I do not follow your question.

My friends designer wont finish their job and turn in their work unless a contractor number is attached to their plans first.

A contractor hasnt been selected yet .

No one can understand why this is an issue.

Has "your friend" asked the "designer" why he will only do it that way? That should have been stipulated as part of the contract that was signed prior to starting the project.

I can ask them.

Does this seem like common practice?

That doesn't make sense. Most times you would have plans drawn up so that you can submit those to 2-3 builders for bids.

We built a guest house in our previous house and we used an architect to draw up a full set of building plans. the architect also had it approved by an engineer and put it through the town zoning to get permits. Only then did we submit the full plans to 3 builders for bids.

Is the local jurisdiction reviewing the drawings requiring a contractor's name and info? That might be one reason why the drawings aren't being released.

its definitely a headscratcher.

My friends arent ready to permit yet and wanted to get some bids to see how things would pan out with their budget but they cant without finished plans.

Nobody( architects, contractors, the permit office, other designers) can figure out why this is an issue.

Its not a requirement in any of our city or state offices for a contractor number to be digitally rendered on a set of plans.

A contractor needs a license number to pull permits which goes on file at the permit office but a homeowner can pull permits without one.

Why is a ”designer” drafting a home addition?

Obviously the solution starts with the roadblock. Is there a written contract with this designer?

Is the designer just doing the "pretty" layout? Who has done the engineering and study of the existing structure? Can the foundation actually support a second story addition?

Call their bluff. Find someone with a valid contractors license, pay them to be a middle man and see if the designer hands over the plans.

They paid for an engineer to crunch the numbers and stamp the drawings.

Is it a red flag to anyone else that the designer wont fulfill their contract without a seperate company (GC) attaching their business info?

It seems suspicious.

What kind of a designer are they? I though that a licensed Interior Designers could do construction plans like that, but someone that calls themselves a designer/decorator would need to be covered by a licensed architect or someone else? There is a lot of gray area and can be depend on individual state laws.

There are many famous and talented designers who are not licensed Interior Designers and they will hire someone on their staff that has the necessary licenses.

I find it weird when someone starts a discussion with, "A friend of mine has . . . "; wink wink nudge nudge.

It may be an attempt for the designer to shrug responsibility for anything involving the drawings.

It may be the designer's side agreement with the contractor to make them exclusive.

You could try giving him "FJB Fine Home Builders, Ink, 982358002" to put on the drawings.

Something is definitely off as the "designer" has no bearing or responsibility on who actually ends up being the GC or contractor for the project unless he has been contracted to be involved to that extend in the project and even then he may not be able to consult on the actual project as he is not a licensed architect. What contracts were signed and what do they state?

Really. im just trying to help my buddy figure this mess out. unreasonable stuff that causes headaches for friends usually gets under my skin

"unreasonable stuff that causes headaches for friends usually gets under my skin"

No one can say reasonable or unreasonable with more of the backstory and what the contract documents state.

Have your friend go to his local biker bar and hand the bouncer a hundred dollar bill and ask him to get the drawings from the designer.

As a 3rd party, butt out. You haven’t seen the contract, and don’t have a clue what is actually being said unless you were there. Or are are a construction attorney that was consulted about the contract. It’s all a bad game of telephone.

For all you know, the cheapo (unregulated term) ”home designer” has 1 course in CAD, no construction experience, and has to check with a contractor and an engineer both to be sure the plans are remotely realistic. Or, your friend could have hired a higher priced architectural draftsman with a degree who hasn't passed the exam, and actually just not paid them what they owe. Despite what they are telling you. Because no one is ever actually the villain in their own story.

One thing is for certain. They didn't hire an architect, and are hoping to cheap their way through the whole project. Ot they would already have the good reputation builder precselected, to work with an actual architect, as a team.

You paid the designer and got nothing?

They paid for the design and theyre on the final draft after engineering but the designer wont complete their scope and give their clients the finished set without attaching a contractors number first.