A Guide to Determining Appropriate Fees for the Services of an Architect was developed by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) to help guide a fair exchange of value in establishing appropriate fees and scope of architectural services. The 2019 PDF edition is free to public.

The OAA supports the fee guide as a means to facilitate the determination of appropriate fees for a project. The recommendations in this publication are applicable to building projects of any size, climatic condition, construction type, and occupancy in Canada. For that reason, the OAA’ standard form contracts for architect’s services (OAA 600 and OAA 800) maintain consistency with the RAIC Fee Guide in the Schedules of Basic and Additional Services to form a common base on which to establish the percentage fees.

In an effort to ensure the currency and usefulness of the Fee Guide, users are encouraged to share their feedback via a brief survey conducted by the RAIC. In addition to the survey, the RAIC will also be hosting focus groups, so for those interested in participating, be sure to add your name at the end of the survey.

The survey will be open until May 31, 2024.

This article originally appeared in the Practice Advisory—the OAA’s bimonthly e-newsletter developed by the OAA’s Practice Advisory Services team, comprising architects and other staff, which offers numerous resources for both member and the public. The OAA does not provide legal, insurance, or accounting advice. Readers are advised to consult their own such representatives to obtain suitable professional advice in those regards.