Check out the 4 basic steps to nominate your property to the National Register of Historic Places
List Your Property
Be aware of the requirements. Anyone can nominate a property, but the legal owner must agree. While listing is primarily an honorific designation there are benefits. To be eligible for the National Register, a building must:
- Be at least 50 years old,.
- Retain its architectural integrity.
- Be "significant". This can be national, state-wide or even local, but must fall within at least one of the following categories:
- association with important events,
- association with significant persons,
- architectural significance, or
- archaeological significance
Research Your Building
There are many reasons people may want to research a building. We provide guidance in how to conduct that research and survey your historic property.
- Check with The Preservation Office to determine what has been documented. You can also review an architects and builders files we may have on hand.
- Research Title Abstracts at the County Recorder's Office.
- Sanborn Maps can provide useful construction dates from the late 1880s to as late as 1969.
- Tax Files at the County Assessor's Office can also provide estimated dates of construction.
- Building Permit Registers can be researched through our Research Center.
- Newspapers usually had a real estate section for major construction news.
- A Basic How To Guide
- Historic Contexts
Survey Your Building
Take your research to the next level to conduct a survey on your historic property.
- Intensive Level Surveys are prepared for individual properties.
- Reconnaissance Level Surveys are the most basic approach designed to deal with large groups of buildings rather than a single site.
- The historic site form will help guide your research and survey as you collect information on your property.
- Please use the RLS Historic Sites Database Codes when preparing forms for historic properties. You can also refer to our Real Estate Terms Glossary for additional help.
- We provide you with guidelines for photographing historic buildings and measuring historic floor plans.
Prepare Your Nomination
Nominating a property is an extensive process, usually taking up to 6 months. We recommend you hire a preservation research consultant. You can contact us to get information on local consultants.
- Guide to Preparing National Register Nominations
- It is strongly suggested to work with our staff to conduct reviews of your research and current photos.
- Coordinate with local historic preservation commission, if one is present in your area.
- NRHP Nomination Form
Nominations then go through the Board of State History. If approved by the Board the nomination is submitted to the National Park Service. NPS takes 60 days to review and they make the final determination.
