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National Register Application Process

I. Determination of Eligibility

The first step towards having a property in Maine listed on the National Register of Historic Places is to determine if it is eligible for the program. (See Criteria for Listing.) Property owners who wish to have their properties evaluated are asked to complete an Information Request Form, and return it to the Commission along with interior and exterior photographs of the property, and photographs of any notable features. Depending on the resource type, sketches of floor plans, site plan, or maps may also be requested. A thorough and accurate response to the questions on the Information Request Form will enable the Commission staff to evaluate the potential eligibility of the property. In many instances the Commission can determine if the property meets the standards for National Register recognition based on the information submitted, but in other instances a staff member may need to make a site visit to further evaluate the resource. Once the review is completed, a letter outlining the staff's determination will be mailed to you and they will tentatively place the presentation of the nomination on the agenda for one of the quarterly State Review Board meetings.

To obtain an Information Request Form please contact the National Register Coordinator at (207) 287-1453 or by email.

II. Site visit and nomination preparation

In Maine, the nomination/registration document is prepared by staff of the Commission. This document includes a detailed description of the property, an outline of its history, and a narrative that explains why the property is significant and how it meets the National Register criteria. In order to prepare this documentation, Commission staff will contact you to arrange a visit to the property at a mutually convenient time. During the site visit the property will be extensively photographed and the architectural features will be documented.

Additional research, to establish the history and significance of the property is then undertaken by Commission staff, utilizing a wide variety of local, state, and national primary and secondary sources. If property owners have access to historic photographs, genealogy records, deed research, journals, probate records, or records of associated commercial, industrial, or agricultural activities for the property, please provide copies of them to the Commission staff .

III. Review Board presentation

Each property recommended by the Commission for nomination is presented to the State Review board at one of their meetings, held each January, April, July and October. View the Review Board Schedule. The State Review Board is a governor-appointed group of eleven professionals that must approve the staff's recommendations before they can be forwarded to the National Register office in Washington, D. C. Prior to the presentation of the completed nomination to the Review Board all the owners of the subject property, and the chief elected local officials, are formally notified of the pending nomination and given a chance to object to, or concur with, the nomination. If a majority of property owners object to listing the historic district in the National Register, the nomination may be sent to the Keeper of the Register for an official Determination of Eligibility.

The presentation generally consists of a brief slide show depicting the property and an overview of its history and significance. The quarterly meeting is open to the public and property owners will receive a letter inviting them to attend if they wish.

If the board nominates the property, the nomination is forwarded to the National Park Service for final determination of whether the property is eligible for the National Register. A determination will be made by their staff within 45 days of receipt of the nomination. The Commission staff is notified if the property is listed in the Register, and in turn they notify the property owners and the local elected officials. At its discretion the Commission may also announce the listing via press releases. The owners of listed properties may request from the Commission a certificate, signed by the state historic preservation officer, signifying the National Register listing.

If you have any questions regarding the National Register nomination process, please contact the National Register Coordinator at (207) 287-1453, or by email..

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