The Certified Local Government (CLG) program was created by the National Historic Preservation Act Amendments of 1980 in order to formally establish a federal-state-local preservation partnership. The amendments outline five broad standards that must be met by a local government in order to be granted "certified local government" status. These standards include:

1. enforcing appropriate state or local legislation for the designation and protection of historic properties;
2. establishing an adequate and qualified historic preservation review commission by local legislation;
3. maintaining a system for survey and inventory of historic properties;
4. providing for adequate public participation in the local historic preservation program, including the process of recommending properties to the National Register of Historic Places; and
5. satisfactorily performing the remaining responsibilities delegated to it by Federal and State governments.

The role of "certified local governments" in the federal-state-local partnership involves, at minimum, the responsibility for review and approval of nominations of properties to the National Register of Historic Places, and the eligibility to apply to the State Historic Preservation Officer for matching funds reserved for "certified local governments."