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 Kentucky State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and Ky. Rev. Stat. § 322.340(1), (3) on 21 September 2026 · Updated 21 September 2026
The surveyor range is not the engineer range. The board’s Approved Stamps and Seals page states that “The minimum sizes are 1 3/8″ for the engineering seal or stamp (maximum size of 1 5/8″) and 1 1/4″ for the surveying seal or stamp (maximum size 1 1/2″).” Those ranges overlap but are not the same, so a dual licensee who orders one size for both is likely to be out of range on one of them. The figures come from Approved Stamps and Seals, 1999, which 201 KAR 18:104 Section 6 incorporates by reference; the regulation text itself states no dimension and directs the reader to the incorporated material, available for inspection at the board office in Frankfort.
There is a citation trap that survives in circulating guidance. 201 KAR 18:100 and 201 KAR 18:102 are repealed. The regulation that now governs seals and signatures for Kentucky engineers and land surveyors is 201 KAR 18:104. Any document, template or page citing 18:100 or 18:102 is quoting superseded text.
Note also what counts as an original. Section 1(6) defines an “Original seal or stamp” as “a rubber stamp or embossing seal meeting the design requirements established in Section 5,” so a computer generated image is not an original seal, and Section 2(1) requires at least one copy bearing the original seal or stamp, the original signature and the date for anything presented to a client or a public entity.
Kentucky land surveyor seal requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Kentucky rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seal required | Yes | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 322.340(1), (3) |
| Required elements | Your name, Your license number and The words Licensed Professional Land Surveyor | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 322.340(1) |
| Size and shape | The surveyor range is not the engineer range. | 201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 18:104 Sections 5, 6 |
| Device allowed | The board’s Approved Stamps and Seals page states that KRS 322.340 requires every licensee to have “an embossed metallic seal or a rubber stamp.” 201 KAR 18:104 Section 1(6) defines the term the rest of the regulation turns on: an “Original seal or stamp” means “a rubber stamp or embossing seal meeting the design requirements established in Section 5.” A computer generated image is not an original seal. | 201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 18:104 Sections 1(6), 2 |
| Signature and date | KRS 322.340(3) requires the seal or stamp, the signature and the date together, and adds that “Reproduction of original signatures shall be adequate to meet the requirements of this subsection.” 201 KAR 18:104 Section 1(7) defines an original signature as the handwritten name of a person applied to a document. | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 322.340(3), (4) |
| What must be sealed | All reports, specifications, drawings and plans presented to a client or any public or governmental agency, per KRS 322.340(3). | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 322.340(3), (5) |
| Electronic seal | 201 KAR 18:104 Section 3 permits a digital signature in place of an original seal, signature and date if the signature uniquely identifies the licensee, is verifiable, is under the licensee’s direct and exclusive control, is linked to the electronic document so that changes are easily determined and visually displayed, is removed or altered enough to be invalidated by any attempt to change the document after signing, and, where the document will be electronically transmitted, the document is converted to a read only format. | 201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 18:104 Sections 3, 4 |
| Renewal and lapse | KRS 322.340(6) makes it unlawful for a licensee to affix, or permit to be affixed, a seal, stamp or signature to a document described in subsection (3) or (5) after the expiration of a license, or for the purpose of aiding or abetting evasion of chapter 322. | Ky. Rev. Stat. §§ 322.160, 322.340(6) |
| Firm requirements | A business entity permit is required, but nothing puts its number on the document. | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 322.060 |
| Regulator | The Kentucky State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors | 201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 18:104 (Seals and signatures), together with 201 KAR 18:180 and 18:210, read from the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission’s published regulation text |
Is a seal required in Kentucky?
KRS 322.340(1) requires each professional land surveyor, upon licensure, to “obtain a seal or stamp of the design authorized by the board, bearing his or her name, license number, and the words ‘Licensed Professional Engineer’ or ‘Licensed Professional Land Surveyor.’” KRS 322.340(3) states the trigger: “The seal or stamp, signature, and the date shall be used to provide certification for all reports, specifications, drawings, and plans, if presented to a client or any public or governmental agency.” The board regulation adds the copy rule. 201 KAR 18:104 Section 2(1) provides that if a document will be presented to a client or to a public or governmental entity, “at least one (1) copy shall bear the licensee’s original seal or stamp, original signature, and date.”
What must appear on the seal
- Your name
- Your license number
- The words Licensed Professional Land Surveyor
Kentucky prescribes the three statutory elements and leaves the rest to an incorporated design document. 201 KAR 18:104 Section 5 provides only that “The stamps and seals used by a licensee shall be similar in design and conform to the size restrictions established in Approved Stamps and Seals, 1999,” which Section 6 incorporates by reference. The regulation does not reproduce the artwork, so take the layout from the board publication rather than inferring it. No expiration date, renewal date or firm permit number appears on a Kentucky seal. The word Licensed is part of the required legend, not an optional addition.
Size and shape
The surveyor range is not the engineer range. The board’s Approved Stamps and Seals page states that “The minimum sizes are 1 3/8″ for the engineering seal or stamp (maximum size of 1 5/8″) and 1 1/4″ for the surveying seal or stamp (maximum size 1 1/2″).” Those ranges come from the Approved Stamps and Seals, 1999 document incorporated by reference in 201 KAR 18:104 Section 6; the regulation text itself states no dimension and directs the reader to the incorporated material, available for inspection at the board office in Frankfort. The two ranges overlap but are not the same, and a device sized for one profession can fall outside the range for the other.
Embosser, rubber stamp or digital
The board’s Approved Stamps and Seals page states that KRS 322.340 requires every licensee to have “an embossed metallic seal or a rubber stamp.” 201 KAR 18:104 Section 1(6) defines the term the rest of the regulation turns on: an “Original seal or stamp” means “a rubber stamp or embossing seal meeting the design requirements established in Section 5.” A computer generated image is not an original seal. A rubber stamp is the safe buy, because Section 2(1) requires at least one physically stamped copy for anything presented to a client or public entity and an embossed impression alone does not reproduce. Section 2(2) permits any other copy to carry a facsimile of the stamp, signature and date applied by stamps or by computer and printer or plotter.
Signing and dating
KRS 322.340(3) requires the seal or stamp, the signature and the date together, and adds that “Reproduction of original signatures shall be adequate to meet the requirements of this subsection.” 201 KAR 18:104 Section 1(7) defines an original signature as the handwritten name of a person applied to a document. Section 2(1) requires at least one copy of a document presented to a client or public entity to bear the original seal or stamp, the original signature and the date. The regulation does not require the signature to cross the seal. KRS 322.340(4) limits use to work “under the licensee’s complete direction and control.”
The live rule is 201 KAR 18:104, and two older citations are repealed
This is the Kentucky trap that survives in circulating guidance. 201 KAR 18:100 and 201 KAR 18:102 are repealed. The regulation that now governs seals and signatures for Kentucky engineers and land surveyors is 201 KAR 18:104. Any document, template or vendor page citing 18:100 or 18:102 is quoting superseded text.
Which documents must be sealed
All reports, specifications, drawings and plans presented to a client or any public or governmental agency, per KRS 322.340(3). The surveyor-specific duty is at KRS 322.340(5): every survey plat and physical description prepared by a professional land surveyor and submitted to a client or any public or governmental agency must display the certification of the surveyor under whose supervision it was prepared. 201 KAR 18:104 Section 1(2) defines document for the purposes of the regulation as a report, specification, drawing, plan or plat in physical form that requires certification by application of a seal or stamp, a signature and a date. The regulation states no preliminary or draft carve-out for physical documents; the only labelling provision is Section 4, which governs unsealed electronic transmissions.
Electronic and digital seals
201 KAR 18:104 Section 3 permits a digital signature in place of an original seal, signature and date if the signature uniquely identifies the licensee, is verifiable, is under the licensee’s direct and exclusive control, is linked to the electronic document so that changes are easily determined and visually displayed, is removed or altered enough to be invalidated by any attempt to change the document after signing, and, where the document will be electronically transmitted, the document is converted to a read only format. Section 4(1) supplies the alternative for an electronic file sent without a digital signature: the licensee inserts, in place of an image of a seal or stamp, signature and date, the language “This shall not be considered a certified document.” Section 4(2) excuses that language for files sent to a commercial printer or blueprint service for reproduction, or to the licensee’s employer or employees.
Renewal, lapse and retirement
KRS 322.340(6) makes it unlawful for a licensee to affix, or permit to be affixed, a seal, stamp or signature to a document described in subsection (3) or (5) after the expiration of a license, or for the purpose of aiding or abetting evasion of chapter 322. KRS 322.160(1) provides that licenses for individuals and permits for business entities are valid for not more than two years from issuance unless renewed, with license renewals completed on or before June 30 of the year of expiration and permit renewals on or before December 31. 201 KAR 18:210 creates retired and inactive registration for both professions, with a biennial fee and a bar on practice, and requires reinstatement under 201 KAR 18:115 before practicing again. The license number does not change on renewal and the seal carries no date, so a compliant Kentucky seal does not need replacing on renewal.
Firm requirements
A business entity permit is required, but nothing puts its number on the document. KRS 322.060(1)(a) bars a business entity from engaging in practice in Kentucky unless at least one principal, officer or designated employee is a licensee in responsible charge, that person is located at the Kentucky office if one is maintained, and the board has issued a permit to the entity. 201 KAR 18:180 governs the permit: applications are made on the board’s Application for Business Entity Permit, permits are serially numbered for each profession in the order approved, and each permit is renewed annually for the calendar year. Neither KRS 322.340 nor 201 KAR 18:104 requires the permit number, firm name or firm contact information on a sealed document, and the firm has no seal of its own.
What to check before you order
Order a rubber stamp sized between one and one-quarter and one and one-half inches, carrying your name, your license number and the words Licensed Professional Land Surveyor. Ask the board for Approved Stamps and Seals, 1999, which 201 KAR 18:104 Section 6 incorporates by reference and which the regulation itself does not reproduce; the engineering range is different, so do not order one device for both credentials. Keep at least one physically stamped, originally signed and dated copy of anything you present to a client or a public entity. Every survey plat and physical description you submit must display the certification of the surveyor under whose supervision it was prepared. For electronic files sent without a digital signature, insert the words that the document shall not be considered a certified document in place of any seal image.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a seal required for land surveyors in Kentucky?
Yes. KRS 322.340(1) requires each professional land surveyor, upon licensure, to “obtain a seal or stamp of the design authorized by the board, bearing his or her name, license number, and the words ‘Licensed Professional Engineer’ or ‘Licensed Professional Land Surveyor.’” KRS 322.340(3): “The seal or stamp, signature, and the date shall be used to provide certification for all reports, specifications, drawings, and plans, if presented to a client or any public or governmental agency.”
What has to appear on a Kentucky land surveyor seal?
Your name, your license number and the words Licensed Professional Land Surveyor. The word Licensed is part of the required legend rather than an optional addition. No expiration date, renewal date or firm permit number appears on a Kentucky seal. The layout comes from Approved Stamps and Seals, 1999, which the regulation incorporates by reference without reproducing the artwork.
What size is a Kentucky surveying seal?
A minimum of 1 1/4 inches and a maximum of 1 1/2 inches, per the board’s Approved Stamps and Seals publication. The engineering range is 1 3/8 to 1 5/8 inches, so the two are not interchangeable. 201 KAR 18:104 Section 5 provides only that “The stamps and seals used by a licensee shall be similar in design and conform to the size restrictions established in Approved Stamps and Seals, 1999.”
Embossed seal or rubber stamp in Kentucky?
Either counts as an original. The board’s Approved Stamps and Seals page states that KRS 322.340 requires every licensee to have “an embossed metallic seal or a rubber stamp,” and Section 1(6) defines an original seal or stamp as a rubber stamp or embossing seal meeting the design requirements. A computer generated image is not an original seal. A rubber stamp is the safe buy, because Section 2(1) requires at least one physically stamped copy for anything presented to a client or public entity and an embossed impression alone does not reproduce.
What has to be on a Kentucky copy?
At least one copy carries the real thing. Section 2(1) provides that if a document will be presented to a client or to a public or governmental entity, “at least one (1) copy shall bear the licensee’s original seal or stamp, original signature, and date.” Section 2(2) then permits any other copy to carry a facsimile of the stamp, signature and date applied by stamps or by computer and printer or plotter.
What does Kentucky accept as a signature?
Section 1(7) defines an original signature as the handwritten name of a person applied to a document, and KRS 322.340(3) adds that “Reproduction of original signatures shall be adequate to meet the requirements of this subsection.” The regulation does not require the signature to cross the seal. KRS 322.340(4) limits use to work “under the licensee’s complete direction and control.”
What has to go on a Kentucky survey plat?
A certification. KRS 322.340(5) requires every survey plat and physical description prepared by a professional land surveyor and submitted to a client or any public or governmental agency to display the certification of the surveyor under whose supervision it was prepared. That duty belongs to surveyors alone on this board.
How does Kentucky handle digital signatures?
201 KAR 18:104 Section 3 permits a digital signature in place of an original seal, signature and date if the signature uniquely identifies the licensee, is verifiable, is under the licensee’s direct and exclusive control, is linked to the electronic document so that changes are easily determined and visually displayed, is removed or altered enough to be invalidated by any attempt to change the document after signing, and, where the document will be electronically transmitted, the document is converted to a read only format.
Can I send an unsigned electronic file in Kentucky?
Yes, with the prescribed wording. Section 4(1) requires the licensee to insert, in place of an image of a seal or stamp, signature and date, the language “This shall not be considered a certified document.” Section 4(2) excuses that language for files sent to a commercial printer or blueprint service for reproduction, or to the licensee’s employer or employees.
Does a Kentucky seal need replacing at renewal?
No. The license number does not change on renewal and the seal carries no date. KRS 322.160(1) provides that licenses for individuals and permits for business entities are valid for not more than two years from issuance unless renewed, with license renewals completed on or before June 30 of the year of expiration and permit renewals on or before December 31. KRS 322.340(6) makes it unlawful to affix, or permit to be affixed, a seal, stamp or signature to a document described in subsection (3) or (5) after expiration of a license, or for the purpose of aiding or abetting evasion of chapter 322. 201 KAR 18:210 creates retired and inactive registration for both professions, with a bar on practice and reinstatement under 201 KAR 18:115 before practicing again.
Does a Kentucky surveying firm need a permit?
Yes, and nothing puts its number on the document. KRS 322.060(1)(a) bars a business entity from engaging in practice in Kentucky unless at least one principal, officer or designated employee is a licensee in responsible charge, that person is located at the Kentucky office if one is maintained, and the board has issued a permit to the entity. 201 KAR 18:180 governs the permit: applications are made on the board’s Application for Business Entity Permit, permits are serially numbered for each profession in the order approved, and each is renewed annually for the calendar year. Neither KRS 322.340 nor 201 KAR 18:104 requires the permit number, firm name or firm contact information on a sealed document, and the firm has no seal of its own.
