Free Architecture Contract Template
An architecture contract covers the scope tied to an accepted proposal, deliverables, payment and change terms, ownership, portfolio use, limits, and termination.
City review can turn a clean set of drawings into a round of corrections, and then the contractor starts asking for decisions that weren’t written down. This architecture contract keeps the scope, responsibilities, and approval path clear when code questions, schedule pressure, or trust issues show up in the middle of a commercial feasibility and test-fit engagement, in blueprint indigo with anodised green accents under Raleway headings.
The contract starts with Commercial feasibility and test-fit services agreement, which ties the work back to the accepted proposal when emails and meeting notes don’t match. What you get spells out the deliverables, including test-fits, feasibility and code/ADA memos, phased drawing sets, and CA responses, plus the client inputs that stop a plan set getting kicked back. Payment and Changes define how billing follows the proposal and how revision rounds, scope shifts, and plan review comments get treated, then Who owns what, Portfolio, Limits, and Ending the project cover use rights, confidentiality, responsibility lines, and what gets delivered if the work ends early.
- Commercial feasibility agreement Connects the contract to the accepted proposal so conflicts with emails and notes don’t change the agreed scope.
- What you get Lists the deliverables and calls out the client inputs needed to keep drawings tied to plan review realities.
- Payment Explains how invoices follow the proposal and what happens if payment goes past due.
- Changes Defines a revision round, separates plan review revisions from preference changes, and requires written approval for priced scope shifts.
- Who owns what Grants use rights to issued deliverables after payment in full, while keeping working files and libraries with the architect.
The contract sends as a link, and the client signs online. Before sending, you replace the names, dates, and terms that need to match your practice, then keep the proposal details aligned with what the contract points back to. After signing, both sides have one set of terms to refer to when pricing, revisions, and reviewer comments start stacking up.
We went from spending hours on every proposal to creating fully customized ones in under 5 minutes. That's not an exaggeration - we timed it.
What this contract contains
1) Commercial feasibility and test-fit services agreement
States what the agreement covers and makes the accepted proposal the source of truth when other written records conflict.
2) What you get
Describes the services and deliverables, plus what information the client needs to provide early to avoid plan-review rework.
3) Payment
Ties billing to the proposal schedule and explains due dates, work pauses for past-due accounts, and schedule impacts.
4) Changes
Defines revision rounds and how feedback gets consolidated, then sets the process for pricing and approving scope shifts.
5) Who owns what
Spells out usage rights for issued drawings and written deliverables after full payment, and reserves working files unless separately quoted.
6) Portfolio
Covers portfolio display and the confidentiality option, including redaction and holding work back until written approval.
7) Limits
Draws the responsibility line between design services and construction means, and sets expectations around plan review outcomes and consultants.
8) Ending the project
Explains termination by written notice, what the client pays through the end date, and what gets delivered once the account is current.
9) Signature
Provides the signature block that finalises the agreement.
Who it is for
Commercial architects handling feasibility, test-fit, and permit-ready documentation, plus residential architecture studios and heritage & restoration practices that need clear scope and change control.
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Questions about this contract
What should an architecture contract include?
An architecture contract typically covers scope tied to an accepted proposal, deliverables, payment terms, changes and revision rounds, ownership of drawings, portfolio and confidentiality, limits of responsibility, and termination. This template follows that structure and names those sections directly.
How do architects handle revisions and change orders?
Many architects define a revision round, require consolidated feedback, and price scope shifts separately with written approval before extra work starts. This contract separates plan review-driven revisions from preference changes so the two don’t get blended together.
Who owns the drawings after an architecture project?
A common approach is that the client can use the issued drawings and written deliverables for the specific project and site once payment is made in full. Working files, templates, and CAD/BIM setups often stay with the architect unless editable files are quoted separately.
Can an architect guarantee permit approval by a certain date?
Plan review involves judgment calls, so an architect can’t usually promise approval on a specific date or guarantee that revisions won’t be requested. This contract says the architect will flag risks early and respond to comments, while setting realistic limits around reviewer decisions.
What happens if the client stops paying during a design project?
Many agreements allow the architect to pause work and stop issuing drawings if invoices go past due. This template also says the architect will notify the client if a payment pause is likely to affect plan review or construction scheduling.
Can either side terminate an architecture contract?
Many contracts allow termination by written notice, with the client paying for work completed through the end date and the architect delivering what’s complete once the account is current. This template also covers delivering issued PDFs and clearly marked in-progress PDFs, with optional file packaging quoted in advance.
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