State Historic Preservation Office
The National Register of Historic Places
What the National Register Does
- Listing of a building, site, or district affords it a certain
prestige which can enhance the value of the property and raise
community awareness and pride.
- Income-producing (depreciable) properties which are listed
in the National Register may be aided by the tax incentive provisions
of the Tax Reform Act of 1976 and Economic Recovery Act of 1981
which encourage rehabilitation and discourage demolition.
- In Arizona the Arizona State Historic Preservation Act of
1982 authorizes a reduction in property tax assessment for non-income-producing
properties listed on the National Register. There is also a property
tax incentive program for rehabilitations of listed income-producing
properties.
- Listing in the National Register provides a measure of protection
from demolition or other negative effects by federally funded
or licensed projects through comment by the Advisory Council
on Historic Preservation as stated in Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and Executive Order 11593.
A stewardship and management program of state owned properties
outlined in the Arizona State Historic Preservation Act of 1982
has established a similar review process for state agencies.
This review procedure is part of the planning process for all
federal and state assisted projects.
What the National Register Does Not Do
- It does not prevent the owner of a listed property from remodeling,
repairing, altering, selling, or even demolishing a building
listed in the National Register with other than federal or state
funds. It also does not obligate an owner to make any repairs
or improvements to the property. Owners of income-producing (depreciable)
property may not be able to deduct the cost of demolition.
- It does not prevent the use of city or private funds for
demolition or other adverse effects to a property on the National
Register.
- It does not provide assurance that a federal or state project
cannot adversely affect a listed property under any circumstance.
It only assures a federal/state-level review of all federal/state
funded or licensed projects which may have an adverse effect.
For further information on what it means to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and about historic preservation programs, call the State Historic Preservation Office at (602) 542-4009.