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 Wisconsin Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers, Professional Land Surveyors, and Registered Interior Designers and Wis. Admin. Code § A-E 2.02(1), (4) on 21 September 2026 · Updated 21 September 2026
Your city is a required element. Wis. Admin. Code § A-E 2.02(1) lists exactly three things a seal must include: “the credential holder’s name, credential number and city.” Very few states ask for a city, and a stamp ordered from a national template will not have the line. It also means reordering if you move your practice to a different Wisconsin city, because the city on the seal is a rule requirement rather than a courtesy.
The size range is generous and the content rule is strict: “The overall diameter may not be less than 15/8 inches nor more than 2 inches,” applied to every profession the chapter covers. The rule text does not call for the word Wisconsin, the profession name or any date; those come from the approved designs published as a diagram at A-E 2.02(2), which carries no extractable text. Copy the published design rather than reconstructing it from the rule’s wording.
Wisconsin protects this credential as a title rather than as a practice. Wis. Stat. § 443.17(1) prohibits misuse of a seal by persons registered to practice architecture, landscape architecture or professional engineering, and describes the harm as aiding “the unauthorized practice of architecture or professional engineering or the unauthorized use of the title ‘landscape architect’ by persons not authorized under this chapter.” That does not soften the seal duty at all.
Wisconsin landscape architect seal requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Wisconsin rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seal required | Yes | Wis. Admin. Code § A-E 2.02(1), (4) |
| Required elements | Your name as credentialed, Your credential number and Your city | Wis. Admin. Code § A-E 2.02(1) |
| Size and shape | Not less than 1-5/8 inches and not more than 2 inches overall diameter. | Wis. Admin. Code § A-E 2.02(1) |
| Device allowed | A-E 2.02(3), repealed and recreated by CR 24-028 effective 1 June 2025: “The registration seal may be an embossing seal, an ink stamp seal, a digitally printed seal, or digitally embedded seal in an electronic. | Wis. Admin. Code § A-E 2.02(3), as repealed and recreated by CR 24-028, eff. 6-1-25 |
| Signature and date | A-E 2.02(7)(b) permits three combinations on documents filed as public documents: a physically placed seal with a handwritten signature in permanent ink containing the name and date; a digitally placed seal with a handwritten signature in permanent ink containing the name and date; or a digitally placed seal with an electronic signature containing the name and date. | Wis. Admin. Code § A-E 2.02(7)(b), (c) |
| What must be sealed | Every sheet by default, with the bound-volume relief in A-E 2.02(5) allowing the credential holder who prepared or directed and controlled a bound volume to sign, seal and date the title or index sheet only, where that sheet clearly identifies all other sheets and sheets prepared under another credential holder are separately sealed by that person. | Wis. Admin. Code § A-E 2.02(5), (6) |
| Electronic seal | No named technology. | Wis. Admin. Code § A-E 2.02(3), (7)(b)3, as created or recreated by CR 24-028, eff. 6-1-25 |
| Renewal and lapse | Renewal within five years of expiration needs only the renewal fee under A-E 2.05(1). | Wis. Admin. Code §§ A-E 2.045, A-E 2.05 |
| Firm requirements | Not applicable to landscape architects. | Wis. Stat. § 443.08(2), (3)(a) |
| Regulator | The Wisconsin Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers, Professional Land Surveyors, and Registered Interior Designers | Wis. Stat. ch. 443 (§§ 443.08, 443.15, 443.17, 443.18), 2023-24 Wisconsin Statutes published 4 Sept. 2026, with Wis. Admin. Code ch. A-E 2, A-E 2.02(3), (5) and (7) amended or recreated by CR 24-028, Register May 2025 No. 833, eff. 6-1-25, and A-E 2.03(5) created by CR 25-082, eff. 7-1-26. |
Is a seal required in Wisconsin?
Landscape architects are named in both halves of the Wisconsin scheme. Wis. Admin. Code § A-E 2.02(4) requires that “Each sheet of plans, drawings, documents, specifications, and reports for architectural, landscape architectural, professional engineering, design, professional land surveying, and registered interior design practice shall be signed, sealed, and dated by the credential holder who prepared, or directed and controlled preparation of, the written material,” and A-E 2.02(1) requires each credential holder to obtain a seal. Wis. Stat. § 443.17(1) adds the prohibition side for landscape architects by name.
What must appear on the seal
- Your name as credentialed
- Your credential number
- Your city
A-E 2.02(1) requires the seal to include “the credential holder’s name, credential number and city.” The city is mandatory and is the element most often missing from a landscape architect seal imported from another state. The rule text does not call for the word Wisconsin, the profession name or any date; those come from the approved designs published as a diagram at A-E 2.02(2), which carries no extractable text, so copy the published design rather than reconstructing it from the rule’s wording.
Size and shape
Not less than 1-5/8 inches and not more than 2 inches overall diameter. A-E 2.02(1): “The overall diameter may not be less than 15/8 inches nor more than 2 inches.” The same range applies to every profession the chapter covers, so Wisconsin is forgiving on size and strict on content.
Embosser, rubber stamp or digital
A-E 2.02(3), repealed and recreated by CR 24-028 effective 1 June 2025: “The registration seal may be an embossing seal, an ink stamp seal, a digitally printed seal, or digitally embedded seal in an electronic file.” An ink stamp seal sized inside the permitted range is the safe buy, with the same artwork supplied as a digital file for electronic sets.
Signing and dating
A-E 2.02(7)(b) permits three combinations on documents filed as public documents: a physically placed seal with a handwritten signature in permanent ink containing the name and date; a digitally placed seal with a handwritten signature in permanent ink containing the name and date; or a digitally placed seal with an electronic signature containing the name and date. A date is required in all three. Signing across the face of the seal is not required and not mentioned. A-E 2.02(7)(c) defers to statute where other signature or seal standards exist.
Wisconsin protects the title rather than the practice, and still makes you seal every sheet
Wis. Stat. § 443.17(1) is worded with unusual care. It prohibits misuse of a seal by persons registered to practice architecture, landscape architecture or professional engineering, and then describes the harm as aiding “the unauthorized practice of architecture or professional engineering or the unauthorized use of the title ‘landscape architect’ by persons not authorized under this chapter.” Architecture and engineering are protected as practices; landscape architecture is protected as a title. That distinction shapes the whole Wisconsin landscape architecture credential.
It does not soften the seal duty. A-E 2.02(4) names landscape architectural practice in the list of work whose every sheet must be signed, sealed and dated, and A-E 2.02(1) makes obtaining a seal mandatory. What differs is what sits behind it: no certificate of authorization for your firm under Wis. Stat. § 443.08(2), which names architects, engineers, designers and registered interior designers and not landscape architects.
The element that catches buyers out is the city. A-E 2.02(1) lists exactly three things a seal must include: name, credential number and city. Very few states ask for a city, and a stamp ordered from a national template will not have the line.
Finally, check the date on any Wisconsin guidance you are relying on. A-E 2.02(3) and the three seal and signature combinations in A-E 2.02(7)(b) were created or recreated by CR 24-028 effective 1 June 2025, and the old A-E 2.02(7)(a) was repealed.
Which documents must be sealed
Every sheet by default, with the bound-volume relief in A-E 2.02(5) allowing the credential holder who prepared or directed and controlled a bound volume to sign, seal and date the title or index sheet only, where that sheet clearly identifies all other sheets and sheets prepared under another credential holder are separately sealed by that person. A-E 2.02(6) bars any addition, deletion or other revision affecting public health and safety or any state or local code requirement unless signed, sealed and dated by whoever made or directed it. Wis. Stat. § 443.15 exempts single-family dwellings and their outbuildings, two-family apartment buildings, agricultural buildings, temporary construction sheds of not more than two stories and buildings or additions under 50,000 cubic feet total volume.
Electronic and digital seals
No named technology. A-E 2.02(7)(b)3 permits digital placement of a seal with an electronic signature containing the name and date, and A-E 2.02(3) recognizes digitally printed and digitally embedded seals. No certificate authority, algorithm or tamper-evidence requirement appears. Both provisions arrived with CR 24-028 effective 1 June 2025, so Wisconsin electronic-sealing guidance dated earlier is describing a repealed rule.
Renewal, lapse and retirement
Renewal within five years of expiration needs only the renewal fee under A-E 2.05(1). Beyond five years, A-E 2.05(2) requires the relevant section of the board to determine continuing competence, review the last five years of practice elsewhere and impose any conditions it thinks appropriate, up to current original-licensure requirements. A-E 2.045 offers retired status at 65 or after 20 years of active credential maintenance. Wis. Stat. § 443.18(1)(a) makes attempting to use an expired or revoked certificate of registration punishable by a fine of $100 to $500 or up to three months imprisonment or both. Nothing requires the seal to be surrendered or destroyed and nothing changes the credential number.
Firm requirements
Not applicable to landscape architects. Wis. Stat. § 443.08(2) requires a certificate of authorization for a firm through which an architect, professional engineer, designer or Wisconsin registered interior designer practices, and A-E 2.03(5), created by CR 25-082 effective 1 July 2026, carries the same list. Landscape architects are not named, so a Wisconsin landscape architecture firm needs no board certificate of authorization. No firm holds a seal and no firm number goes on the sheet.
What to check before you order
Specify an overall diameter between 1-5/8 and 2 inches and three required elements: your name as credentialed, your credential number and your city. Suppliers leave the city off, so make it explicit. Send the approved design diagram attached to A-E 2.02(2) rather than describing the ring, since that layout exists only as an image in the published code. Ask for an ink stamp plus a matching digitally printed and digitally embeddable file, because A-E 2.02(3) recognizes all of those and you will want both. Reorder if you move your practice to a different Wisconsin city, because the city on the seal is a rule requirement rather than a courtesy.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a seal required for landscape architects in Wisconsin?
Yes. Wis. Admin. Code § A-E 2.02(1) requires each credential holder to obtain a seal, and A-E 2.02(4) requires that “Each sheet of plans, drawings, documents, specifications, and reports for architectural, landscape architectural, professional engineering, design, professional land surveying, and registered interior design practice shall be signed, sealed, and dated by the credential holder who prepared, or directed and controlled preparation of, the written material.” Wis. Stat. § 443.17(1) adds the prohibition side for landscape architects by name.
What has to appear on a Wisconsin landscape architect seal?
Three things under A-E 2.02(1): your name as credentialed, your credential number and your city. The rule text does not call for the word Wisconsin, the profession name or any date; those come from the approved design diagram at A-E 2.02(2), so copy that design rather than reconstructing the ring from the rule’s wording.
What size is a Wisconsin landscape architect seal?
Not less than 1-5/8 inches and not more than 2 inches overall diameter, under A-E 2.02(1). The same range applies to every profession the chapter covers, so Wisconsin is forgiving on size and strict on content.
Embosser, ink stamp or digital seal in Wisconsin?
All of them. A-E 2.02(3), repealed and recreated by CR 24-028 effective 1 June 2025: “The registration seal may be an embossing seal, an ink stamp seal, a digitally printed seal, or digitally embedded seal in an electronic file.” An ink stamp seal sized inside the permitted range is the practical buy, with the same artwork supplied as a digital file for electronic sets.
How do I sign and date a Wisconsin sealed document?
A-E 2.02(7)(b) permits three combinations on documents filed as public documents: a physically placed seal with a handwritten signature in permanent ink containing the name and date; a digitally placed seal with a handwritten signature in permanent ink containing the name and date; or a digitally placed seal with an electronic signature containing the name and date. A date is required in all three. Signing across the face of the seal is not required and not mentioned. A-E 2.02(7)(c) defers to statute where other signature or seal standards exist.
Does every Wisconsin sheet need a seal?
By default yes, with bound-volume relief. A-E 2.02(5) lets the credential holder who prepared or directed and controlled a bound volume sign, seal and date the title or index sheet only, where that sheet clearly identifies all other sheets and sheets prepared under another credential holder are separately sealed by that person.
What about revisions in Wisconsin?
A-E 2.02(6) bars any addition, deletion or other revision affecting public health and safety or any state or local code requirement unless signed, sealed and dated by whoever made or directed it.
What work is exempt in Wisconsin?
Wis. Stat. § 443.15 exempts single-family dwellings and their outbuildings, two-family apartment buildings, agricultural buildings, temporary construction sheds of not more than two stories and buildings or additions under 50,000 cubic feet total volume.
Is there a Wisconsin electronic sealing standard?
No named technology. A-E 2.02(7)(b)3 permits digital placement of a seal with an electronic signature containing the name and date, and A-E 2.02(3) recognizes digitally printed and digitally embedded seals. No certificate authority, algorithm or tamper-evidence requirement appears. Both provisions arrived with CR 24-028 effective 1 June 2025, so Wisconsin electronic-sealing guidance dated earlier is describing a repealed rule.
Does a Wisconsin landscape architecture firm need a certificate of authorization?
No. Wis. Stat. § 443.08(2) requires a certificate of authorization for a firm through which an architect, professional engineer, designer or Wisconsin registered interior designer practices, and A-E 2.03(5), created by CR 25-082 effective 1 July 2026, carries the same list. Landscape architects are not named, so no board certificate of authorization is required, no firm holds a seal and no firm number goes on the sheet.
What happens to a Wisconsin credential that lapses?
Renewal within five years of expiration needs only the renewal fee under A-E 2.05(1). Beyond five years, A-E 2.05(2) requires the relevant section of the board to determine continuing competence, review the last five years of practice elsewhere and impose any conditions it thinks appropriate, up to current original-licensure requirements. A-E 2.045 offers retired status at 65 or after 20 years of active credential maintenance. Wis. Stat. § 443.18(1)(a) makes attempting to use an expired or revoked certificate of registration punishable by a fine of $100 to $500 or up to three months imprisonment or both. Nothing requires the seal to be surrendered or destroyed and nothing changes the credential number.
