SHPO & NPS review

How do the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the National Park Service (NPS) review a project application? Who does what? And when?

Answer
The SHPO staff reviews the application for completeness and accuracy. They may request additional information necessary for their review. They may visit the property. When they have finished their review, they send the application to the NPS with a recommendation as to whether the project meets the Standards for Rehabilitation.

NPS receives the project and sends the owner a bill for the review fee (no fee applies to Part 1 reviews or to rehabilitations $20,000 or less).

After the fee is paid, NPS staff reviews the application, and sends the decision to the owner. Although every effort is made to follow the recommendation of the SHPO, the NPS decision may differ from that of the SHPO. By law, all certification decisions are made by the NPS.

This historic commercial building in St. Paul, Minnesota, was rehabilitated for continuing use.
Photo: NPS files