California Code of Regulations
Title 14 - Natural Resources
Division 3 - Department of Parks and Recreation
Chapter 11.5 - California Register of Historical Resources
Section 4853 - Application Format

(1) The applicant shall use the inventory form which corresponds to the date of recordation of the resource. The inventory form shall be accompanied by a cover letter which includes the name of the applicant, the resource owner and local government with land-use control authority, hereafter local government, and a concise statement of significance. The statement of significance should clearly list the justification for the importance of the historical resource.

(2) A sketch map shall be included, clearly showing the boundaries of the nominated resources, the footprint of all contributing and noncontributing resources, a directional North arrow, and scale. Careful and accurate information shall be provided with sufficient detail to ensure that a legal description of the proposed historical resource may be recorded. These details may include the UTM coordinates marked on a section grid, United States Geological Survey maps, parcel number(s), and legally recorded boundary lines. Boundaries of sites with no material evidence of the significant event must be clearly defined on the map on the basis of specific and definitive historical documentation.

(3) One or more color slides and black and white or color photos shall be provided to properly document the historical resource. Color slides should provide a realistic overview of the historical resource in its setting or detailed views of the historical resource itself, as appropriate. The Commission may require that the applicant provide photos of contributing historical resources on surveys which are over five (5) years old. All photos should be labeled, including the date taken and a location of the image relative to the sketch map described above.

(4) Primary numbers will be assigned by the Regional Information Center. The applicant shall provide a copy of the application to the Information Center which has responsibility for information regarding historical resources for the county in which the resources are located (see Appendix B) at the same time the application is submitted to the Office. The Office of Historic Preservation will assure primary numbers are assigned.

(1) Individual nominated resources. A single completed DPR Form 523 or Form 422 shall be submitted for each historical resource which is individually nominated. For resources recorded prior to the effective date of this chapter either a single completed DPR Form 523 or Form 422 shall be submitted for each historical resource which is individually nominated. If the historical resource is recorded after the effective date of this chapter, a DPR Form 523 (dated January 1995) shall be submitted for each historical resource.

(2) Historic districts. In the case of an historic district, the applicant shall complete one master form for the district as a whole, with an abbreviated form for each contributing resource. A list of noncontributing resources is required and must be provided in the cover letter. Owner information for each resource must be provided in the cover letter. Slides of contributing historical resources and/or streetscapes shall be included. Black and white or color photographs of each contributing historical resource and representative streetscape are required.

(3) Archeological resources. Archeological resources will be considered for nomination only after having been assigned a Site Trinomial Number by the appropriate Regional Information Center (see Appendix B). The Commission may require additional documentation to more accurately identify and define the site. Depending upon the date the resource was recorded, the DPR Form 523 (dated January 1995) or Form 422 must be accompanied by a statement of significance or research design which explains why the resource qualifies for listing in the California Register.

(4) Historical resource survey. Historical resources which have recordation forms already on file in the inventory with the Office will not require additional DPR Inventory Forms 523 (dated January 1995) unless the Commission requests re-evaluation or re-survey. A cover letter shall provide the owner and the local government information as described in Section 4853(a)(1) of this chapter, an overview of survey methodology to verify that the survey meets the standards discussed in Section 4852(e) of this chapter and adequate mapping showing all areas surveyed.

(5) Historical resources and historic districts designated or listed as city or county landmarks, historic resources or districts pursuant to any city or county ordinance, and local landmarks and other resources designated under municipal or county ordinances.

DPR Form 523 shall be submitted for all local landmarks or locally designated historical resources that have not previously been documented or do not have approved recordation forms on file with the Office. A cover letter shall be submitted, as described in Section 4853(a) of this chapter, and it must include information regarding resource ownership, local government, and a list of all resources included in the nomination. A copy of the ordinance or criteria for local designation must be submitted with the application. Submitting a copy of the ordinance is required whether the resource was designated under a local historic preservation ordinance, which may cover a group or category of historical resources, or under an ordinance or resolution designating only specific historical resource which is being nominated.