HB1793 and Licensed Interior Design

The practice and title of Licensed Interior Design - Effective April 26, 2024

The title "Registered Commercial Interior Designer" is now "Licensed Interior Designer."
Expands the scope of the practice of "Licensed Interior Design" to include the following work done on any building type:
- The design of interior spaces of a building for the purpose of enhancing and protecting the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
- The design and specification of code-compliant interior finishes, furnishings, fixtures, or equipment.
- The design or modification of new or existing non-structural elements of a building, i.e., partitions, circulation systems, the number and/or configuration of interior exits, etc.
- The review, analysis, and evaluation of building codes, accessibility standards, or guidelines for interior planning, design, and non-structural construction compliance.
A Licensed Interior Designer can seal their work to be submitted for permitting.
Licensed Interior Designers are not allowed to:
- Practice architecture or engineering,
- To act as a coordinating professional on projects involving multiple licensed professionals,
- To design or alter a building's primary structural, fire and life safety, mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems, or any other primary building system,
- To make changes to the building's core or shell.
It is unlawful for a Licensed Interior Designer, Architect, or Landscape Architect to receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from anyone other than a client in relation to the renovation, construction, or alteration undertaken for a specific project. (59 O.S., §46.43)
- i.e. A Licensee cannot solicit or accept compensation from material or equipment suppliers in return for specifying or endorsing their products. (OAC 55:10-11-4(c))
The title, Interior Designer, and the practice of interior design are not regulated by either 59 O.S., §46.1 et al or OAC 55:10 - anyone can use this title and practice this profession without a license.
- Important Note—while Licensed Interior Designers can perform non-structural work on any building type, Interior Designers are still limited to work only on certain building types as set out in 59 O.S., §46.21b.

To see the changes to the Oklahoma State Architectural and Licensed Interior Designers Act, please see the Act & Rules Page.

For an updated example of a Licensed Interior Designer's seal, please see Seal Requirements.

Who can design, seal and sign plans for building types?

For examples of common buildings in each code use group, visit the Architect Requirements for Buildings in Oklahoma page.

Code Use Group	Building Type	Architect	Licensed Interior Designer - interior nonstructural work only
I	Institutional	X	X
R-2	Residential/dormitories, fraternities, sororities, convents	X	X
A-1	Assembly - theaters	X	X
A-4	Assembly - arenas and courts	X	X
A-5	Assembly - bleachers and grandstands	X	X
	Is the building changing from one code use group to another group?	X	X

Code Use Group	Building Type	Criteria	Architect	Licensed Interior Designer - interior nonstructural work only	Unlicensed Individuals
A-2 & A-3	Assembly - food and drink consumption, worship	The code-defined occupancy is LESS than 50 and the building height is 1-2 stories	X	X	X
A-2 & A-3	Assembly - food and drink consumption, worship	The code-defined occupancy is MORE than 50 or the building height is MORE than 2 stories	X	X
E	Educational	The code-defined occupancy is LESS than 50 and the building height is 1-2 stories	X	X	X
E	Educational	The code-defined occupancy is MORE than 50 or the building height is MORE than 2 stories	X	X
B	Business	The building's square footage is LESS than 100,000sq.ft. OR the building's height is 1-2 stories	X	X	X
B	Business	The building's square footage is MORE than 100,000sq.ft. OR the building's height is MORE than 2 stories	X	X
M	Mercantile	The building's square footage is LESS than 200,000sq.ft. OR the building's height is 1-2 stories	X	X	X
M	Mercantile	The building's square footage is MORE than 200,000sq.ft. OR the building's height is MORE than 2 stories	X	X
R-1	Residential - including hotels and motels	The building has LESS than 64 units and the building's height is 1-2 stories	X	X	X
R-1	Residential - including hotels and motels	The building has MORE than 64 units and the building's height is MORE than 2 stories	X	X
	Federal, state, municipal, county, or public-trust or agency-owned building	The project cost is LESS than $158,000 and the building's height is 1-2 stories	X	X	X
	Federal, state, municipal, county, or public-trust or agency-owned building	The project cost is MORE than $158,000 and the building's height is MORE than 2 stories	X	X
U, F, H, S, R-3, & R-4	Utility, Factory/Industrial, High Hazard, Storage, Residential	The building's height is 1-2 stories	X	X	X
U, F, H, S, R-3, & R-4	Utility, Factory/Industrial, High Hazard, Storage, Residential	The building's height is MORE than 2 stories.	X	X

Last Modified on May 08, 2024