The Local Register of Historic Sites and Districts is a list of significant buildings, structures, districts, and archaeological sites located in Golden. A property considered for nomination must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• The property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to history.
   
• The property is connected with persons significant in history.
   
• The property has distinctive characteristics of a type, period, method of construction or artisan.
   
• The geographic importance of the property.
   
• The property contains the possibility of important discoveries related to prehistory or history.

The Board has the authority to evaluate and determine if a structure or district is of historical, architectural, and/or geographic importance. The owner of a single site or 50% of the landowners in a proposed district must complete the site designation form (pdf) to the Historic Preservation Board for historic site designation. The recommendation from the Board is then sent to City Council for final approval.

Any person desiring to perform work on a site designated property should apply to the Historic Preservation Board for a Certificate of Appropriateness review. A Certificate of Appropriateness (pdf) application must be completed 30 days prior to the next regular Historic Board meeting.

The State Register of Historic Properties is a list of significant buildings, structures, objects, districts, and historic and archaeological sites. The listing in the State Register imposes no restrictions on what a property owner may do with their property or change in zoning. The program is administered by the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

The National Register of Historic Places represents the official list of the nation's cultural resources worthy of preservation which include districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, and culture. Listing of a property does not impose any responsibilities upon the private property owner for maintenance or restoration. A private owner may alter or demolish a National Register site without consultation with the State or the National Park Service. However, the result of any such action that compromises the historic character of a site may cause the property to be removed from the Register. The program is maintained by the National Park Service in Washington, D.C.