SHPO Fact Sheet #1:
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
January 1996
WHAT THE NATIONAL REGISTER DOES:
- Provides recognition of a property's significance in history, architecture, archaeology, or engineering.
- Provides limited protection when a property is endangered by a federally funded or licensed action.
- Provides the owner of income-producing property (commercial or rental residential) the opportunity to receive investment tax credits for "certified rehabilitation."
- Provides the owner the opportunity to apply for matching grant-in-aid for restoration/rehabilitation (when funding is available).
- Does not restrict the use of the property. (For example, an owner can continue to live in a listed house, convert a listed property to another use, continue to farm ground where a listed archaeological site may be located, conduct new construction on the site, etc.)
- Does not restrict the sale of private property.
- Does not require continued maintenance of private property.
- Does not require that any specific guidelines be followed in a rehabilitation (unless the owner is using federal funds or receiving an investment tax credit).
- Does not require the owner to give tours of the property or open it to the public.
- Does not guarantee funds for restoration.
- Does not guarantee perpetual maintenance of the property.
- Does not provide a tax credit for a private residential structure.
- Does not provide a historic marker for the property.
- Any person or organization can submit a nomination for any property.
- To nominate a property to the National Register, a "National Register of Historic Places Property Documentation Form" must be completed and submitted to the State Historic Preservation Office, 2401 North Laird Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.
- The State Historic Preservation Office staff reviews each nomination received. If the nomination is complete and in acceptable format, it will be scheduled for presentation at the earliest possible Historic Preservation Review Committee meeting. Unacceptable nominations will be returned to the preparer with written comments.
- The Historic Preservation Review Committee meets at 10:00 a.m. on the third Thursday of January, April, July, and October in the Oklahoma Historical Society Boardroom, unless otherwise announced.
- If the Historic Preservation Review Committee approves the nomination, it will be sent to the Keeper of the Register, Washington, D.C.; written comments received before or during the committee meeting will be transmitted with the nomination to the Keeper of the Register.
- The Keeper of the Register has forty-five (45) days from the date of receipt of nomination to act. The Keeper can list the property in the National Register, issue a determination of eligibility (in special circumstances), reject the property for listing, or return the nomination for additional information or clarification.
- The Keeper notifies the State Historic Preservation Office of the listing of the property in the National Register of Historic Places, and the SHPO then notifies all property owners and elected state and local officials of the designation. The SHPO shall also inform the owner (and nomination preparer, if not the owner) when a property is rejected for listing or returned for additional information.
- If an owner requests it in writing, a certificate denoting listing in the National Register will be issued by the SHPO.
Acceptable nominations received by the State Historic Preservation Officer are schedules for the first possible meeting of the Historic Preservation Review Committee. Generally, acceptable nominations received sixty (60) days prior to a meeting of the committee will be presented. However, if more nominations are received than can be processed in accordance with federal regulations, the nominations will be scheduled in accordance with the priorities listed below.
- Properties considered to be endangered.
- Properties that are examples of a rare type or that are surviving examples of a once common type.
- Properties that are candidates for the special tax incentives or grants programs.
- Properties considered eligible for nomination to the National Register by a Certified Local Government.
- Properties for which there is a demonstrated public concern.
- Other properties for which sufficient documentation exists to warrant nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.