Key takeaways
- In Florida, individual architects are licensed by the state under Chapter 481, and a company offering architecture services must be qualified by a Florida-licensed architect. Check both on MyFloridaLicense.com before you sign.
- Published fee ranges are wide. One design-build firm's guide puts architect fees at 5 to 20 percent of construction cost, with 10 to 12 percent common for residential work. Those are national figures, not Florida quotes.
- In Palm Beach, meeting the code is not enough. The town's Architectural Commission reviews exterior work and can ask applicants to return more than once.
- Ask what the fee covers, who handles permits and approvals, and whether the architect will visit the site during construction.
Choosing an architect is the first big decision on a custom home or a major renovation. It shapes the budget, the timeline and how the house lives. In South Florida it also shapes how smoothly you get through town approvals.
This guide explains how to hire an architect in South Florida: what the license means, how to check it, how fees work, what the process looks like and what to ask. It draws on published sources, and we say where figures are national or from one firm's marketing.
What does an architect do that a designer or builder does not?
An architect designs the building itself: layout, structure, how it meets the site and how it is drawn for permits and construction. An interior designer works on finishes, furniture and rooms, and a builder constructs what is drawn. Many projects use all three.
The titles are not interchangeable in Florida. Our guide to hiring an interior designer explains how the rules for that profession differ.
How do you check that an architect is licensed in Florida?
The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design licenses individual architects under Chapter 481, Part I, of the Florida Statutes. A corporation, partnership or LLC that provides architecture services in Florida must have a Florida architect qualify the business, and the business name appears on that architect's license.
To verify, use MyFloridaLicense.com and choose "Verify a License." You can search three ways:
- By license number: open each matching record to see the licensee and the associated business.
- By individual name: enter the first and last name, then open each record.
- By business name: use the "Organization/Establishment Name" field. The results list the qualifying architects, which you then check by name.
The department also has pages for complaints and for statutes and rules. A check takes a few minutes and is worth doing before any deposit.
How much does an architect cost?
There is no single price. Architects commonly charge in one of three ways. The figures below come from a guide by Letter Four, a Los Angeles design-build firm, published October 20, 2025. It is the firm's marketing content and uses national figures, so treat it as a rough guide and ask Florida architects for real quotes.
| Fee structure | How it works | Range reported |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage of construction cost | A share of the building budget | 5 to 20 percent in general; often 10 to 12 percent for residential |
| Fixed fee | An agreed sum for defined services | Example: $25,000 to $35,000 on a $500,000 renovation |
| Hourly | Time billed as it is spent | $125 to $250 per hour; principals $150 to $250 and junior staff about $45 to $90, citing Angi |
Coastal sites, wind and flood requirements, historic review and larger homes can all add work. The guide does not cover Florida pricing, so ask each architect what is included and what is billed separately.
What are the stages of an architect's work?
The same guide lists the usual phases:
- Initial consultation: often free or a small flat fee.
- Schematic design: concept drawings and rough floor plans.
- Design development: refined drawings, material choices and detailed models.
- Construction documents: the technical drawings and specifications used for permitting and bidding.
- Construction administration: site visits and oversight during the build, typically priced as a percentage of construction cost.
- Additional services: landscape, interiors, acoustics or historic work, billed separately.
Ask which of these your fee includes. Construction administration is the one most often left out and then missed.
What is ARCOM, and how does it affect a Palm Beach project?
In the Town of Palm Beach, the Architectural Commission (ARCOM) reviews minor and major exterior renovations and new construction. According to Florida Trend (August 31, 2022), the town council created it in 1970. Unlike many municipalities, a plan that meets the code for size and setbacks does not automatically earn a permit, and ARCOM can reject designs even when they are screened from public view.
The same report described:
- A seven-member commission that must include two or three architects and one landscape architect or master gardener.
- Long meetings, with 21 new-house proposals on the agenda in May 2022 alone.
- Close scrutiny of details such as window pane counts and landscaping colors.
- Applicants who must return repeatedly after requests to re-study elements, with approval not guaranteed.
- One high-profile renovation that took roughly two rounds over about two months.
The town was studying ways to speed up the process, including more staff-level approvals, so check its current procedure. Other South Florida towns have their own review rules, so ask any architect which approvals your address needs. For the wider picture of the area, see our guide to Miami through the year.
What should you ask before you hire an architect?
- Are you licensed in Florida, and what is the license number of the qualifying architect?
- Have you completed projects in my town, and have you taken them through its review board?
- Which stages does your fee cover, and what is billed separately?
- Who handles surveys, engineers, permit filings and approval meetings?
- Will you visit the site during construction?
- How do you handle wind, flood and elevation requirements for my site?
- How many projects like mine are you running now, and who will work on mine day to day?
- Can I speak to two recent clients?
How do you compare architects fairly?
Ask two or three firms for proposals that cover the same stages and the same scope, so the numbers line up. Look at completed work in your style and your town. Then compare communication and fit as well as price, because you will work together for a long time.
Put the agreement in writing, including scope, fee structure, what counts as extra work and how either side can end the contract. Have an attorney review it for a large project.
Frequently asked questions
How do I hire an architect in South Florida? Shortlist firms with relevant work, verify each license on MyFloridaLicense.com, compare written proposals for the same scope and ask about approvals in your town.
Do architects have to be licensed in Florida? Yes. The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design licenses individual architects under Chapter 481, and a business offering architecture services must be qualified by a Florida-licensed architect.
How do I verify an architect's license? Search MyFloridaLicense.com by license number, individual name or business name, then open the record to confirm.
How much does an architect cost for a custom home? One national guide reports 5 to 20 percent of construction cost, with 10 to 12 percent common for residential projects. Florida quotes vary, so ask several firms.
What is the difference between hourly and fixed-fee architects? Hourly billing charges for time spent, with one guide citing $125 to $250 an hour. A fixed fee covers defined services for an agreed sum.
What is ARCOM in Palm Beach? It is the town's Architectural Commission, which reviews exterior renovations and new construction and can ask applicants to return before approving a design.
How long does Palm Beach design approval take? It varies. One reported renovation took about two rounds over two months, while Florida Trend noted applicants can return repeatedly. Ask your architect for a realistic timeline.
Do I still need an interior designer? Often yes. Architects design the building, while interior designers work on rooms and finishes. See our guide to hiring an interior designer.
Sources checked
Florida DBPR, Board of Architecture and Interior Design; Letter Four, cost to hire an architect (October 20, 2025; firm marketing content, national figures); Florida Trend, Palm Beach architectural commission (August 31, 2022). Fees, rules and procedures change, so confirm with the licensing board, the town and each firm.