California State Historic Preservation Office

California State Historic Preservation Officer (OHP) is an organization based in Sacramento, California: Energy Resources. OHP develops historical programs to promote preservation and restoration of archaeological resources and historical buildings and properties throughout the state of California. This agency is governed by the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), a governor appointed official, and the State Historical Resources Commission.

The State Historic Resources Commission includes nine members appointed by the California State Governor. This commission is tasked with “the identification, registration, and preservation of California's cultural heritage.”

Mission

“The mission of the Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) and the State Historical Resources Commission (SHRC) is to provide leadership and promote the preservation of California's irreplaceable and diverse cultural heritage.”

Goals

• Partner with government agencies

• Offer technical assistance

• Maintain the statewide Historical Resources Inventory

• Recognize restoration and preservation efforts across the state.

• “Prepare a comprehensive preservation planning approach…and integrate historic preservation with broader land use planning efforts and decisions.”

Programs

• State and Federal Registration Programs: The OHP oversees the state of California’s role in the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historic Places, the California Historical Landmarks, and the California Points of Historical Interest. The Commission reviews all register nominations.

• Environmental Compliance: The Certified Local Government (CLG) Program is within the environmental compliance program and receives grants to achieve “historic preservation goals.” Other duties of the environmental compliance program include reviewing the comments from local municipalities in response to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

• Local government assistance: This program helps local governments integrate historical preservation and places. This program conducts assessments, evaluations, and planning to capture the area’s context. All actions must comply with the CEQA.

References

State Cultural Considerations Contact

Lucinda Woodward

California State Historic Preservation Officer

Julianne Polanco

916-445-7000

http://www.ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1075