Code of Ethics

Landscape Architecture is a professional activity practiced by highly skilled persons, who, by virtue of their training and experience, are recognized by the profession as being capable practitioners. It is of paramount importance that the landscape architect be held in high respect by the public as well. Only in the manner by which they conduct their professional activities can this be achieved and maintained.

In representing the profession of landscape architecture, the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects, its members and affiliates, herein present a policy governing professional conduct.

The ethics of the professional activity of the landscape architect are essentially those governing all professions and businesses. The intent of the Code is to provide a more definite guide in maintaining the standards and the consequent service and influence of the profession.

Public Relations

The landscape architect’s foremost responsibility is to inspire high respect and confidence in the profession. Sustained public acceptance is not only essential for professional achievement and progress, but it is vital in the role of promoting and serving general public welfare.

Practices detrimental to the profession are:

  • Advertising in a manner other than that which respects the dignity and responsibility of landscape architects. Excellence in professional work is primarily the most effective advertisement. Unprofessional advertising is that which displays poor taste or has in some manner self seeking, dishonest or commercial overtones.
  • Use of name CSLA except as provided by the bylaws of the Society. Any individual or firm falsely claiming membership to the society is subject to legal action.
  • Use of the landscape architect’s name in any undertaking with which he/she has no professional capacity. The protection of a landscape architect’s reputation and standards of his/her work are in jeopardy should his/her name appear in connection with anything for which he/she is not legally or professionally responsible.
  • To accept or undertake professional work beyond the capacity of the landscape architect. The reputation of the landscape architect and the profession as a whole suffer when he/she attempts to undertake a job that requires a more specialized knowledge or a higher degree of competence than he/she possesses; or if the landscape architect is under such obligation as to be incapable of freely devoting his/her time in an unbiased manner.

Client Employer Relations

The landscape architect’s primary responsibility is to act in the best interests of the client or employer, providing that these interests do not conflict with the landscape architect’s overall professional obligations. The employment of a landscape architect is based on trust in his/her professional integrity.

Practices which cause this integrity to suffer are:

  • Receipt of any remuneration, directly or indirectly, in the form of commercial or speculative profit on materials or labour.
  • Land development interests or the execution of construction work.
  • Acceptance of any compensation from interests other than the client or employer. It is unprofessional for the landscape architect to maintain any other interests or professional connections that involves services or the sale of materials to the client or employer.
  • The practice of competing with other professionals for work primarily on the basis of fees, or by submitting work for approval without compensation. The schedule of fees prescribed by the Society is based on complete and competent performance. Any such reduction of fees is to the benefit of neither the client nor the profession.
  • Submission of work without compensation prior to contract agreements.

Inter-Professional Relations

It is the primary interest of all concerned to maintain the integrity of the profession of landscape architecture, as well as related professions. Cooperation among professional colleagues is often required in serving the public welfare. A free exchange of thinking among professionals, the promotion of professional education, the advancement of employees, associates or students will be to the general benefit of all, and help maintain high profession standards.

Practices that can damage professional relationships are:

  • Attempting falsely or maliciously to injure, or appear to injure, the professional reputation of another landscape architect. Such statements of detriment are injurious to the profession as a whole as well as to the individuals involved.
  • Securing work on any other basis than that of competence or experience.
  • Soliciting work of another landscape architect.
  • Inter-professional collaboration that is detrimental to the reputation of the landscape architect.
  • Participation in competitions that do not conform to the CSLA “Code of Conduct of Competitions for Works of Landscape Design.”

The method of administering the Code rests with the Board of Governors of the Canadian Society of Landscape Architects. Action taken by the board in the event of any member or affiliate of the Society violating the Code will be determined according to the regulations of the Society.