Architect websites in India: what the CoA rules allow
By Exovio · Updated
Architects in India work under stricter rules on publicity than most businesses. A website is still useful, but it has to read as a factual record of the practice rather than an advertisement. Use that distinction as a planning question, then have the practice confirm the content against the applicable rules before publication.
This guide is not legal advice. Read the Council of Architecture’s current regulations and notices, or ask your adviser, before launch.
What the conduct regulations say
The Architects (Professional Conduct) Regulations, 1989, made under the Architects Act, 1972, say an architect should not advertise their professional services or allow their name to be used in advertisements or other publicity. The regulations list a few exceptions. One, added in 2003, allows the architect’s name to appear in professional directories and on a website. The Council has also issued public notices reminding architects to follow these regulations.
The Council’s notice of 4 May 2022 restates Regulation 2(1)(xxv), including the directory/website exception. That limited exception is not blanket permission for promotional claims or paid campaigns; ask a qualified adviser to assess the proposed content and any later rules.
Write like a record, not an advertisement
Most of the risk sits in the wording. These are safest left out:
- Superlatives and comparisons, such as “best architect in Nagpur” or “top-rated firm”
- Offers, discounts and fee comparisons
- Promised outcomes, such as approval timelines or cost savings
- Testimonials written as endorsements of the architect
Prefer plain statements of fact: who the practice is, where it works, what it has designed and who worked on it. Factual project text also gives search engines more to work with than slogans do.
Show registration details
The Council has warned the public about unregistered people using the title “architect” and advises checking registration before engaging anyone. Listing the CoA registration number of each principal architect on the studio page answers that question for visitors at no cost. Make sure the names match the Council’s register exactly.
Make project pages the core of the site
Project pages carry most of the value, for visitors and for search. For each project, record:
- Building type, city and year
- Status: completed, under construction, unbuilt or competition entry
- Site area and built-up area, where the client agrees to share them
- A short, factual description of the brief and the design response
- Drawings, models and photographs
- The team, consultants and photographer credits
Ask clients before publishing private homes, and leave out exact addresses. Structured project pages also let visitors filter by building type, which matters once a portfolio grows beyond a dozen projects.
Our Northline concept study explores a visual direction through material and wordmark studies. It does not show an implemented architecture website or demonstrate regulatory approval.
Let visitors make the first move
If the practice and its adviser approve an enquiry route, keep it factual and proportionate to the information needed for an initial response. Keep it calm: a contact page with a short form, not pop-ups or countdown timers. Useful questions include:
- Project type and site location
- Plot size or expected built-up area
- Whether the site has been acquired and approvals have started
- The expected start date
These answers prepare the first meeting without turning the site into a sales funnel. Keep the portfolio open to everyone. Putting projects behind a form hides them from visitors and from search engines.
Search visibility without advertising
Factual project pages, a clear studio page and the practice name in page titles give search engines what they need. Ask the practice to review any directory or Google Business Profile against both professional rules and the platform’s eligibility requirements; factual content alone does not establish permission. Publications, awards and talks can be listed, with links, as facts.
Paid search ads, boosted posts and sponsored listings are the clearest forms of advertising. Check the Council’s current position before using any of them.
A checklist before you brief an agency
- The regulations and any recent CoA notices, read by the partners
- CoA registration numbers for the principal architects
- Ten or more projects with drawings, photographs, credits and permissions
- A short, factual description of the practice
- The questions for the enquiry form
- Who will add new projects after launch
For the wider scope of a website project, see our website brief checklist and what changes the cost of a custom website.
