Title 54National Park Service and Related ProgramsRelease 119-73

§311103 Designation of Preserve America Communities

Title 54 › Subtitle Subtitle III— - National Preservation Programs › Chapter CHAPTER 3111— - PRESERVE AMERICA PROGRAM › § 311103

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

To be named a Preserve America Community, a community, tribal area, or neighborhood must send an application to the Council with whatever information the Council asks for. The Council chair, working with the Secretary, sets the required criteria. Applicants must also show they protect and celebrate local heritage, use historic places to help the local economy and revitalize areas, and encourage people to learn about and visit historic sites. Local governments already certified for historic preservation under section 302502 get a faster review. The Council chair, with the Secretary, will write any rules needed to run the program.

Full Legal Text

Title 54, §311103

National Park Service and Related Programs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)To be considered for designation as a Preserve America Community, a community, tribal area, or neighborhood shall submit to the Council an application containing such information as the Council may require.
(b)To be designated as a Preserve America Community under the program, a community, tribal area, or neighborhood that submits an application under subsection (a) shall, as determined by the Chairman of the Council, in consultation with the Secretary, meet criteria required by the Chairman of the Council and, in addition, consider—
(1)protection and celebration of the heritage of the community, tribal area, or neighborhood;
(2)use of the historic 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 resources through education and heritage tourism programs.
(c)The Council shall establish an expedited process for Preserve America Community designation for local governments previously certified for historic preservation activities under section 302502 of this title.
(d)The Chairman of the Council, in consultation with the Secretary, shall establish any guidelines that are necessary to carry out this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 31110316 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”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

54 U.S.C. § 311103

Title 54National Park Service and Related Programs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73