consequence is that a Montana architect who relocates the practice has a seal that no longer states the truth even though the name and number are unchanged.
The legend is Licensed Architect, State of Montana. That differs from the Montana landscape architect seal at § 37-66-308(2), which requires the name and the words Licensed Landscape Architect, State of Montana plus such additional elements as the board determines, and which does not name the place of business. One board, two statutes, two chapters of the code.
One thing to be straightforward about: the statute states no diameter and names no device. Any dimension, device list, signature rule or electronic seal standard would sit in the board’s administrative rules at ARM Title 24, chapter 114, which is not published in readable form. The Secretary of State’s rules site serves an interactive human-verification challenge, which we do not click through, and the mtrules.org mirror presents a certificate that does not match its hostname, which was not bypassed. Ask the board before committing to an electronic format, and treat any quoted Montana architect diameter as unverified unless the supplier can say where it comes from. Ours comes from our own bench: Acorn cuts this seal to a 1-5/8 inch nominal circle, and our artwork carries the city and state line on its own row, which is the statutory element most templates omit.
Montana architect seal requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Montana rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seal required | Yes | Mont. Code Ann. § 37-65-308 |
| Required elements | The words “STATE OF MONTANA” around one arc; The words “LICENSED ARCHITECT” around the other arc; Your place name in the center; Your city and state, on its own line; Your license number, in the form “No. 12345”; A concentric inner ring | Mont. Code Ann. § 37-65-308 |
| Size and shape | This is what Acorn actually makes for Montana, taken from our own production artwork rather than from a published rule. | Acorn Sales production artwork, Montana architect seal |
| Device allowed | Not addressed in any source we could obtain. | Mont. Code Ann. § 37-65-308 (silent as to device) |
| Signature and date | Not addressed in the statute. | Mont. Code Ann. § 37-65-308 (silent as to signature and date) |
| What must be sealed | Not addressed in the statute as a document list. | Mont. Code Ann. §§ 37-65-103, 37-65-301, 37-65-308 |
| Electronic seal | Not addressed. MCA Title 37 chapter 65 contains no electronic or digital seal provision and names no technology, certificate authority or board-approved signing process. Whatever Montana requires of electronic architect. | Mont. Code Ann. Title 37 ch. 65 (no electronic seal provision) |
| Renewal and lapse | Section 37-65-311 creates emeritus status and § 37-65-314 covers discipline and injunction, with § 37-65-315 making certain acts a misdemeanour. | Mont. Code Ann. §§ 37-65-311, 37-65-314 (chapter silent as to the device on lapse) |
| Firm requirements | Not addressed in the statute. | Mont. Code Ann. Title 37 ch. 65 part 3 (no certificate of authorization provision) |
| Regulator | The Montana Board of Architects and Landscape Architects, within the Business Standards Division of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry | Montana Code Annotated Title 37 ch. 65 (Architecture), parts 1, 2 and 3, read at mca.legmt.gov, with §§ 37-65-301 and 37-65-308 taken in full and the part 3 section list confirming §§ 37-65-304, 305, 306, 309, 310, 321, 322 and 323 repealed |
Is a seal required in Montana?
Mont. Code Ann. § 37-65-308, headed Seal of architect, states the duty and the content in a single sentence: “Every licensed architect must have a seal that must contain the name of the architect, the city and state of the architect’s place of business, the architect’s license number, and the words ‘Licensed Architect, State of Montana’.” Section 37-65-301 supplies the practice bar that the seal sits inside: no person may practice architecture in Montana or use the title architect or licensed architect, or any words, letters, figures or other device implying it, without qualifying under the chapter.
What must appear on the seal
- The words “STATE OF MONTANA” around one arc
- The words “LICENSED ARCHITECT” around the other arc
- Your place name in the center
- Your city and state, on its own line
- Your license number, in the form “No. 12345”
- A concentric inner ring
Montana puts your business address on the face, which almost no other state does. The city and state of the architect’s place of business is a statutory element, not an option, and it means that moving offices across a city line can make the device stale in a way a license number never does. The legend is Licensed Architect, State of Montana. Note the divergence from the Montana landscape architect seal at § 37-66-308(2), which requires the name and the words Licensed Landscape Architect, State of Montana plus such additional elements as the board determines, and does not name the place of business.
Size and shape
This is what Acorn actually makes for Montana, taken from our own production artwork rather than from a published rule. The Board’s administrative rules sit behind a verification gate we do not click through, so no published diameter could be quoted. What follows is the die we cut. The die is built to a 1-5/8 inch nominal circle, with the printed border just inside it.
Embosser, rubber stamp or digital
Not addressed in any source we could obtain. The statute names no device: the words embossed, rubber stamp, facsimile, computer generated and electronic do not appear in § 37-65-308. Embossed, inked and electronic devices are all plausible and all unverified for Montana architects, because the board’s rules at ARM Title 24 chapter 114 were unreachable as described in the size slot. Order a physical inked stamp, which no reading of the statute could exclude, and confirm the format with the board before relying on an electronic one.
Signing and dating
Not addressed in the statute. Section 37-65-308 requires the seal and says nothing about a signature, a date or placement. The sources here are MCA Title 37 ch. 65 part 3 in full. Any signature or date rule would sit in ARM Title 24 chapter 114, which was unreachable. Contrast the Montana landscape architect statute at § 37-66-308(2), which does state where the seal goes, requiring all drawings and title pages of specifications prepared by or under the supervision of the landscape architect to bear the seal.
The city of your office is on the seal, and the rule chapter could not be read
Mont. Code Ann. § 37-65-308 requires four things on a Montana architect seal, and one of them is not a credential at all: “the city and state of the architect’s place of business.” Almost no other state puts a business location on the face. The practical consequence is that a Montana architect who relocates the practice has a seal that no longer states the truth, even though the license number and the name are unchanged.
Which documents must be sealed
Not addressed in the statute as a document list. Section 37-65-308 creates the seal without saying what it goes on. Section 37-65-301 requires a license to practice architecture or to use the title, and § 37-65-103 carries the exemptions. Any document list would sit in ARM Title 24 chapter 114, which was unreachable. What the Montana landscape architect statute does say, at § 37-66-308(2), is instructive by contrast: that seal goes on all drawings and title pages of specifications prepared by or under the landscape architect’s supervision, and it expressly cannot replace the seals of licensed architects, professional engineers or land surveyors.
Electronic and digital seals
Not addressed. MCA Title 37 chapter 65 contains no electronic or digital seal provision and names no technology, certificate authority or board-approved signing process. Whatever Montana requires of electronic architect seals would sit in ARM Title 24 chapter 114, which was unreachable as described in the size slot. Treat any vendor claim about a Montana digital architect seal standard as unverified.
Renewal, lapse and retirement
Section 37-65-311 creates emeritus status and § 37-65-314 covers discipline and injunction, with § 37-65-315 making certain acts a misdemeanour. Not addressed: nothing in MCA Title 37 chapter 65 says what happens to the seal on expiration, suspension or revocation, whether the license number changes on reinstatement, or whether the device must be destroyed or surrendered. The sources here are part 3 in full, §§ 37-65-301 through 37-65-323, noting that §§ 37-65-304, 305, 306, 309, 310, 321, 322 and 323 are repealed. Contrast the Montana engineer and land surveyor statute at § 37-67-314(4), which makes it unlawful for a licensee whose license has expired to sign or seal any professional or technical document.
Firm requirements
Not addressed in the statute. MCA Title 37 chapter 65 part 3 contains no certificate of authorization provision: the part runs from license required and licensure limited to individuals through application and examination, deposit of license fees, the seal of architect and emeritus status, with the remaining sections repealed or reserved. The seal itself carries the city and state of the architect’s place of business rather than a firm name. Any firm requirement would sit in ARM Title 24 chapter 114, which was unreachable. Contrast Montana engineering and land surveying, where § 37-67-328 requires a certificate of authorization for a business entity registered with the Montana secretary of state.
What to check before you order
Order a device carrying four statutory elements: your name, the city and state of your place of business, your license number, and the words Licensed Architect, State of Montana. Do not leave the city off; it is a statutory element in Montana and is easy to omit because so few states ask for it. Montana’s statute states no diameter and names no device, and the board’s administrative rules at ARM Title 24 chapter 114 is not published in readable form, so ask the board for the current rule before you commit to a size or to an electronic format. A physical inked stamp is the safe purchase in the meantime. If you move your practice to a different city, treat the seal as needing replacement.
Browse architect stamps and seals.
Frequently asked questions
Is an architect seal required in Montana?
Yes. Mont. Code Ann. § 37-65-308, headed Seal of architect, states the duty and the content in a single sentence. Section 37-65-301 supplies the practice bar the seal sits inside: no person may practice architecture in Montana or use the title architect or licensed architect, or any words, letters, figures or other device implying it, without qualifying under the chapter.
What has to appear on a Montana architect seal?
Four statutory elements: your name, the city and state of your place of business, your license number, and the words Licensed Architect, State of Montana. The city and state is an element rather than an option, and it is the one most easily left off because so few states ask for it. Acorn’s own production artwork carries STATE OF MONTANA on one arc, LICENSED ARCHITECT on the other, the place name in the center, the city and state on a line of their own, the license number in the form No. 12345, and a concentric inner ring. That is what we cut, not a published specification.
What size is a Montana architect seal?
The statute states none. Section 37-65-308 prescribes four content elements and no diameter, shape or proportion, and Title 37 ch. 65 part 3 in full, §§ 37-65-301 through 37-65-323, states none either. Any dimension would sit in ARM Title 24 chapter 114, which is not published in readable form, so treat any quoted Montana architect seal diameter as unverified until the board supplies it. Acorn’s own production artwork for this seal is built to a 1-5/8 inch nominal circle, with the printed border just inside it. That is our production record rather than a published rule, so the board remains the authority if it later publishes a figure.
Can I use an embosser in Montana?
The statute names no device: the words embossed, rubber stamp, facsimile, computer generated and electronic do not appear in § 37-65-308. Embossed, inked and electronic devices are all plausible and all unverified here, because the board’s rules at ARM Title 24 chapter 114 were unreachable. A physical inked stamp is the safe purchase, since no reading of the statute could exclude it, and it is worth confirming the format with the board before relying on an electronic one.
Does Montana require a signature and date with the seal?
The statute does not say. Section 37-65-308 requires the seal and says nothing about a signature, a date or placement, and part 3 in full adds nothing. Any signature or date rule would sit in ARM Title 24 chapter 114. The Montana landscape architect statute at § 37-66-308(2) does state where that seal goes, requiring all drawings and title pages of specifications prepared by or under the landscape architect’s supervision to bear it, which is instructive by contrast.
Which documents have to be sealed in Montana?
The statute creates the seal without saying what it goes on. Section 37-65-301 requires a license to practice architecture or to use the title, and § 37-65-103 carries the exemptions. Any document list would sit in ARM Title 24 chapter 114. By contrast, the landscape architect statute at § 37-66-308(2) puts that seal on all drawings and title pages of specifications prepared by or under the landscape architect’s supervision, and expressly says it cannot replace the seals of licensed architects, professional engineers or land surveyors.
Do I need a new Montana seal if I move offices?
Treat it as needing replacement. The city and state of your place of business is a statutory element, so a relocation makes the face inaccurate in a way a license number never does. That is specific to Montana architects; the Montana landscape architect seal does not carry a place of business.
Does Montana set a digital seal standard for architects?
Title 37 chapter 65 contains no electronic or digital seal provision and names no technology, certificate authority or board-approved signing process. Whatever Montana requires of electronic architect seals would sit in ARM Title 24 chapter 114, which was unreachable for this page. Treat any vendor claim about a Montana digital architect seal standard as unverified.
What happens to my Montana seal if my license lapses?
Nothing in Title 37 chapter 65 says what happens to the seal on expiration, suspension or revocation, whether the license number changes on reinstatement, or whether the device must be destroyed or surrendered. Part 3 was read in full, noting that §§ 37-65-304, 305, 306, 309, 310, 321, 322 and 323 are repealed. Section 37-65-311 creates emeritus status and § 37-65-314 covers discipline and injunction, with § 37-65-315 making certain acts a misdemeanour. The Montana engineer and land surveyor statute at § 37-67-314(4) does make it unlawful for a licensee whose license has expired to sign or seal any professional or technical document.
Does a Montana architecture firm need a certificate of authorization?
Title 37 chapter 65 part 3 contains no certificate of authorization provision. The part runs from license required and licensure limited to individuals through application and examination, deposit of license fees, the seal of architect and emeritus status, with the remaining sections repealed or reserved. The seal itself carries the city and state of your place of business rather than a firm name. Any firm requirement would sit in ARM Title 24 chapter 114. Montana engineering and land surveying is different: § 37-67-328 requires a certificate of authorization for a business entity registered with the Montana secretary of state.
