Who owns the as-built drawings after project completion?

• A. The Contractor retains ownership of the as-built drawings permanently.
• B. The Owner automatically gains ownership only if they paid for the drawings.
• C. The Architect retains ownership and licenses it to the Owner.
• D. The Owner owns the as-built drawings post-completion.

Answer: (D)

Ownership of project documents, including as-built drawings, transfers to the Owner once the project is complete and final payment has been made. These drawings become the Owner’s records for maintenance, future renovations, and regulatory needs, giving the Owner the right to use them as the official record of what was built. The Architect, while they may have created the drawings and hold the copyright to the design documents, licenses the Owner to use those documents for the project and its ongoing needs. The Contractor might keep copies for their records, but ownership does not remain with them.