Hot Topic: Listing a Property on the National Register of Historic Places

OLR Report 2011-R-0342 summaries the process of getting a property listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Federal regulations establish the procedure for listing a property on the National Register of Historic Places—the official list of the nation's historic places worthy of preservation (36 CFR 60). As described below, the process begins with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) where a nominated property must gain initial approval. The process proceeds to the National Park Service's (NPS) National Register of Historic Places for final approval. The Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry, Connecticut was placed on the register in 1970.


In Connecticut, the individual or entity seeking the designation must submit an official nomination form to SHPO, providing a physical description of the property and demonstrating its historical significance. (The NPS website provides forms for listing a single property or multiple properties.) SHPO reviews the proposed nomination and issues an “approval for study” if the site meets the federal criteria for evaluation (e.g., integrity of design and association with significant historical events, among other things).

If SHPO issues an approval for study, the state's Historical Preservation Review Board considers and votes on the proposed nomination. If approved, SHPO places the site on Connecticut's Register of Historical Places and sends the completed nomination form to NPS for final review. NPS determines whether to list the nominated site on the National Register. The state process takes a minimum of 90 days and requires SHPO to notify affected property owners and local governments and to solicit public comment. The federal process takes a minimum of 45 days.