Enforcement Actions - U

Honolulu —The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $500 administrative fine to Wesley Nobuo Ujimori, architect license number C-17884, for an alleged violation of Business and Professions Code section 5600.05(a)(1) (License Renewal Process; Conditions; Certifications; Audit; False or Misleading Information; Disciplinary Action; Coursework Regarding Zero Net Carbon Design; Submission of Letter to Legislature). The action alleged that Ujimori certified false or misleading information on their 2023 License Renewal Application. The citation became final on May 2, 2025.

Marina Del Rey —The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $1,000 administrative fine to Loren Harry Uridel, architect license number C-13482, for alleged violations of Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 5536.22(a) and California Code of Regulations (CCR) title 16, section 160(f).

On or around June 27, 2019, Uridel prepared a written contract to provide a contractor with a “builder-permit architectural set of drawings” for a salon tenant improvement project located in Los Angeles, California. Uridel was provided with an initial retainer of $2,500 by the owner of the salon (R.T.), and Uridel directed all further correspondence and invoices to R.T. Once Uridel determined that the owner of the salon, not the contractor, had become his client, he should have documented the change or entered into a new contract containing the name and address of the client. Failure to do so was a violation of BPC sections 5536.22(a) and 5536.22(a)(3). The contract also failed to include a description of the procedure to be used by either party to terminate the contract, a violation of BPC section 5536.22(a)(5).

In his invoice to R.T. dated October 17, 2019, Uridel billed $21,663.90 for professional services accrued on an hourly basis, including work that was beyond the scope of the signed agreement, such as coordination with other work on the property, MEP services and coordination, agency approvals, and additional project requirements determined by the city. Uridel thus materially altered the scope or objective of the project without fully informing the client and obtaining the consent of the client in writing, a violation of CCR title 16, section 160(f).

In the Spring of 2020, Uridel filed a lawsuit against the client for non-payment of his invoice. In September 2020 the lawsuit was settled between the parties. As an express condition of the settlement prepared by Uridel's attorney, R.T. was required to retract his complaint filed with the Board. The inclusion of this provision was a violation of BPC section 143.5(a). Uridel paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on March 9, 2021.

North Hollywood — The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $750 administrative fine to Ricardo Urquidi, dba Urbe & Orbe, an unlicensed individual, for alleged violations of Business and Professions Code section 5536(a).

On or around December 22, 2022, Urquidi was hired to prepare design plans associated with a residential project located in Sun Valley, California for S.N. (client) and to submit the plans to the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) for approval. Urquidi was paid but never submitted plans to the city for the permit.

The agreement specifically stated, “will be prepared architectural drawings.”

Urquidi's business card and company letterhead offered architectural services.

His title block included “ARCHITECTURE” and included Urbe & Orbe under “ARCHITECT & ENGINEER.”

Urquidi's business card, title block, letterhead, and agreement, wherein Urquidi described his services as “Architect,” Architecture,” and “Architectural,” are devices that might indicate to the public that Urquidi is an architect or qualified to engage in the practice of architecture in California. Such conduct constitutes violations of Business and Professions Code section 5536(a). The citation became final April 26, 2025. Urquidi paid the fine, satisfying the citation.

San Diego — The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $2,500 administrative fine to Roger Phillip Utt, dba Dream Design Build LLC, an unlicensed individual, for alleged violations of Business and Professions Code sections 5536(a) (b).

On or around January 1, 2021, Utt entered into a contract with Ms. W.H. (client) by which he offered to provide design services for a residential project located in Poway, California. Utt was to provide plans for a home remodel expansion for a fee of $7,960 and was paid in full.

The contract included “Roger Utt – Architect,” “And the Architect: Roger Utt, License No. C-22229,” the Scope of Work included “The Architect shall…,” the Costs included “the Architect shall provide consultation, design and construction documents and drawings…,” Rates included “Project Architect $100.00 per hour,” the Termination of Services stated “If terminated, Architect shall…” and the signature line stated “Roger Utt – Architect.”

Utt's architect license had expired 12 years earlier on June 30, 2009, and was never renewed.

The Project plans dated June 22, 2022, were stamped and signed with Utt's name, license number C-22229, and the false renewal date June 30, 2023.

Utt's personal All Biz profile was categorized under “Architects” and stated, “Roger Utt Architect AIA is located in San Diego, California.”

Between January 2, 2025, and January 30, 2025, the Board mailed letters to Utt detailing the allegations, but a response was not received.

A citation with an aggravated fine was warranted because Utt had been previously cited for the same type of violation on September 19, 2014 (citation #14-17).

Utt's contract, stamp on plans, and online profile, wherein Utt used the title of “Architect” and described his services as “Architecture” and “Architectural,” are devices that might indicate to the public that Utt is an architect or qualified to engage in the practice of architecture in California. Such conduct constitutes violations of Business and Professions Code section 5536(a) and (b). Utt paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on June 28, 2025.

San Diego —The Board issued a one-count citation that included a $2,500 administrative fine to Roger Phillip Utt, an unlicensed individual, for an alleged violation of BPC 5536(a) (Practice Without License or Holding Self Out as Architect). The action alleged that Utt executed a contract to provide consultation, design, construction documents and drawings to obtain a building permit for a project located in San Diego, California. Utt’s contract and personal check identified himself as an "architect" indicating to the public he was qualified to engage in the practice of architecture. The citation became final on October 23, 2014.

Scottsdale, AZ —Effective March 30, 2020, David A. Udkow's architect license number C-8912 was revoked, and he thereby lost all rights and privileges as an architect in California. The action was a result of a Default Decision and Order, which was adopted by the Board on February 28, 2020.

An Accusation was filed against Udkow for alleged violations of Business and Professions Code sections 5586 (Discipline by a Public Agency), 5579 (Fraud in Obtaining License), 5582, and 5582.1, and California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 151 (Aiding Unlawful Practice).

The Accusation alleged that on or about August 22, 2012, the Nevada State Board of Architecture, Interior Design, and Residential Design (Nevada Board) adopted a Settlement Agreement and Order that disciplined Udkow for (1) reviewing and sealing architectural drawings for three projects in Las Vegas, Nevada for submittal to the building department that were not prepared under his responsible control; (2) aiding an unauthorized person to practice architecture in Nevada; and (3) not executing a written contract with the client before providing professional services. On or about October 1, 2012, Udkow surrendered his architect license to the Nevada Board.

Udkow also was disciplined by the Colorado Board of Licensure for Architects, Professional Engineers, and Professional Land Surveyors (Colorado Board) and the Montana Board of Architects and Landscape Architects (Montana Board) on January 21, 2014, and April 7, 2015, respectively, based upon the action that was taken against him by the Nevada Board. The Colorado Board issued a Letter of Admonition to Udkow, and the Montana Board suspended his license through a Final Order by Default.

A review of Udkow's 2013 and 2015 California Architect License Renewal Applications dated June 20, 2013, and May 25, 2015, respectively, revealed that he had indicated under penalty of perjury that he had not been disciplined by a public agency during either of the previous two-year renewal cycles.

On or about March 2, 2016, an Ohio architect issued a “Consultant Work Authorization” to Udkow to “Review/Sign/Seal plans for Landlord and City submittal” for a fee of $1,700 to obtain a building permit for a business referred to as BTG in Torrance, CA. The next day, Udkow signed and stamped the construction documents, which had not been prepared by him, or under his responsible control.