---
kind: "section"
citation: "54 U.S.C. § 302503"
title: "54"
title_heading: "National Park Service and Related Programs"
number: "302503"
heading: "Requirements for certification"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/54/302503"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — National Preservation Programs"
  - "Division A — Historic Preservation"
  - "Subdivision 2 — Historic Preservation Program"
  - "Chapter 3025 — Certification of Local Governments"
---

# §302503. Requirements for certification

- (a) **Approved State Program.—** Any local government shall be certified to participate under this section if the applicable [State Historic Preservation Officer](/usc/54/308702.md?p=4), and the [Secretary](/usc/54/308101.md?p=1), certify that the local government—
  - (1) enforces appropriate State or local legislation for the [designation](/usc/54/302501.md?p=1) and [protection](/usc/54/302501.md?p=2) of [historic property](/usc/54/308901.md?p=3);
  - (2) has established an adequate and qualified [historic](/usc/54/308601.md?p=2) preservation review commission by State or local legislation;
  - (3) maintains a [system](/usc/54/100102.md?p=5) for the survey and inventory of [historic property](/usc/54/308901.md?p=3) that furthers the purposes of [chapter 3023](/usc/54/chstIII/dA/sd2/ch3023.md);
  - (4) provides for adequate public participation in the local [historic](/usc/54/308601.md?p=2) preservation [program](/usc/54/308601.md?p=3), including the process of recommending properties for nomination to the National Register; and
  - (5) satisfactorily performs the responsibilities delegated to it under this division.
- (b) **No Approved State Program.—** Where there is no State [program](/usc/54/308601.md?p=3) approved under sections [302301](/usc/54/302301.md) and [302302](/usc/54/302302.md) of this title, a local government may be certified by the [Secretary](/usc/54/308101.md?p=1) if the [Secretary](/usc/54/308101.md?p=1) determines that the local government meets the requirements of [subsection (a)](#a). The [Secretary](/usc/54/308101.md?p=1) may make grants to the local government certified under this subsection for purposes of this subdivision.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 113–287, § 3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3197.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 302503 | 16 U.S.C. 470a(c)(1) (2d, last sentences). | Pub. L. 89–665, title I, § 101(c)(1) (2d, last sentences), Oct. 15, 1966, 80 Stat. 915; Pub. L. 91–383, § 11, as added Pub. L. 94–458, § 2, Oct. 7, 1976, 90 Stat. 1942; Pub. L. 93–54, § 1(d), July 1, 1973, 87 Stat. 139; Pub. L. 96–205, title VI, § 608(a)(1), (2), Mar. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 92; Pub. L. 96–515, title II, § 201(a), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 2991. |

In subsection (b), the words “State program approved under section 302302 of this title” are substituted for “approved State program” for clarity.