---
kind: "section"
citation: "54 U.S.C. § 311103"
title: "54"
title_heading: "National Park Service and Related Programs"
number: "311103"
heading: "Designation of Preserve America Communities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/54/311103"
units:
  - "Subtitle III — National Preservation Programs"
  - "Division B — Organizations and Programs"
  - "Subdivision 2 — Administered Jointly With National Park Service"
  - "Chapter 3111 — Preserve America Program"
---

# §311103. Designation of Preserve America Communities

- (a) **Application.—** To be considered for [designation](/usc/54/302501.md?p=1) as a Preserve America Community, a community, tribal area, or neighborhood shall submit to the [Council](/usc/54/311101.md?p=1) an application containing such information as the [Council](/usc/54/311101.md?p=1) may require.
- (b) **Criteria.—** To be designated as a Preserve America Community under the [program](/usc/54/308601.md?p=3), a community, tribal area, or neighborhood that submits an application under [subsection (a)](#a) shall, as determined by the Chairman of the [Council](/usc/54/311101.md?p=1), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/54/308101.md?p=1), meet criteria required by the Chairman of the [Council](/usc/54/311101.md?p=1) and, in addition, consider—
  - (1) [protection](/usc/54/302501.md?p=2) and celebration of the heritage of the community, tribal area, or neighborhood;
  - (2) use of the [historic](/usc/54/308601.md?p=2) assets of the community, tribal area, or neighborhood for economic development and community revitalization; and
  - (3) encouragement of people to experience and appreciate local [historic](/usc/54/308601.md?p=2) resources through education and [heritage tourism](/usc/54/311101.md?p=2) [programs](/usc/54/308601.md?p=3).
- (c) **Local Governments Previously Certified for Historic Preservation Activities.—** The [Council](/usc/54/311101.md?p=1) shall establish an expedited process for Preserve America Community [designation](/usc/54/302501.md?p=1) for local governments previously certified for [historic](/usc/54/308601.md?p=2) preservation activities under [section 302502 of this title](/usc/54/302502.md).
- (d) **Guidelines.—** The Chairman of the [Council](/usc/54/311101.md?p=1), in consultation with the [Secretary](/usc/54/308101.md?p=1), shall establish any guidelines that are necessary to carry out this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 113–287, § 3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3248; Pub. L. 114–289, title V, § 501(d), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1490.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 311103 | 16 U.S.C. 469n(d). | Pub. L. 111–11, title VII, subtitle D, § 7302(d), Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1215. |

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2016—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 114–289 substituted “Chairman of the Council” for “Council” in two places in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–289 substituted “Chairman of the Council” for “Council”.