diff --git a/elab_expr.cc b/elab_expr.cc
index 7d5fbca09..68f19b24c 100644
--- a/elab_expr.cc
+++ b/elab_expr.cc
@@ -1135,7 +1135,11 @@ unsigned PECallFunction::test_width_method_(Design*des, NetScope*scope,
 		  }
 
 		  const netclass_t* class_type = net->class_type();
-		  member_type = class_type->get_property(member_name);
+		  int midx = class_type->property_idx_from_name(member_name);
+		  if (midx >= 0)
+			member_type = class_type->get_prop_type(midx);
+		  else
+			member_type = 0;
 		  use_path = tmp_path;
 
 		  use_darray = dynamic_cast<const netdarray_t*> (member_type);
@@ -1756,14 +1760,13 @@ static NetExpr* check_for_struct_members(const LineInfo*li,
 }
 
 static NetExpr* check_for_class_property(const LineInfo*li,
-					 Design*des, NetScope*,
+					 Design*des, NetScope*scope,
 					 NetNet*net,
 					 const name_component_t&comp)
 {
       const netclass_t*class_type = net->class_type();
-      const ivl_type_s*ptype = class_type->get_property(comp.name);
-
-      if (ptype == 0) {
+      int pidx = class_type->property_idx_from_name(comp.name);
+      if (pidx < 0) {
 	    cerr << li->get_fileline() << ": error: "
 		 << "Class " << class_type->get_name()
 		 << " has no property " << comp.name << "." << endl;
@@ -1771,6 +1774,23 @@ static NetExpr* check_for_class_property(const LineInfo*li,
 	    return 0;
       }
 
+      if (debug_elaborate) {
+	    cerr << li->get_fileline() << ": check_for_class_property: "
+		 << "Property " << comp.name
+		 << " of net " << net->name()
+		 << ", context scope=" << scope_path(scope)
+		 << endl;
+      }
+
+      property_qualifier_t qual = class_type->get_prop_qual(pidx);
+      if (qual.test_local() && ! class_type->test_scope_is_method(scope)) {
+	    cerr << li->get_fileline() << ": error: "
+		 << "Local property " << class_type->get_prop_name(pidx)
+		 << " is not accessible in this context."
+		 << " (scope=" << scope_path(scope) << ")" << endl;
+	    des->errors += 1;
+      }
+
       NetEProperty*tmp = new NetEProperty(net, comp.name);
       tmp->set_line(*li);
       return tmp;
@@ -2715,8 +2735,9 @@ unsigned PEIdent::test_width(Design*des, NetScope*scope, width_mode_t&mode)
 		  }
 
 		  if (const netclass_t*class_type = net->class_type()) {
-			const ivl_type_s*ptype = class_type->get_property(method_name);
-			if (ptype) {
+			int pidx = class_type->property_idx_from_name(method_name);
+			if (pidx >= 0) {
+			      ivl_type_t ptype = class_type->get_prop_type(pidx);
 			      expr_type_   = ptype->base_type();
 			      expr_width_  = ptype->packed_width();
 			      min_width_   = expr_width_;
@@ -2823,7 +2844,7 @@ NetExpr* PEIdent::elaborate_expr(Design*des, NetScope*scope,
  * not a method, or the name is not in the parent class, then
  * fail. Otherwise, return a NetEProperty.
  */
-NetExpr* PEIdent::elaborate_expr_class_member_(Design*, NetScope*scope,
+NetExpr* PEIdent::elaborate_expr_class_member_(Design*des, NetScope*scope,
 					       unsigned, unsigned) const
 {
       if (!gn_system_verilog())
@@ -2854,9 +2875,19 @@ NetExpr* PEIdent::elaborate_expr_class_member_(Design*, NetScope*scope,
 	    cerr << get_fileline() << ": PEIdent::elaborate_expr_class_member: "
 		 << "Found member " << member_name
 		 << " is a member of class " << class_type->get_name()
+		 << ", context scope=" << scope_path(scope)
 		 << ", so synthesizing a NetEProperty." << endl;
       }
 
+      property_qualifier_t qual = class_type->get_prop_qual(pidx);
+      if (qual.test_local() && ! class_type->test_scope_is_method(scope)) {
+	    cerr << get_fileline() << ": error: "
+		 << "Local property " << class_type->get_prop_name(pidx)
+		 << " is not accessible in this context."
+		 << " (scope=" << scope_path(scope) << ")" << endl;
+	    des->errors += 1;
+      }
+
       NetEProperty*tmp = new NetEProperty(this_net, member_name);
       tmp->set_line(*this);
       return tmp;
diff --git a/elab_lval.cc b/elab_lval.cc
index 7e1d5193a..86cecdcb0 100644
--- a/elab_lval.cc
+++ b/elab_lval.cc
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ NetAssign_* PEIdent::elaborate_lval(Design*des,
       return lv;
 }
 
-NetAssign_* PEIdent::elaborate_lval_method_class_member_(Design*,
+NetAssign_* PEIdent::elaborate_lval_method_class_member_(Design*des,
 							 NetScope*scope) const
 {
       if (!gn_system_verilog())
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@ bool PEIdent::elaborate_lval_net_idx_(Design*des,
       return true;
 }
 
-bool PEIdent::elaborate_lval_net_class_member_(Design*des, NetScope*,
+bool PEIdent::elaborate_lval_net_class_member_(Design*des, NetScope*scope,
 					       NetAssign_*lv,
 					       const perm_string&method_name) const
 {
@@ -827,16 +827,26 @@ bool PEIdent::elaborate_lval_net_class_member_(Design*des, NetScope*,
 
 	/* Make sure the property is really present in the class. If
 	   not, then generate an error message and return an error. */
-      ivl_type_t ptype = class_type->get_property(method_name);
-      if (ptype == 0) {
+      int pidx = class_type->property_idx_from_name(method_name);
+      if (pidx < 0) {
 	    cerr << get_fileline() << ": error: Class " << class_type->get_name()
 		 << " does not have a property " << method_name << "." << endl;
 	    des->errors += 1;
 	    return false;
       }
 
+      property_qualifier_t qual = class_type->get_prop_qual(pidx);
+      if (qual.test_local() && ! class_type->test_scope_is_method(scope)) {
+	    cerr << get_fileline() << ": error: "
+		 << "Local property " << class_type->get_prop_name(pidx)
+		 << " is not accessible (l-value) in this context."
+		 << " (scope=" << scope_path(scope) << ")" << endl;
+	    des->errors += 1;
+      }
+
       lv->set_property(method_name);
 
+      ivl_type_t ptype = class_type->get_prop_type(pidx);
       const netdarray_t*mtype = dynamic_cast<const netdarray_t*> (ptype);
       if (mtype) {
 	    const name_component_t&name_tail = path_.back();
diff --git a/elab_scope.cc b/elab_scope.cc
index 7c9ddf3c3..7b0aa224a 100644
--- a/elab_scope.cc
+++ b/elab_scope.cc
@@ -366,15 +366,15 @@ static void elaborate_scope_class(Design*des, NetScope*scope, PClass*pclass)
 
 	// Collect the properties, elaborate them, and add them to the
 	// elaborated class definition.
-      for (map<perm_string, data_type_t*>::iterator cur = use_type->properties.begin()
+      for (map<perm_string, class_type_t::prop_info_t>::iterator cur = use_type->properties.begin()
 		 ; cur != use_type->properties.end() ; ++ cur) {
 	    if (debug_scopes) {
 		  cerr << pclass->get_fileline() << ": elaborate_scope_class: "
 		       << "  Property " << cur->first << endl;
 	    }
-	    ivl_type_s*tmp = cur->second->elaborate_type(des, scope);
+	    ivl_type_s*tmp = cur->second.type->elaborate_type(des, scope);
 	    ivl_assert(*pclass, tmp);
-	    use_class->set_property(cur->first, tmp);
+	    use_class->set_property(cur->first, cur->second.qual, tmp);
       }
 
       for (map<perm_string,PTask*>::iterator cur = pclass->tasks.begin()
diff --git a/net_assign.cc b/net_assign.cc
index d787478a8..0562fb1e5 100644
--- a/net_assign.cc
+++ b/net_assign.cc
@@ -96,9 +96,9 @@ unsigned NetAssign_::lwidth() const
 	    if (member_.nil())
 		  return 1;
 
-	    const ivl_type_s*ptype = class_type->get_property(member_);
-	    ivl_assert(*sig_, ptype);
-
+	    int pidx = class_type->property_idx_from_name(member_);
+	    ivl_assert(*sig_, pidx >= 0);
+	    ivl_type_t ptype = class_type->get_prop_type(pidx);
 	    return ptype->packed_width();
       }
 
@@ -118,7 +118,9 @@ ivl_variable_type_t NetAssign_::expr_type() const
 	    if (member_.nil())
 		  return sig_->data_type();
 
-	    const ivl_type_s*tmp = class_type->get_property(member_);
+	    int pidx = class_type->property_idx_from_name(member_);
+	    ivl_assert(*sig_, pidx >= 0);
+	    ivl_type_t tmp = class_type->get_prop_type(pidx);
 	    return tmp->base_type();
       }
 
@@ -138,8 +140,9 @@ const ivl_type_s* NetAssign_::net_type() const
 	    if (member_.nil())
 		  return sig_->net_type();
 
-	    const ivl_type_s*tmp = class_type->get_property(member_);
-	    ivl_assert(*sig_, tmp);
+	    int pidx = class_type->property_idx_from_name(member_);
+	    ivl_assert(*sig_, pidx >= 0);
+	    ivl_type_t tmp = class_type->get_prop_type(pidx);
 	    return tmp;
       }
 
diff --git a/netclass.cc b/netclass.cc
index 690443f13..91636b95d 100644
--- a/netclass.cc
+++ b/netclass.cc
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ netclass_t::~netclass_t()
 {
 }
 
-bool netclass_t::set_property(perm_string pname, ivl_type_s*ptype)
+bool netclass_t::set_property(perm_string pname, property_qualifier_t qual, ivl_type_s*ptype)
 {
       map<perm_string,size_t>::const_iterator cur;
       cur = properties_.find(pname);
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ bool netclass_t::set_property(perm_string pname, ivl_type_s*ptype)
 
       prop_t tmp;
       tmp.name = pname;
+      tmp.qual = qual;
       tmp.type = ptype;
       property_table_.push_back(tmp);
 
@@ -59,17 +60,6 @@ ivl_variable_type_t netclass_t::base_type() const
       return IVL_VT_CLASS;
 }
 
-const ivl_type_s* netclass_t::get_property(perm_string pname) const
-{
-      map<perm_string,size_t>::const_iterator cur;
-      cur = properties_.find(pname);
-      if (cur == properties_.end())
-	    return 0;
-
-      assert(property_table_.size() > cur->second);
-      return property_table_[cur->second].type;
-}
-
 int netclass_t::property_idx_from_name(perm_string pname) const
 {
       map<perm_string,size_t>::const_iterator cur;
@@ -86,6 +76,12 @@ const char*netclass_t::get_prop_name(size_t idx) const
       return property_table_[idx].name;
 }
 
+property_qualifier_t netclass_t::get_prop_qual(size_t idx) const
+{
+      assert(idx < property_table_.size());
+      return property_table_[idx].qual;
+}
+
 ivl_type_t netclass_t::get_prop_type(size_t idx) const
 {
       assert(idx < property_table_.size());
@@ -99,3 +95,15 @@ NetScope*netclass_t::method_from_name(perm_string name) const
       return task;
 
 }
+
+bool netclass_t::test_scope_is_method(const NetScope*scope) const
+{
+      while (scope && scope != class_scope_) {
+	    scope = scope->parent();
+      }
+
+      if (scope == 0)
+	    return false;
+      else
+	    return true;
+}
diff --git a/netclass.h b/netclass.h
index 30bd1d087..8aac64583 100644
--- a/netclass.h
+++ b/netclass.h
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 # include  "LineInfo.h"
 # include  "ivl_target.h"
 # include  "nettypes.h"
+# include  "property_qual.h"
 # include  <iostream>
 # include  <map>
 
@@ -37,7 +38,7 @@ class netclass_t : public ivl_type_s {
 	// Set the property of the class during elaboration. Set the
 	// name and type, and return true. If the name is already
 	// present, then return false.
-      bool set_property(perm_string pname, ivl_type_s*ptype);
+      bool set_property(perm_string pname, property_qualifier_t qual, ivl_type_s*ptype);
 
 	// Set the scope for the class. The scope has no parents and
 	// is used for the elaboration of methods (tasks/functions).
@@ -50,17 +51,23 @@ class netclass_t : public ivl_type_s {
 	// This is the name of the class type
       inline perm_string get_name() const { return name_; }
 
-      const ivl_type_s* get_property(perm_string pname) const;
-
       inline size_t get_properties(void) const { return properties_.size(); }
+	// Get information about each property.
       const char*get_prop_name(size_t idx) const;
+      property_qualifier_t get_prop_qual(size_t idx) const;
       ivl_type_t get_prop_type(size_t idx) const;
 
+	// Map the name of a property to its index.
       int property_idx_from_name(perm_string pname) const;
 
 	// The task method scopes from the method name.
       NetScope*method_from_name(perm_string mname) const;
 
+	// Test if this scope is a method within the class. This is
+	// used to check scope for handling data protection keywords
+	// "local" and "protected".
+      bool test_scope_is_method(const NetScope*scope) const;
+
       void elaborate_sig(Design*des, PClass*pclass);
       void elaborate(Design*des, PClass*pclass);
 
@@ -75,6 +82,7 @@ class netclass_t : public ivl_type_s {
 	// Vector of properties.
       struct prop_t {
 	    perm_string name;
+	    property_qualifier_t qual;
 	    ivl_type_s* type;
       };
       std::vector<prop_t> property_table_;
diff --git a/parse.y b/parse.y
index f0bcbaa1b..bc120c050 100644
--- a/parse.y
+++ b/parse.y
@@ -832,9 +832,9 @@ class_item /* IEEE1800-2005: A.1.8 */
   ;
 
 class_item_qualifier /* IEEE1800-2005 A.1.8 */
-  : K_static     { $$ = property_qualifier_t::set_static(); }
-  | K_protected  { $$ = property_qualifier_t::set_protected(); }
-  | K_local      { $$ = property_qualifier_t::set_local(); }
+  : K_static     { $$ = property_qualifier_t::make_static(); }
+  | K_protected  { $$ = property_qualifier_t::make_protected(); }
+  | K_local      { $$ = property_qualifier_t::make_local(); }
   ;
 
 class_new /* IEEE1800-2005 A.2.4 */
@@ -1493,7 +1493,7 @@ property_qualifier /* IEEE1800-2005 A.1.8 */
 
 property_qualifier_opt /* IEEE1800-2005 A.1.8: ... { property_qualifier } */
   : property_qualifier_list { $$ = $1; }
-  | { $$ = property_qualifier_t::set_none(); }
+  | { $$ = property_qualifier_t::make_none(); }
   ;
 
 property_qualifier_list /* IEEE1800-2005 A.1.8 */
@@ -1502,8 +1502,8 @@ property_qualifier_list /* IEEE1800-2005 A.1.8 */
   ;
 
 random_qualifier /* IEEE1800-2005 A.1.8 */
-  : K_rand { $$ = property_qualifier_t::set_rand(); }
-  | K_randc { $$ = property_qualifier_t::set_randc(); }
+  : K_rand { $$ = property_qualifier_t::make_rand(); }
+  | K_randc { $$ = property_qualifier_t::make_randc(); }
   ;
 
   /* real and realtime are exactly the same so save some code
diff --git a/pform_dump.cc b/pform_dump.cc
index 2a1bd1e09..41251c679 100644
--- a/pform_dump.cc
+++ b/pform_dump.cc
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ void class_type_t::pform_dump(ostream&out, unsigned indent) const
 {
       out << setw(indent) << "" << "class " << name << " {";
 
-      for (map<perm_string,data_type_t*>::const_iterator cur = properties.begin()
+      for (map<perm_string,prop_info_t>::const_iterator cur = properties.begin()
 		 ; cur != properties.end() ; ++cur) {
 	    out << " " << cur->first;
       }
diff --git a/pform_pclass.cc b/pform_pclass.cc
index c0ac9de55..05907aceb 100644
--- a/pform_pclass.cc
+++ b/pform_pclass.cc
@@ -64,7 +64,8 @@ void pform_class_property(const struct vlltype&loc,
 		  use_type = new uarray_type_t(use_type, pd);
 	    }
 
-	    pform_cur_class->type->properties[curp->name] = use_type;
+	    pform_cur_class->type->properties[curp->name]
+		  = class_type_t::prop_info_t(property_qual,use_type);
 
 	    if (PExpr*rval = curp->expr.release()) {
 		  PExpr*lval = new PEIdent(curp->name);
diff --git a/pform_types.h b/pform_types.h
index b834884c3..bf657a474 100644
--- a/pform_types.h
+++ b/pform_types.h
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 # include  "LineInfo.h"
 # include  "verinum.h"
 # include  "named.h"
+# include  "property_qual.h"
 # include  "ivl_target.h"
 # include  <iostream>
 # include  <list>
@@ -219,7 +220,13 @@ struct class_type_t : public data_type_t {
 	// This is the name of the class type.
       perm_string name;
 	// This is a map of the properties. Map the name to the type.
-      std::map<perm_string, data_type_t*> properties;
+      struct prop_info_t {
+	    inline prop_info_t() : qual(property_qualifier_t::make_none()), type(0) { }
+	    inline prop_info_t(property_qualifier_t q, data_type_t*t) : qual(q), type(t) { }
+	    property_qualifier_t qual;
+	    data_type_t* type;
+      };
+      std::map<perm_string, struct prop_info_t> properties;
 
 	// This is an ordered list of property initializers. The name
 	// is the name of the property to be assigned, and the val is
@@ -229,38 +236,6 @@ struct class_type_t : public data_type_t {
       ivl_type_s* elaborate_type(Design*, NetScope*) const;
 };
 
-class property_qualifier_t {
-    public:
-      static inline property_qualifier_t set_none()
-      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = 0; return res; }
-
-      static inline property_qualifier_t set_static()
-      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = 1; return res; }
-
-      static inline property_qualifier_t set_protected()
-      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = 2; return res; }
-
-      static inline property_qualifier_t set_local()
-      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = 4; return res; }
-
-      static inline property_qualifier_t set_rand()
-      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = 8; return res; }
-
-      static inline property_qualifier_t set_randc()
-      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = 16; return res; }
-
-      inline property_qualifier_t operator | (property_qualifier_t r)
-      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = mask_ | r.mask_; return res; }
-
-    public:
-      inline bool test_static() const    { return mask_ & 1; }
-      inline bool test_protected() const { return mask_ & 2; }
-      inline bool test_local() const    { return mask_ & 4; }
-
-    private:
-      int mask_;
-};
-
 /*
  * The pform_name_t is the general form for a hierarchical
  * identifier. It is an ordered list of name components. Each name
diff --git a/property_qual.h b/property_qual.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..df02c7080
--- /dev/null
+++ b/property_qual.h
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+#ifndef __property_qual_H
+#define __property_qual_H
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2013 Stephen Williams (steve@icarus.com)
+ *
+ *    This source code is free software; you can redistribute it
+ *    and/or modify it in source code form under the terms of the GNU
+ *    General Public License as published by the Free Software
+ *    Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option)
+ *    any later version.
+ *
+ *    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ *    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ *    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ *    GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *    You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ *    along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
+ *    Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
+ */
+
+class property_qualifier_t {
+    public:
+      static inline property_qualifier_t make_none()
+      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = 0; return res; }
+
+      static inline property_qualifier_t make_static()
+      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = 1; return res; }
+
+      static inline property_qualifier_t make_protected()
+      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = 2; return res; }
+
+      static inline property_qualifier_t make_local()
+      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = 4; return res; }
+
+      static inline property_qualifier_t make_rand()
+      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = 8; return res; }
+
+      static inline property_qualifier_t make_randc()
+      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = 16; return res; }
+
+      inline property_qualifier_t operator | (property_qualifier_t r)
+      { property_qualifier_t res; res.mask_ = mask_ | r.mask_; return res; }
+
+    public:
+      inline bool test_static() const    { return mask_ & 1; }
+      inline bool test_protected() const { return mask_ & 2; }
+      inline bool test_local() const     { return mask_ & 4; }
+      inline bool test_rand() const      { return mask_ & 8; }
+      inline bool test_randc() const     { return mask_ & 16; }
+
+    private:
+      int mask_;
+};
+
+#endif