PE stamp in Oregon: the statewide code, SE structures, and digital seals

When an Oregon PE stamp is required

The State Board of Examiners for Engineering and Land Surveying (OSBEELS) registers engineers under ORS chapter 672. Board rules state that no person may practice or offer to practice engineering in Oregon unless registered in Oregon, regardless of title. Under OAR 820-025-0015, every final document a registrant issues to a client or public agency bears the seal and signature of the registrant in supervision and control of the work, unless it is clearly marked preliminary, not for construction, or similar. The project address controls the license.

ORS 672.107 adds a second layer. Engineering services for significant structures require an Oregon Professional Structural Engineer. The statute covers hazardous facilities, Risk Category III special occupancy structures, Risk Category IV essential facilities over 4,000 square feet or 20 feet tall, structures the state finds to have irregular features, and occupied buildings more than four stories or 45 feet above average ground level. One- and two-family dwellings are excluded. AllInStamp verifies the Oregon license, and the SE registration when needed, before sealing.

Building Codes Division, Portland, and local departments

The Building Codes Division (BCD) adopts one statewide building code, and many cities and counties have taken on its administration and enforcement. The 2025 Oregon Structural Specialty Code, based on the 2024 IBC with Oregon amendments, took effect October 1, 2025 and became mandatory April 1, 2026. Dwellings fall under the 2023 Oregon Residential Specialty Code, based on the 2021 IRC. The code in effect when the plan review or permit application is filed controls the project. BCD also publishes the Oregon Design Criteria Hub and interim snow-load provisions for repairs and alterations.

Portland Permitting & Development runs structural plan review for the city. Where code requires it, drawings and calculations are stamped by an Oregon-registered design professional, and deferred submittals carry the designer’s seal on every drawing sheet and the calculation cover page, plus a review stamp from the engineer or architect of record. Western Oregon sits in the Cascadia subduction zone, and mountain sites carry heavy snow, so design criteria matter on every set.

The seal under OAR 820-025-0005 and 0010

The seal shows the registrant’s printed name exactly as on file with the board, the date of registration, the certificate number, and the professional title, in the style of the board’s official exhibits. It is at least 2 inches point to point, and reduced or enlarged seals are not allowed on final documents. A Structural Engineer uses the seal with “Structural” above “Registered Professional Engineer.” If the expiration or renewal date is not part of the seal, it is handwritten in permanent ink. The registrant signs through the seal by hand in permanent ink.

For electronic final documents, a digital signature replaces the handwritten one only if it is unique to the registrant, verifiable through a third-party certificate authority, under the registrant’s sole control, and invalidated if the file changes. The seal image then reads “digitally signed” where the signature would go. A scanned wet signature or a pasted image of a signed seal is not allowed on a final document. A self-signed certificate does not meet the rule.

How to get an Oregon set sealed

Upload the PDF plan set and calculations, and name the receiving building department. Say which code edition the application was filed under, and include the design snow load, seismic criteria, and any geotechnical report. For a taller or Risk Category III or IV building, give the height, story count, and occupancy so intake can route the job to an Oregon SE. Out-of-state drawings can be reviewed, and the seal is applied only by an Oregon registrant in supervision and control of the work.

Start a new quote with Oregon prefilled. Intake typically responds within 24–48 hours. Stamp turnaround then follows page count and whether rush service is selected.

FAQ

Does Oregon accept digital PE seals on PDF drawings?

Yes, when the digital signature meets OAR 820-025-0010: unique to the registrant, verifiable by a third-party certificate authority, under the registrant’s sole control, and invalidated if the document changes. The seal image reads “digitally signed” in place of the handwritten signature. Scanned wet signatures are not accepted on final documents.

When does an Oregon project need a Structural Engineer?

ORS 672.107 requires an Oregon Professional Structural Engineer for significant structures, including Risk Category III buildings, larger Risk Category IV facilities, hazardous facilities, and occupied buildings over four stories or 45 feet. One- and two-family dwellings are excluded.

Can a PE licensed in another state stamp Oregon drawings?

No. Oregon board rules prohibit practicing engineering in Oregon without Oregon registration, so a final Oregon document is sealed by an Oregon registrant. AllInStamp routes Oregon jobs to Oregon licensees.