Depending upon state law, the design of most buildings — schools, hospitals, commercial buildings, manufacturing facilities, courthouses, government offices, to name a few — requires an architect. However, in most states, anyone can legally “design” a house, with some restrictions of size or dollar value as regulated by local laws.

Most likely, you will have to obtain a building permit (probable cost: $25 to $100 or more) from the town for each job–and that includes submitting plans with local building codes that must be complied with. Without any license your drawings will be more heavily scrutinized.