Appendix B - American Society of Landscape Architects Code of Professional Ethics
Canon I: Professional Responsibility
ES1.1 Members should understand and honestly obey laws governing their professional practice and business affairs and conduct their professional duties within the art and science of landscape architecture and their professional Society with honesty, dignity, and integrity.
R1.101 Members shall deal with other Members, clients, employers, employees, and the public with honesty, dignity, and integrity in all actions and communications of any kind.
R1.102 Members shall not violate the law in the conduct of their professional practice, including any federal, state, or local laws and particularly laws and regulations in the areas of antitrust, employment, environmental and land-use planning, and those governing professional practice.
R1.103 Members shall not give, lend, or promise anything of value to any public official or representative of a prospective client in order to influence the judgment or actions in the letting of a contract of that official or representative of a prospective client.
R1.104 Members on full-time government employment shall not accept private practice work with anyone doing business with their agency or with whom the Member has any government contact on matters involving applications for grants, contracts, or planning and zoning actions. In the case of private practitioners elected or appointed to government positions or others doing business or having alliances with those doing business with their board, council, or agency, they must disqualify and absent themselves during any discussion of these matters.
R1.105 Members shall recognize the contributions of others engaged in the planning, design, and construction of the physical environment and shall give them appropriate recognition and due credit for professional work and shall not maliciously injure or attempt to injure the reputation, prospects, practice, or employment position of those persons so engaged. Credit shall be given to the design firm of record for the use of all project documents, plans, photographs, sketches, reports, or other work products developed while under the management of the design firm of record. Use of others' work for any purpose shall accurately specify the role of the individual in the execution of the design firm of record's work.
R1.106 Members shall not mislead through advertising or other means existing or prospective clients about the result that can be achieved through use of the Member's services or state that they can achieve results by means that violate the Code or the law.
R1.107 Members shall not accept compensation for their services on a project from more than one party unless all parties agree to the circumstances in writing.
R1.108 Members shall not misrepresent or knowingly permit the misrepresentation of their professional qualifications, capabilities, and experience to clients, employers, or the public or be a party to any exaggerated, misleading, deceptive, or false statements or claims by the firms, agencies, or organizations that employ them.
R1.109 Members shall not reveal information obtained in the course of their professional activities that they have been asked to maintain in confidence or that could affect the interests of another adversely. Unique exceptions: to stop an act that creates harm; a significant risk to the public health, safety, and welfare that cannot otherwise be prevented; to establish claims or defense on behalf of Members; or in order to comply with applicable law, regulations, or with the Code.
R1.110 Members shall not copy or reproduce the copyrighted works of others without prior written approval by the author of the copyrighted work.
R1.111 Members shall not seek to void awarded contracts for a specific scope of service held by another Member.
R1.112 Members shall not seek to obtain contracts, awards, or other financial gain relating to projects or programs for which they may be serving in an advisory or critical capacity.
ES1.2 Members should seek to make full disclosure of relevant information to the clients, public, and other interested parties who rely on their advice and professional work product.
R1.201 Members making public statements on landscape architectural issues shall disclose compensation other than fee and their role and any economic interest in a project.
R1.202 Members shall make full disclosure during the solicitation and conduct of a project of the roles and professional status of all project team members and consultants, including professional degrees, state licenses, professional liability insurance coverage, and any other potential material limits to qualifications.
R1.203 Members shall make full disclosure to the client or employer of any financial or other interest that bears on the service or project.
R1.204 Members shall convey to their clients their capacity to produce the work, their availability during normal working hours, and their ability to provide other construction or supervisory services.
ES1.3 Members should endeavor to protect the interests of their clients and the public through competent performance of their work and participate in continuing education, educational research, and development and dissemination of technical information relating to planning, design, construction, and management of the physical environment.
R1.301 Members shall undertake to perform professional services only when education, training, or experience in the specific technical areas involved qualifies them, together with those persons whom they may engage as consultants.
R1.302 Members shall not sign or seal drawings, specifications, reports, or other professional work for which they do not have direct professional knowledge or direct supervisory control.
R1.303 Members shall continually seek to raise the standards of aesthetic, ecological, and cultural excellence through compliance with applicable state requirements for continuing professional education.
R1.304 Public discussion of controversial projects and issues shall be conducted on a professional level and shall be based on issue-oriented, factual analysis.
Canon II: Member Responsibilities
ES2.1 Members should understand and endeavor to uphold the Ethical Standards of the ASLA Code of Environmental Ethics.
ES2.2 Members should work to ensure that they, their employees or subordinates, and other Members adhere to the Code of Professional Ethics and the Constitution and Bylaws of the American Society of Landscape Architects.
R2.201 Members having information that leads to a reasonable belief that another Member has committed a violation of the Code shall report such information.
R2.202 The seal or logo of the American Society of Landscape Architects shall be used only as specified in the ASLA Bylaws.
R2.203 Members shall adhere to the specific, applicable terms of the ASLA Bylaws regarding use of references to ASLA membership. Members are encouraged to use the appropriate ASLA designation after their names.
ES2.3 Members are encouraged to serve on elected or appointed boards, committees, or commissions dealing with the arts and environmental and land-use issues.
R2.301 Members who are elected or appointed to review boards, committees, and commissions shall seek to avoid conflicts of interest and the appearance of conflicts of interest and shall comply with local rules and policies with regard to conflict of interest. Members serving on such boards, committees, and commissions shall disqualify themselves in accordance with rules of ethics and this Code and shall not be present when discussion is held relative to an action in which they have an interest. A Member shall make full disclosure and request disqualification on any issue that could involve a potential conflict of interest.
Effective 12/19/2011Amended 5/6/2006