National Register
The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's official list of buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts worthy of preservation because of their significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. The National Register recognizes resources of local, state and national significance which have been documented and evaluated according to uniform standards and criteria.
Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect historic and archeological resources. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the U. S. Department of the Interior.
Criteria for National Register Designation
To be eligible for listing in the National Register, a resource must meet at least one of the following criteria:
Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history (Criterion A).
Is associated with the lives of persons significant in our past (Criterion B).
Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction, or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction (Criterion C).
Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in history or prehistory (Criterion D).
Effects of National Register Designation
Tax incentives, in some cases, for rehabilitation of depreciable structures.
Tax deduction available for donation of preservation easement.
Local building inspector must grant code alternatives provided under State Historical Building Code.
Local assessor may enter into contract with property owner for property tax reduction (Mills Act).
Consideration in federally funded or licensed undertakings (Section 106, National Historic Preservation Act).
Limited Protection: Environmental review may be required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) if property is threatened by a project. Contact the local government planning agency for more information.
Automatic listing in California Register of Historical Resources. Owner may place his or her own plaque or marker at the resource site.
Listing in the National Register may result in restrictions, such as design review, imposed locally pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or through local zoning and land use planning regulations. Contact the local government planning agency for more information.
Procedures for Registration
1. Download the Nomination Packet. If you need assistance contact OHP.
2. Read the National Register criteria (Bulletin 15), and How to Complete the National Register Forms (Bulletin 16A). Follow these guidelines exactly when preparing application form. If the area is proposed for registration as an historic district, please contact OHP staff prior to submission of the nomination. OHP staff is available to assist district applicants and should be contacted in the early stages of the process.
3. If you are not the owner of the property you are submitting for registration, please inform the owner of your intention to apply for registration. The property or district may not be listed over the objection of the owner or majority of owners.
4. Submit cover letter, completed forms, photographs, and maps to OHP for review. OHP requires applicants submit an electronic copy of the nomination in Microsoft Word format. Photographs printed from digital images must be accompanied by a CD-R or DVD-R containing the electronic images. If the property is endangered or the applicant is requesting rehabilitation incentives under the Tax Reform Act or Revenue Act of 1978, this must be stated clearly in the cover letter.
5. Nominations will be reviewed by OHP. Those which are inadequate or are not prepared in accordance with the guidelines published in Bulletin 16A will be returned to the applicant for further work.
6. OHP notifies all applicants, property owners and appropriate governmental jurisdictions of the time and place of the SHRC meeting.
7. If approved by the SHRC, the nomination is sent to the State Historic Preservation Officer for nomination to the National Register. The final determination is made 45 days after receipt by the Keeper of the National Register in Washington, D.C.
Owner Consent
Consent of property owner(s) is not required, but properties cannot be listed over the ojection of a private owner(s).
Local Government Notification
Local government within whose jurisdiction the resource is located must be given 60 days in which to comment upon the application before the State Historical Resources Commission considers the nomination.
