Section 7307. Special provisions

1.  Every architect shall have a seal,
  approved by the board, which shall contain the name of the architect and
  either the words "Registered Architect" and such other words or  figures
  as   the   board   may   deem   necessary.   All  working  drawings  and
  specifications,  prepared  by  such  architect  or  by  a  full-time  or
  part-time  subordinate  employed under his supervision, shall be stamped
  with such seal and shall  also  be  signed  on  the  original  with  the
  personal  signature  of such architect when filed with public officials.
  Except for plans and specifications excluded from the provisions of this
  article by  section  seventy-three  hundred  six  of  this  article,  no
  official of this state, or of any county, city, town or village therein,
  charged with the enforcement of laws, ordinances or regulations relating
  to  the  construction  or  alteration  of buildings or structures, shall
  accept or approve any plans or specifications that are not stamped:
    a. With the seal of an architect or professional  engineer  registered
  in  this  state and bearing the authorized facsimile of the signature of
  such architect or professional engineer; or
    b. With the official seal and authorized facsimile of the signature of
  an architect or professional engineer not a resident of this  state  and
  having  no  established  business  in  this  state,  but  who is legally
  qualified to practice as such in his own state or country, provided that
  such person holds  a  limited  permit  issued  by  the  department,  and
  provided further that the plans or specifications are accompanied by and
  have attached thereto written authorization issued by the department for
  the specific project.
    2.  Engineers, land surveyors, architects and landscape architects may
  join in the formation of a joint  enterprise,  or  a  partnership  or  a
  professional  service corporation or may form any desired combination of
  such professions and may use in the name of such corporation  the  title
  of  any  of  the  professions which will be practiced. After the name of
  each member his profession shall be indicated.
    3. A firm name may be continued by employees having at  least  fifteen
  years   of   continuous   service  if  the  retired  members  and  legal
  representatives of deceased members consent to such continuance.
    4. It shall be lawful for a corporation organized and  existing  under
  the  laws  of  the state of New York, and which on or before the twelfth
  day of April nineteen hundred twenty-nine  and  continuously  thereafter
  was  lawfully  practicing  in  New York state to continue such practice,
  provided that the chief executive officer of  such  corporation  in  the
  state of New York shall be an architect licensed under this article, and
  provided further that the construction of buildings and structures shall
  be  under  the personal supervision of such architect and that drawings,
  plans, and specifications shall be prepared under the personal direction
  and supervision of such architect and bear the  stamp  of  his  official
  seal,  and  the  drawings  or specifications shall also be signed on the
  original, with  the  personal  signature  of  such  architect.  No  such
  corporation  shall  be  permitted  to  change  its  name and continue to
  practice  architecture,  except  upon  the  written  approval   of   the
  department.
    5.  This  article  shall  not  apply  to: 1. Farm buildings, including
  barns, sheds, poultry houses  and  other  buildings  used  directly  and
  solely  for  agricultural  purposes; nor to residence buildings of gross
  area of fifteen hundred square feet  or  less,  not  including  garages,
  carports, porches, cellars, or uninhabitable basements or attics; or
    2.  Alterations, costing ten thousand dollars or less, to any building
  or structure within the city of New York and twenty thousand dollars  or
  less, to any building or structure outside the city of New York which do

  not  involve  changes  affecting  the structural safety or public safety
  thereof.