Legacy for Living Blog
ASLA Ethics History
May 23, 2025
This article explores the history of ethics in the American Society of Landscape Architects. It traces how the organization developed its professional standards over time, starting in the early 1900s. At first, ASLA focused more on general principles than strict rules. Leaders like Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. believed that honorable behavior came from personal values, not written codes. However, as the profession grew, the need for clear ethical guidelines became more important.
Over the years, ASLA created and updated several versions of its Code of Ethics and Professional Practice. These codes helped define what it means to act responsibly as a landscape architect—whether in advertising, working with clients, or cooperating with other professionals. The document also shows how ASLA responded to changes in society, the environment, and the profession itself.
By reading this history, we can better understand how ethical standards shape the work of landscape architects and why they matter for the future of the profession.
1916–1925 | 1926-1962 | 1962-1975 | 1975-1982 | 1982 – present
1916–1925
The Committee on Professional Practice and Ethics started in 1916 and ended in 1925. Instead of creating a code of ethics, it developed an Official Statement of Professional Practice. This statement outlined the profession's importance, how it should be practiced, and how professionals should be charged for their services.
In “Principles of Professional Practice” (1917), Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. said:
Clear thinking in regard to a few fundamental principles is the only guide required by a man of honorable motives in dealing with the sometimes perplexing questions that give rise to ‘codes of professional ethics.’
No elaborate formal ‘code’ is really necessary for a clear-thinking honorable man; no such mechanical list of rules can safely be substituted for clear thinking; and no such code will suffice to control the few men whose motives are dishonorable. That is why I am glad our Society does not attempt to set up any formal detailed code of professional ethics, and also why we out occasionally to discuss some of the basic principles, so as to keep our conceptions clear and in reasonable harmony throughout the profession.
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1926-1962
Despite Olmsted’s opposition, a Code of Ethics Committee was created in 1926 which wrote a code that was adopted the following year:
Code of Professional Ethics (1927)
This Code of Professional Ethics, together with its explanatory commentaries and accompanying Circular of Suggestions, has been adopted by the American Society of Landscape Architects in order that all landscape architects may have a more definite guide in maintaining the standards and the consequent service and influence of the profession.
The ethics of the professional relations of the landscape architect are essentially those governing all professions and businesses. The landscape architect, however, has assumed certain specific professional functions and obligations, as set forth in part in the Statement of Professional Practice of the Society; and in relation to these there have arisen in the past certain points of professional ethics on which the opinion of the Society has been definitely determined.
The following Code is not and can never be a complete statement of the obligations of the landscape architect. However, it does set down a series of definitions of some actions which are so generally and so certainly considered by the Society to be detrimental to the best interests of the profession that the Society is resolved that anyone who persists in doing these things shall not be allowed to enjoy the benefits of Society membership.
The purpose of the commentaries is to explain and annotate the Code of Ethics in the light of professional experience and observation to date. They define more clearly than is possible in the formal statements of the Code those actions which are prohibited under penalty of loss of membership in the Society. Further, they consider certain actions which are desirable for the Society and so ultimately for the individual, and certain actions which are undesirable but which are either so differently considered in different places, or so difficult to define or to prove, or of such relatively slight importance, that it is not now for the general good to prohibit them categorically under the penalty of loss of membership in the Society.
ARTICLE I – Advertising
It is unprofessional for a landscape architect* to advertise except in a manner in accord with the dignity and responsibility of the profession.
Commentary
A well-established reputation for doing excellent work is a landscape architect's most effective advertisement. It is entirely legitimate, however, for a landscape architect to endeavor to bring himself to public attention, as long as, in so doing, he does not make himself and the Society appear:
(a) to have bad manners or bad taste;
(b) to be commercial rather than professional;
(c) to be self-seeking rather than public-spirited;
(d) to be under such obligations as to be incapable of giving honest and disinterested advice.
It is generally considered good professional form for a landscape architect:
(1) to publish, and pay for publishing, his name and profession and address, telephone number, etc., in such publications as the classified telephone directory or city directory, or in the advertising pages of a periodical; whereas "display advertisements" or "descriptive advertisements" which partake of the character of ordinary commercial advertising tend to associate a landscape architect in the public mind with non-professional sales methods and should therefore be avoided.
(2) to furnish information, illustrations, etc., for articles, or to prepare at his own expense articles about his own work (as well as about other examples of landscape architecture) for any legitimate publication, provided that the material has real general interest and is not blatantly laudatory or misleading or in any way suggestive of commercial advertising methods.
(3) to give lectures on professional or other subjects, with the same restrictions as above stated.
(4) to show photographs, drawings, models, etc., of his work in public exhibitions.
(5) to serve, with or without pay, as a public official, or on committees, commissions, etc., for the public benefit, but to avoid the giving of professional service without pay to communities which are capable of paying for such service.
(6) to send out professional announcements, especially on the occasion of a change of address, a change in firm membership, etc. The Society and its local chapters should make their influence felt in public matters, and may properly put themselves before the public in so doing. Resolutions on public questions, letters to public officials, newspaper articles, etc., toward such an end are entirely legitimate.
* By landscape architect is meant any Fellow or Member of the American Society of Landscape Architects, or anyone of equal technical qualifications practicing according to the fundamental standards recognized by the Society.
ARTICLE II – Securing Work. Supplanting Other Practitioners
It is unprofessional for a landscape architect (1) to offer his services on any basis other than that of competence and experience; (2) to solicit the clients of another landscape architect; (3) to attempt, except as a duly authorized competitor, to secure work for which a competition is in progress; (4) to pay or to accept commissions for securing any work; (5) to attempt, by submitting sketches or otherwise, to supplant a fellow landscape architect toward whose employment definite steps by the client have already been taken; (6) to supplant another landscape architect whose legitimate claims arising from his professional connection with the client are unpaid, unless (a) these claims are abandoned or are being prosecuted before the courts or referred to arbitration, or unless (b) the former landscape architect gives his consent to the employment of his successor.
Commentary
(1) For the landscape architect to offer his services on any basis other than that of competence and experience would be distinctly inimical to the profession of landscape architecture.
(2) This statement is not intended to prohibit the otherwise proper soliciting of a former client* of another landscape architect, nor the soliciting of a present client of another landscape architect in regard to an entirely different piece of work from that on which the other landscape architect is employed.
(3) Article VIII on "Competitions" discusses this subject more particularly.
(4) This prohibition does not apply to those in the regular employ of a landscape architect, as assistants, etc. Such persons bringing work into the office of the landscape architect may properly be paid a percentage of the profits of the work, or be otherwise remunerated. To hire a person to secure work, when he has no other connection with the office, is not desirable practice. To offer payment, directly or indirectly, to other practitioners, as for instance to architects, in order to obtain work is absolutely unprofessional. It is of course absolutely unprofessional to accept payment from gardeners, superintendents, contractors, material men, etc., for obtaining employment or sales for them, and the landscape architect should not lay himself open to the suspicion of having done this.† It is equally unprofessional to accept from another practitioner a payment or a portion of his fee in consideration of procuring work for him.
(5) "Definite steps" toward the employment of a landscape architect by a client are considered to have been taken when for instance the landscape architect has been authorized verbally or in writing by the client to make sketches. Mere solicitation of the client by a landscape architect is, of course, not a "definite step" to the employment of the landscape architect as here considered.
(6) A landscape architect is supposed to take reasonable pains to determine whether another landscape architect has recently preceded him in relation to each new piece of work. If such is the case, the second landscape architect should not proceed with the work until he has communicated the facts to the first landscape architect and satisfied himself that he may properly accept the employment.
A landscape architect should not consent to review, criticize, or supplement the plans or work of another landscape architect for the same client without the consent of the other landscape architect, except of course where the landscape architect first employed has entirely severed his connection with the work.
* By client of a landscape architect is meant anyone for whom the landscape architect is doing current professional work, either continuously, or at stated intervals, or intermittently as occasion arises: i.e., anyone who looks to the landscape architect for further service on a particular piece of work.
† See Article VII, Item 2
ARTICLE III – Use of Name of American Society of Landscape Architects
It is unprofessional for any firm or partnership to use the term Members of the American Society of Landscape Architects unless all the individual members or associates of the firm are either Fellows or Members of the Society.
Commentary
Legal proceedings to protect the name of the Society would presumably be successful in this case, as they almost certainly would be in the case of a single practitioner falsely claiming membership in the Society.
ARTICLE IV – Use of Landscape Architect’s Name
It is unprofessional for a landscape architect to allow his name to be associated with an undertaking in any professional capacity unless in fact he serves in that capacity.
Commentary
A landscape architect should not, for instance, allow his name to be published as the designer of a land subdivision, unless he is actually familiar with the circumstances and responsible for the design, and considers it worthy of the standards of his office. Similarly he should not accept a position as consultant, or consent to review the plans of another practitioner, unless the circumstances are such that he can in fact become familiar with the problem and the design.
ARTICLE V – Injury to Reputation of Other Practitioners
It is unprofessional for a landscape architect to attempt falsely or maliciously to injure the professional reputation of any other practitioner.
Commentary
A landscape architect should of course avoid both the act and the appearance of maliciously injuring the reputation of a rival practitioner. Any adverse criticism of a fellow practitioner to a third party is therefore undesirable, except where unavoidable in carrying out a professional trust. This is especially true of matters of aesthetics and to some extent of technical procedure, about which honest and reasonable differences of opinion may exist. Matters of common honesty are usually regarded as more capable of categorical definition, and dishonesty should never be condoned because of considerations of professional solidarity; but here also, before making any accusations, officially or unofficially, the landscape architect should be certain (1) that the facts are actually and correctly before him, (2) that a good purpose is served by revealing them, and (3) that he is not rendering himself liable to the laws of libel.
This section is not intended to prohibit intelligent adverse criticism of the advisability or design of public works or reports on public works by a landscape architect in his capacity as a citizen, as long as the criticism is made in good faith and with no deliberate attempt maliciously or otherwise to injure the professional reputation of another practitioner.
ARTICLE VI – Valuation of Professional Services
It is unprofessional for a landscape architect to compete with a fellow practitioner for any work on the basis of a reduction of charges below his customary charges for such work.
Commentary
It is highly undesirable for a landscape architect to offer to a client professional services on approval and without compensation, unless justified by previous personal or business relations. Where advice or services are knowingly undervalued for good reasons in any particular case, this should be made perfectly plain to the client so that the client may not obtain a false conception of the real value of such services.
It is of course recognized that the charges of different landscape architects for employment upon the same problem will be different, according to the reputation and efficiency of the landscape architect. The Society does not set a minimum or a maximum limit for charges, but does recommend certain minimum charges.
ARTICLE VII – Avoidance of Speculative Profits and Commissions
It is unprofessional for a landscape architect (1) to receive any remuneration, directly or indirectly, in the form of a commercial or speculative profit on materials or labor; (2) to accept any compensation, in the form of a commission or otherwise, from any person from whom services or materials are procured on behalf of the client; (3) to guarantee an estimate or contract for construction by bond or otherwise.
Commentary
(1) and (2). The intent of these items is to prevent the landscape architect from being, or appearing to be, in such a relation to others that he may not exercise his best judgment for the benefit of his client. For the same reasons, it is undesirable for the landscape architect to maintain any other business or professional connection which might influence his judgment on behalf of the client, without the full knowledge of the client in each case affected.
The landscape architect may legitimately, where it will best serve the interest of the client and the welfare of the work, organize a working force and purchase materials for his client and supervise operations through his office, rendering bills to the client at stated intervals for the actual amounts paid out. This is not a generally desirable procedure, because it emphasizes the executive function rather than the advisory function of the landscape architect and so tends to a confusion of his services with those of the contractor. The landscape architect shall not, however, undertake in any form the execution of construction work or planting on a lump-sum basis. The crucial point here is that the landscape architect's remuneration must be “not in the form of a commercial or speculative profit on materials or labor.”
This is also the reason for Item (3). Moreover it is not equitable to ask the landscape architect to guarantee an uncertain cost as by a bond or otherwise—i.e., take a speculative risk—when he may not take a speculative profit.
It is legitimate for a landscape architect to give a bond for the faithful performance of his own work in design when this is required by law, as with some cities and states. It is not desirable, however, because his employment must be based upon trust in his integrity. He can do no more than give his best advice, whether this proves to be good or bad, and is legally entitled to remuneration for it in any case, like a doctor or a lawyer.
ARTICLE VIII – Competitions
It is unprofessional for a landscape architect (1) to take part in any competition which is conducted contrary to the principles sanctioned by the Society; (2) ordinarily to accept the commission to do any work in connection with which he has acted in an advisory capacity in drawing the program for a competition, or in making the award in such competition.
Commentary
It may be legitimate for a landscape architect to accept the commission to do a piece of work for which there has been a competition in which he has been concerned, not as winner, if no award was made and a long time has elapsed, and especially if the requirements of the problem have been radically changed.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE CODE OF ETHICS
Reasonable grounds for belief that any member of the American Society of Landscape Architects has violated any of the above requirements of the ethics of the profession shall justify an investigation by a Grievance Committee.
Recommendation by a Grievance Committee, accompanied by proof of such violation satisfactory to the Trustees, shall justify the Trustees in recommending to the Society the censure, suspension, or expulsion of the offending practitioner. Such censure, suspension, or expulsion shall become effective on the receipt by the Trustees of votes to that effect from two thirds of the Members and Fellows of the Society.
CIRCULAR OF SUGGESTIONS
Employment of Assistants from Other Offices
It is undesirable for a landscape architect to offer employment to an employee of another landscape architect without first advising said landscape architect of his intent. He is at liberty, however, to negotiate with anyone who in response to a public advertisement shall apply for employment.
The intent of this statement is to warn against actions which may be, or seem to be, underhanded or lacking in consideration between practitioners. Anyone has the right to advertise for assistants. Any assistant ordinarily has the right to look about in the hope of bettering himself. A landscape architect purposing to employ an assistant from another office should, however, in fairness first satisfy himself (1) that the present employer has the opportunity to offer greater inducements, if he desires, before the employee is pledged to the new employer, and (2) that the employee gives sufficient notice before leaving, leaves his work in order, etc. that is, makes his leaving as little onerous as possible.
Cooperation with Other Practitioners
When the landscape architect cooperates with other practitioners—landscape architects, architects, engineers, or others—he should be sure in advance that the kind and degree of this cooperation is made as unmistakable as possible, and that it is such as to be (1) for the greatest benefit of the client and (2) fair to the professional reputation of all concerned. It is entirely legitimate for one professional practitioner to hire the services of another, but it is often more desirable from the point of view of each practitioner that he shall consult with the client directly and not through an intermediary or an employer. In cases of actual cooperation, the landscape architect should make sure that the names of all cooperators appear on the plans, with a designation of the field of their contribution when this is practicable.
The landscape architect should bear in mind that he has duties not only to his client, but to the public, to his fellow landscape architects, to his employees, and to his profession.
He should never, in serving his client or others, take part in or condone construction or methods contrary to law or opposed to public welfare.
He should be punctual and definite in his discharge of his professional obligations to clients and to fellow practitioners.
He should be cordially ready to exchange information and experience with fellow landscape architects.
He should open to his employees every reasonable opportunity for advancement in experience and in remuneration. He should bear in mind that it is for the good of the profession that there should be a sufficient supply of men of good office training coming up to assume independent responsibility in their turn.
He should be generally zealous for the honor of his profession. He should not do, or appear to do, anything to lower its esteem, and he should do his utmost to prevent such acts on the part of clients or others with whom he deals.
* * *
The code remained the same for many years until 1948, when the Board renamed it from the Code of Professional Ethics to the Code of Professional Practice.
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1962-1975
In 1961, the Constitution and Bylaws Committee simplified the Code of Professional Practice, and it was adopted with commentary the following year. From 1962 to 1975, a new Code of Professional Practice Committee was formed to oversee the code and handle misconduct cases.
Code of Professional Practice (1962)
The 1962 Code of Professional Practice of the American Society of Landscape Architects is a revision of the code adopted in 1927 and last reprinted in 1960. The content and purpose of the code have not been changed. However, the code has been restudied and has been put in an affirmative rather than negative language. In other words, it now states what should be done rather than what is not to be done. This code and the commentary thereon were approved by the Board of Trustees of the Society on 15 June 1962.
ETHICAL, responsible professional behavior results not from edict but rather from a positive inward force of the individual. Even by the most careful selection of members a professional society cannot overcome basic inadequacies in a person's character resulting from his family, church, or school background. The most effective influence toward a high ethical standard is positive, consistent ethical actions in the practice of their profession by the members of the Society.
Unfortunately we seem to be living in an era of low ethical standards. These are reflected only too frequently in actions taken by responsible officials in government, in industry and in other professions. Nor are the landscape architects exempt from criticism on this score. That all of this is so, however, is not an excuse. Good standards are even more important in an era of low ethical standards. The simple qualities of honesty, trustworthiness, truthfulness and in fact observance of the "golden rule" itself are also good business and professional practices as well.
It is necessary for a professional society to have rules (and rather specific rules) for the conduct of its members. All professional societies have codes of professional practice. The only enforcement of such a code is either censure of an individual by the Society or the removal of an individual from membership. In the American Society of Landscape Architects enforcement of the Code of Professional Practice usually results from a complaint made against an individual. Such a complaint is investigated by the Committee on Code of Professional Practice which acts as a Board of Appeals for implementing the provisions of the code. Following such investigation and report, final action is taken by the Board of Trustees.
This is a code for all landscape architects, whether or not they are on public or private payrolls and whether or not they are teaching, doing research, or working in a private or public office.
While the Code of Professional Practice has been drafted to be self-explanatory, a commentary is included for the purposes of clarity. The commentary is not a part of the code. The code consists of 10 rules or precepts; following each of these there is the short commentary interpreting or explaining the rule:
1. The Professional Landscape Architect Acts and Practices Always in a Manner Bringing Credit to the Honor and Dignity of the Profession of Landscape Architecture.
Commentary
This is a broad recognition of the principle that "one bad apple spoils the barrel" and of the principle that a group of people in the same boat should pull together.
Under this rule it would not be professional for a firm or partnership to use the term "members of the American Society of Landscape Architects" unless all members or associates of the firm were either Fellows or Members of the Society. Legal proceedings to protect the name of the Society could be taken in such a case as they certainly would be in the case of a single practitioner who falsely claimed membership in the Society.
Also, it would be unprofessional for a landscape architect to allow his name to be associated with an undertaking in any professional capacity unless he served in that capacity. A landscape architect should not, for example, allow his name to be published as the designer of a subdivision unless he is actually familiar with the circumstances and responsible for the design and considers it worthy of the standards of his office. Similarly, he should not accept a position as consultant or consent to review the plans of another practitioner unless the circumstances are such that he can, in fact, become familiar with the problem and the design.
2. The Professional Landscape Architect Promotes the Public Interest, Placing It Above Gain to Himself or to His Client.
Commentary
The landscape architect is expected to be interested in all civic and public affairs. He should make his views known in connection with matters affecting the physical development of communities, including those in which he lives. He would be expected to make his views known, for example, on the regulations of land use, such as zoning and land subdivision ordinances. However, he should not assist a client to obtain a special privilege in connection with a zoning or subdivision matter and appear before a zoning or planning commission as an advocate of a client endeavoring to obtain a special privilege contrary to public interest.
3. The Professional Landscape Architect Is a Faithful Agent or Trustee for His Employer or His Client, Providing the Full Benefit of An Objective Professional Opinion Unaffected by Other Personal or Financial Commitments.
Commentary
Landscape architects, as is true of doctors or lawyers, may undertake other business activities "on the side" such as investments in stocks and bonds, real estate development and the like, to which the knowledge and the ability learned in the practice of their profession may contribute to a personal profit. Such activities are not deemed to be unprofessional so long as (a) they are fully disclosed, (b) they do not impair the objectivity of the landscape architect's advice to his client, and (c) they are a minor or subsidiary activity of the landscape architect.
The intent here is to prevent the landscape architect from either being or appearing to be in such a relation to others that he may not exercise his best judgment for the benefit of his client. For the same reasons it is undesirable for the landscape architect to maintain any other business or professional connection which might influence his judgment on behalf of the client without the full knowledge of the client in the case affected.
The landscape architect may legitimately, where it will best serve the interest of the client and the welfare of the work, organize a working force and purchase materials for his client and supervise operations through his office, rendering bills to the client at stated intervals for the actual amounts paid out. This is not a generally desirable procedure because it emphasizes the executive function rather than the advisory function of the landscape architect and so tends to a confusion of his services with those of the contractor.
The landscape architect shall not, however, undertake in any form the execution of construction work or planting on a lump sum basis. The crucial point here is that the landscape architect's remuneration must not be in the form of a commercial or speculative profit on materials or labor. Moreover, it is not equitable to ask the landscape architect to guarantee an uncertain cost as by a bond or otherwise—i.e., take a speculative risk—when he may not take a speculative profit.
It is legitimate for a landscape architect to give a bond for the faithful performance of his own work in design when this is required by law. It is not desirable, however, because his employment must be based upon trust and his integrity; he can do no more than give his best advice and is legally entitled to remuneration for it in the same manner as a doctor or a lawyer.
4. The Professional Landscape Architect Furthers the Welfare and Advancement of His Profession by Participating in Activities of His Professional Society, Encouraging Professional Development of Those Who Enter the Profession, and Never Doing Any Act That Would Falsely or Maliciously Injure the Professional Reputation, Prospects, Practice or Employment Position of Another Landscape Architect.
Commentary
This rule is quite similar to Rule 1. Each individual landscape architect will prosper as the entire Society prospers. It is to the long-range benefit of each landscape architect to see the profession grow in numbers and esteem. This rule is in basic contradiction to any actions that might tend toward restriction of the number of qualified practitioners.
A landscape architect should avoid both the act and the appearance of maliciously injuring the reputation of a rival practitioner. Any adverse criticism of a fellow practitioner to a third party is therefore undesirable, except where unavoidable in carrying out a professional trust. This is especially true of matters of design and to some extent of technical procedure, about which honest and reasonable differences of opinion may exist.
Matters of common honesty are usually regarded as more capable of categorical definition, and dishonesty should never be condoned because of considerations of professional solidarity; but here also, before making any accusations, officially or unofficially, the landscape architect should be certain:
1 that the facts are actually and correctly before him;
2 that a good purpose is served by revealing them; and
3 that he is not rendering himself liable to the laws of libel.
This rule is not intended to prohibit intelligent adverse criticism of the advisability or design of public works or reports on public works by a landscape architect in his capacity as a citizen as long as the criticism is made in good faith and with no deliberate attempt maliciously or otherwise to injure the professional reputation of another practitioner.
Before a member of the Society either as an individual takes action or in his or her capacity as representative of an organized group votes to express an adverse opinion regarding a design, he should give the practitioner whose work is being criticized an opportunity to present his reasons for the design.
5. The Professional Landscape Architect Obtains Commissions Solely on the Basis of His Experience and Ability, Advertising in Only a Dignified and Responsible Manner and Not Soliciting Clients of Another Landscape Architect.
Commentary
A known reputation for doing excellent work is the landscape architect's most effective advertisement. It is entirely legitimate for a landscape architect to bring himself to public attention so long as in so doing he does not make himself and his Society appear: (a) to have bad manners or bad taste, (b) to be commercial rather than professional, (c) to be self-seeking rather than public spirited, and (d) to be under such obligations as to be incapable of giving honest and disinterested advice.
In this connection the landscape architect:
1 May publish his name and profession and address, telephone number, etc. in such publications as the telephone directory or in the advertising pages of a periodical. However, display advertisements or descriptive advertisements which are not distinguishable from ordinary commercial advertising associate a landscape architect in the public mind with nonprofessional sales methods and are therefore to be avoided;
2 May furnish information, illustrations, etc. for articles or prepare at his own expense articles about his own work for any legitimate publication, provided that the material has real general interest and is not blatantly laudatory or misleading or in any way suggestive of commercial advertising methods;
3 May give lectures on professional or other subjects with the same restrictions as above noted.
4 May show photographs, drawings, models, etc., of his work in public exhibitions;
5 May serve as a public official or on committees, commissions, etc. for the public benefit (but avoid the giving of professional service without pay to communities or agencies which are capable of paying for such service); and
6 May send out professional announcements on the occasion of a change of address, change in firm membership, etc.
The Society and its Chapters should make their influence felt in public affairs. Resolutions on public questions, letters to public officials, newspaper articles, etc., are entirely legitimate.
The landscape architect is to take reasonable precautions to determine whether another landscape architect has recently preceded him in relation to each new piece of work. If such is the case the second landscape architect should not proceed with the work until he has communicated the facts to the first landscape architect and satisfied himself that he may properly accept the employment. The employment of a landscape architect by a client is considered to have taken place when the landscape architect has been authorized to make sketches by the client verbally or in writing. Mere solicitation of the client by a landscape architect is not a step toward employment.
The landscape architect should not review, criticize or supplement the plans or work of another landscape architect for the same client without the consent of the other landscape architect except when the landscape architect first employed has entirely severed his connection with the work. This statement is not intended to prohibit the otherwise proper soliciting of a former client of another landscape architect nor the soliciting of a present client of another landscape architect in regard to an entirely different piece of work from that on which the other landscape architect is employed.
6. The Professional Landscape Architect Receives His Remuneration Solely from His Stated Charges for Services Rendered His Client and Never in Whole or in Part from Commissions from Commercial or Speculative Profit Emanating from Materials or Services Provided to a Client by Others.
Commentary
It is absolutely unprofessional to accept payment from gardeners, superintendents, contractors, material men, etc., for obtaining employment or sales for them and the landscape architect should not lay himself open to the suspicion of having done this. It is equally unprofessional to accept from another practitioner a payment for a portion of his fee in consideration of procuring work for him.
7. The Professional Landscape Architect Refuses to Invite Proposals or State a Price for Services in Response for Such an Invitation When There Are Reasonable Grounds for Belief That Price Will Be the Prime Consideration in The Selection of The Landscape Architect.
Commentary
The cost, safety and excellence of undertakings in landscape architecture result from the experienced judgment and professional competence and integrity of landscape architects selected for such work and as the landscape architect's fees are a minor consideration in the over-all cost and because it is the duty of professional societies to protect the unwary client against incompetence, inadequate experience or unethical practice, the American Society of Landscape Architects strongly condemns the practice on the part of some public and private individuals, firms and corporations of soliciting competitive bids from landscape architects for the rendering of professional landscape architectural service. Further it is unprofessional for a landscape architect occupying a public position to participate in a public action involving "competitive bidding" for a professional assignment.
8. The Professional Landscape Architect Neither Pays nor Accepts Commissions for Securing Work.
Commentary
This provision does not apply to those in regular employ of a landscape architect as assistants, etc. Such persons bringing work into an office may properly be paid a percentage of the profits or be otherwise remunerated. To hire a person to secure work when he has no other connection with the office is not a desirable practice. To offer payment directly or indirectly to other practitioners, as for instance to architects, in order to obtain work is absolutely unprofessional.
9. The Professional Landscape Architect Will Not Reduce His Standard Fee to Obtain Work or Use a Salaried Position to Compete Unfairly with Other Landscape Architects.
Commentary
It is highly undesirable for a landscape architect to offer professional services on approval and without compensation unless justified by previous personal or business relations with a particular client. Where advice or service are knowingly under-valued for good reasons in any particular case, this should be made perfectly plain to a client so that the client may not obtain a false conception of the real value of such services. Charges of different landscape architects for employment upon the same problem will be different according to their reputation and efficiency.
The Society recognizes that it is desirable for persons in teaching positions to also undertake other professional assignments "on the side" because to do so may be essential to improved quality of teaching. However, the fees charged and the quality of services performed should be comparable with those in private practice. There should be no implication that the services were being provided by the institution to which the landscape architect is attached or that special favors from said institution will be obtained by virtue of the landscape architect's employment. Further, the use of inexperienced student assistants at low rates of pay is not a good practice. Landscape architects on a public payroll should not perform professional services for private clients when said professional services are of a nature that will require review by the public agency the landscape architect works for. While the practice of "Moonlighting" or undertaking secondary work on the side in "after office hours" is primarily a problem for the individuals and the organizations concerned, it is unprofessional for a landscape architect to engage in a secondary employment of a type that will conflict with his primary employment: to thereby compete with the private office he works for in the daytime, for example.
10. The Professional Landscape Architect Participates in Competitions Only in Accordance with The ASLA Code for Competitions.
Commentary
The ASLA Code of Competitions has been developed primarily for the long-range protection of the landscape architect.
It may be legitimate for a landscape architect to accept a commission to do a piece of work for which there has been a competition in which he has been concerned not as a winner, when no award was made and a long time has elapsed and especially if the requirements of the problem had been radically changed.
However, it is unprofessional for a landscape architect to take part in any competition which is conducted contrary to the principles sanctioned by the Society and to accept the commission to do any work in connection with which he has acted in an advisory capacity in drawing the program for a competition or in making the award in such a competition.
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1975-1982
In 1975, the newly named Code of Professional Ethics Committee made a significant change by rewriting the Code and creating some Guidelines for Professional Conduct.
Code of Professional Ethics (1975)
Ethical, responsible, professional behavior results not from edict but rather from a positive, inward force of the individual. The most effective influence towards a high ethical standard is positive, consistent, ethical actions in the practice of their profession by the members of their Society. The following Articles express in general terms the professional conduct expected of landscape architects:
(I) The landscape architect shall exert every effort towards the preservation and protection of our natural resources and towards understanding the interaction of man’s economic and social systems with those resources.
(II) The landscape architect has a social and environmental responsibility to reconcile man’s needs and the natural environment with minimal disruption to the natural systems.
(III) The landscape architect furthers the welfare and advancement of his profession by constantly striving to provide the highest level of professional services.
(IV) The landscape architect shall serve his client or employer with integrity, understanding, knowledge, and creative ability and shall respond morally and ethically to social, political, economic and technical influences.
(V) The landscape architect shall avoid even the appearance of improper professional conduct.
Guidelines for Professional Conduct (1975)
The following Guidelines express the desired level of professional conduct expected of landscape architects:
(1) A landscape architect shall not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, bribery or misrepresentation.
(2) A landscape architect shall not use paid advertising, indulge in self-laudatory, exaggerated, misleading or false publicity or solicit or permit others to solicit in his name advertisements for any publication presenting his work.
(3) A landscape architect shall not undertake any activity or employment, have any significant financial or other interests or accept any contribution if it would reasonably appear that such activity, employment, interests or contribution could compromise his professional judgement or prevent him from serving the best interest of his client or employer. A landscape architect shall make full disclosure to his client or employer, at the earliest possible opportunity, of any financial interest which even remotely bears upon his services and/or the project for which the services are being rendered.
(4) A landscape architect shall report truthfully and clearly to his prospective client or employer his qualifications and capabilities to perform services. After being selected for his professional qualifications, a landscape architect shall reach an agreement with his client or employer as to the nature and extent of the services he will provide and his compensation.
(5) A landscape architect shall not give, lend or promise anything of value to any public official in order to influence or attempt to influence the official’s judgment or actions on letting of design contracts.
(6) A landscape architect shall not attempt to obtain, offer to undertake, or accept a commission for which he knows another legally qualified individual or firm has been selected or employed until he has evidence that the latter agreement has been terminated, and he gives the latter written notice that he is so doing.
(7) A landscape architect shall recognize the contribution of others engaged in the planning, design and construction of the physical environment and shall not knowingly make false statements about their professional work, nor maliciously injure or attempt to injure the prospects, practice or employment position of those so engaged.
(8) A landscape architect shall encourage education and research and the development and dissemination of useful, technical information relating to the planning, design and construction of the physical environment.
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1982 – present
The committee was renamed the Code of Professional Conduct Committee from 1980 to 1981 and then became the Ethics Committee in 1982. The code and guidelines have since been updated regularly, for example:
Code of Professional Conduct (1992)
This code expresses in general terms the level of professional conduct expected of Fellows, Members and Associates of the Society.
Such a code is no guarantee of moral actions on the part of the members, but depends upon each individual member’s integrity to conduct dealings with both clients and other professionals in a responsible straight-forward manner.
A profession should be more than a group of individuals offering a service to the public. It should be an entity with a bond among members based on mutual respect and a dedication to improving the quality of life for all persons.
(I) The member shall exert every effort toward the preservation and protection of our natural resources and toward understanding the interaction of the economic and social systems with these resources.
(II) The member has a social and environmental responsibility to reconcile the public’s needs and the natural environment with minimal disruption to the natural system.
(III) The member shall further the welfare of and advance the profession by constantly striving to provide the highest level of professional services, avoiding even the appearance of improper professional conduct.
(IV) The member shall serve the client or employer with integrity, understanding, knowledge and creative ability, and shall respond morally to social, political, economic and technological influences.
(V) The member shall encourage educational research and the development and dissemination of useful technical information relating to planning, design and construction of the physical environment.
Guidelines for Professional Conduct (1992)
(I) A member shall make full disclosure to the client or employer of any financial interest which even remotely bears upon the services or project.
(II) A member shall truthfully and clearly inform the client or employer of personal qualifications and capabilities to perform services.
(III) A member shall not make exaggerated, misleading, deceptive or false statements, or claims to the public about personal professional qualifications, experience, or performance.
(IV) A member shall not give, lend or promise anything of value to any public official in order to influence the official’s judgment or actions in the letting of contracts.
(V) A member shall be free of any constraint from fellow members to participate in a price or competitive bidding selection when such method is selected by a client, but the member is encouraged to advocate to the client the public benefit to be derived from selection processes that establish as their primary consideration in the selection of landscape architects the ability and competence of the landscape architect to provide the required services.
(VI) A member shall recognize the contribution of others engaged in the planning, design and construction of the physical environment and shall not knowingly make false statements about their professional work nor maliciously injure or attempt to injure the prospects, practice or employment position of those so engaged.
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The current version of the Code of Professional Ethics, which includes a preamble and principles, was first adopted on April 2, 1995, and has been updated regularly since then.
The Code of Environmental Ethics started as a canon in the 1995 Code of Professional Ethics but became a separate document on October 27, 2000.
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