The criteria for listing historical resources in the California Register are consistent with those developed by the National Park Service for listing historical resources in the National Register, but have been modified for state use in order to include a range of historical resources which better reflect the history of California. Only resources which meet the criteria as set out below may be listed in or formally determined eligible for listing in the California Register.
(a) Types of resources eligible for nomination:(1) Building. A resource, such as a house, barn, church, factory, hotel, or similar structure created principally to shelter or assist in carrying out any form of human activity. "Building" may also be used to refer to an historically and functionally related unit, such as a courthouse and jail or a house and barn;(2) Site. A site is the location of a significant event, a prehistoric or historic occupation or activity, or a building or structure, whether standing, ruined, or vanished, where the location itself possesses historical, cultural, or archeological value regardless of the value of any existing building, structure, or object. A site need not be marked by physical remains if it is the location of a prehistoric event, and if no buildings, structures, or objects marked it at that time. Examples of such sites are trails, designed landscapes, battlefields, habitation sites, Native American ceremonial areas, petroglyphs, and pictographs;(3) Structure. The term "structure" is used to describe a construction made for a functional purpose rather than creating human shelter. Examples of structures include mines, bridges, and tunnels;(4) Object. The term "object" is used to describe those constructions that are primarily artistic in nature or are relatively small in scale and simply constructed, as opposed to a building or a structure. Although it may be moveable by nature or design, an object is associated with a specific setting or environment. Objects should be in a setting appropriate to their significant historic use, role, or character. Objects that are relocated to a museum are not eligible for listing in the California Register. Examples of objects include fountains, monuments, maritime resources, sculptures, and boundary markers; and(5) Historic district. Historic districts are unified geographic entities which contain a concentration of historic buildings, structures, objects, or sites united historically, culturally, or architecturally. Historic districts are defined by precise geographic boundaries. Therefore, districts with unusual boundaries require a description of what lies immediately outside the area, in order to define the edge of the district an to explain the exclusion of adjoining areas. The district must meet at least one of the criteria for significance discussed in Section 4852(b)(1)-(4) of this chapter. Those individual resources contributing to the significance of the historic district will also be listed in the California Register. For this reason, all individual resources located within the boundaries of an historic district must be designated as either contributing or as noncontributing to the significance of the historic district.
(b) Criteria for evaluating the significance of historical resources. An historical resource must be significant at the local, state, or national level under one or more of the following four criteria: (1) It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local or regional history, or the cultural heritage of California or the United States;(2) It is associated with the lives of persons important to local, California, or national history;(3) It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of a master or possesses high artistic values; or(4) It has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the prehistory or history of the local area, California, or the nation.(c) Integrity. Integrity is the authenticity of an historical resource's physical identity evidenced by the survival of characteristics that existed during the resource's period of significance. Historical resources eligible for listing in the California Register must meet one of the criteria of significance described in section 4852(b) of this chapter and retain enough of their historic character or appearance to be recognizable as historical resources and to convey the reasons for their significance. Historical resources that have been rehabilitated or restored may be evaluated for listing. Integrity is evaluated with regard to the retention of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. It must also be judged with reference to the particular criteria under which a resource is proposed for eligibility. Alterations over time to a resource or historic changes in its use may themselves have historical, cultural, or architectural significance.
It is possible that historical resources may not retain sufficient integrity to meet the criteria for listing in the National Register, but thy may still be eligible for listing in the California Register. A resource that has lost its historic character or appearance may still have sufficient integrity for the California Register if it maintains the potential to yield significant scientific or historical information or specific data.
(d) Special considerations: (1) Moved buildings, structures, or objects. The Commission encourages the retention of historical resources on site and discourages the non-historic grouping of historic buildings into parks or districts. However, it is recognized that moving an historic building, structure, or object is sometimes necessary to prevent its destruction. Therefore, a moved building, structure, or object that is otherwise eligible may be listed in the California Register if it was moved to prevent its demolition at its former location and if the new location is compatible with the original character and use of the historical resource. An historical resource should retain its historic features and compatibility in orientation, setting, and general environment.(2) Historical resources achieving significance within the past fifty (50) years. In order to understand the historic importance of a resource, sufficient time must have passed to obtain a scholarly perspective on the events or individuals associated with the resource. A resource less than fifty (50) years old may be considered for listing in the California Register if it can be demonstrated that sufficient time has passed to understand its historical importance.(3) Reconstructed buildings. Reconstructed buildings are those buildings not listed in the California Register under the criteria in Section 4852(b)(1), (2), or (3) of this chapter. A reconstructed building less than fifty (50) years old may be eligible if it embodies traditional building methods and techniques that play an important role in a community's historically rooted beliefs, customs, and practices; e.g., a Native American roundhouse.(e) Historical resource surveys. Historical resources identified as significant in an historical resource survey may be listed in the California Register. In order to be listed, the survey must meet the following: (1) the resources meet the criteria of Section 4852(b)(1)-(4) of this chapter; and (2) the survey documentation meets those standards of resource recordation established by the Office in the "Instructions for Nominating Historical Resources to the California Register" (August 1997), Appendix B. (1) The resources must be included in the State Historical Resources Inventory at the time of listing of the survey by the Commission.(2) The Office shall review all surveys to assure the standards of resource recordation, which can be found in the "Instructions for Nominating Historical Resources to the California Register" (August 1997), Appendix B of this chapter, have been met. If the survey meets the standards, the Office shall recommend to the Commission that all resources with a significance rating of category 1 through 4, or any subcategories thereof, on DPR Form 523 be listed in the California Register. The Office shall review all category 5 determinations for consistency with the California Register criteria of significance as found in Section 4852(b) of this chapter. Office review will occur within sixty (60) days of receipt of the survey. At the end of sixty (60) days, the Office will either: (1) forward the survey for consideration by the Commission or (2) request additional information. The status codes, established to indicate eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places, have the following meanings:
(A) Category 1--Listed in the National Register of Historic Places;(B) Category 2--Formally determined eligible for listing in the National Register;(C) Category 3--Appears eligible for listing in the National Register;(D) Category 4--Could become eligible for listing in the National Register; or(E) Category 5--Locally significant.(3) If the results of the survey are five or more years old at the time of nomination, the documentation for a resource, or resources, must be updated prior to nomination to ensure the accuracy of the information. The statute creating the California Register requires surveys over five (5) years old to be updated.(f) Historical resources designated under municipal or county ordinances. Historical resources designated under municipal or county ordinances which have the authority to restrict demolition or alteration of historical resources, where the criteria for designation or listing have not been officially approved by the Office, may be nominated to the California Register if, after review by Office staff, it is determined that the local designation meets the following criteria: (1) The ordinance provides for owner notification of the nomination of the resource for local historical resource designation and an opportunity for public comment.(2) The criteria for municipal or county historical resource designation consider the historical and/or architectural significance and integrity of the historical resource and require a legal description of the resource.(3) The designating authority issues findings or statements describing the basis of determination for designation.(4) The designation provides some measure of protection from adverse actions that could threaten the historical integrity of the historical resource.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 14, § 4852
1. New section filed 12-2-97; operative 1-1-98 (Register 97, No. 49). Note: Authority cited: Sections 5020.4, 5024.1 and 5024.6, Public Resources Code. Reference: Title 36, Part 60, Code of Federal Regulations; and Sections 5020.1, 5020.4, 5020.7, 5024.1, 5024.5, 5024.6, 21084 and 21084.1, Public Resources Code.
1. New section filed 12-2-97; operative 1-1-98 (Register 97, No. 49).