Firm Registrants

Sole Proprietorships are the simplest firm structure to set up and, as the name suggests, there is only one owner, who must be an Architect AIBC, in an unincorporated business entity. To be clear, the owner may not be a corporation.

Although partnerships are relatively simple to set up, Applicants are strongly advised to obtain adequate legal and financial advice and execute a suitable partnership agreement prior to embarking on a partnership. A partnership firm structure can be a General Partnership, Limited Partnership, or Limited Liability Partnership.  In general, partners may consist of Architects AIBC and Registrant Firms. Registrant Firms that are partners must all be registered (and applied for separately) as Registrant Firms in their own right and follow the requirements under the AIBC Bylaws. Partnership with non-registrants is restricted to limited partners. Please review AIBC Bylaw 4.48 to 4.51 for more information.

“Partnership” has a legal meaning and specific legislation governing this business structure. Care should be taken, and legal advice sought, in relation to partnership matters.

There are relatively complex requirements for Architectural Corporations beyond the regulatory requirements of the AIBC. Applicants are therefore advised to obtain adequate legal and financial advice to assist them in setting up a corporation.

Architectural Corporations 

The majority of each class of voting shares of an Architectural Corporation must be owned legally and beneficially by Architects and majority of directors of an Architectural Corporation must be Architects.

Architectural-Engineering Corporations

The majority of each class of voting shares of an Architectural-Engineering Corporation must be legally and beneficially owned by a combination of at least one Architect and at least one Professional Engineer. Architects and Professional Engineers must constitute the majority of the directors of the corporation.

Inactive Architectural Firms are Firms registered with the AIBC for which no Certificate of Practice is issued. They may be structured as Sole Proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations and do not have the right to practise architecture, although the Architect owner is entitled to practise architecture through a different Certificate of Practice holder. Inactive Architectural Firms are usually set up to hold shares in other active Architectural Firms. They may also be previously Architectural Firms practising architecture and now in the process of dissolution and will usually remain inactive for approximately a year to wind down any legal obligations.

An Inactive Architectural Firm must not practise the profession of architecture or be held out as an Architectural Firm or able to practise the profession of architecture unless it makes application for and is registered as an Architectural Firm issued a Certificate of Practice.

Please refer to AIBC Bylaws 4.47 to 4.63 for more information on the various firm structures and their requirements.