National Register of Historic Places

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.

California resources listed in the National Register, and California Historical Landmarks #770 and above, are automatically listed in the California Register. Points of Historical Interest designated after December 1997 and recommended by the State Historical Resources Commission are also listed in the California Register.

National Register Criteria

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 may be 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).
• 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 design or environmental review, administered locally pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or through local zoning and land use planning regulations. Contact your local government's planning department for more information.

How to Nominate a California Property to the National Register

1. Download the Nomination Packet, including the appropriate forms and bulletins from https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/guidance.htm. This should include the 10-900 form, National Register Bulletins 15 and 16 A, and the updated NPS photo policy.  

2. If the area is proposed for registration as a 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 private property owners. Property owner contact information must be included with the nomination submittal: Property Owner Contact Excel Template. 

How to submit a Nomination to the OHP

As of September 1, 2026, nominations and supporting documents can be submitted to the OHP electronically. The OHP will provide each applicant with a secure folder to upload the nomination and supporting documents.

To request a nomination folder:

1. Email calshpo.registration@parks.ca.gov with the subject line "Request for nomination folder link."
   • In the body of the email, include the
     • The name, address, city, and county of the property
     • Include the email addresses of applicants needing access to the folder.
       
       
2. A hyperlink to the folder will be emailed back to the original sender.
   
   
3. Upload a Complete Nomination Packet with the following documents:
   1. Cover letter identifying
      1. which registration program is being pursued,
      2. the property being nominated, 
      3. all property owners and their complete contact information,
      4. the applicant and their complete contact information, and
      5. any person or organization on whose behalf the nomination is being submitted
         
         
   2. Excel spreadsheet with email and mailing addresses for all owners and applicants; and
      
      
   3. National Register Submittal including 
      1. official land recordation records or tax records, whichever is more appropriate and,
      2. complete NPS 10-900 form TIFF or JPEG photographs, and maps, all following NPS Standards. 

The OHP will contact the applicant if the documentation is not complete.
If the link to the upload folder does not work, email calshpo.registration@parks.ca.gov and a new link will be sent.

Alternatively, a USB drive with the above documentation may be sent to:

Office of Historic Preservation
ATTN: Registration
1725 23rd Street, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA 95816

Owner Consent

Consent of property owner(s) is not required, but properties cannot be listed over the objection of a private owner(s). Property owner contact information must be submitted with a National Register nomination as part of the cover letter.

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.