diff --git a/examples/annotations/main.js b/examples/annotations/main.js
index 4b9a900dc1..655d39dde6 100644
--- a/examples/annotations/main.js
+++ b/examples/annotations/main.js
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ $(function () {
   // create an annotation layer
   layer = map.createLayer('annotation', {
     renderer: query.renderer ? (query.renderer === 'html' ? null : query.renderer) : undefined,
-    features: query.renderer ? undefined : ['polygon', 'line', 'point']
+    annotations: query.renderer ? undefined : geo.listAnnotations()
   });
   // bind to the mouse click and annotation mode events
   layer.geoOn(geo.event.mouseclick, mouseClickToStart);
diff --git a/src/annotation.js b/src/annotation.js
index bc377a7247..5e9c6e0fcb 100644
--- a/src/annotation.js
+++ b/src/annotation.js
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ var $ = require('jquery');
 var inherit = require('./inherit');
 var geo_event = require('./event');
 var transform = require('./transform');
+var registerAnnotation = require('./registry').registerAnnotation;
+var lineFeature = require('./lineFeature');
+var pointFeature = require('./pointFeature');
+var polygonFeature = require('./polygonFeature');
 
 var annotationId = 0;
 
@@ -16,7 +20,8 @@ var annotationState = {
  * Base annotation class
  *
  * @class geo.annotation
- * @param {string} type the type of annotation.
+ * @param {string} type the type of annotation.  These should be registered
+ *    with utils.registerAnnotation and can be listed with same function.
  * @param {object?} options Inidividual annotations have additional options.
  * @param {string} [options.name] A name for the annotation.  This defaults to
  *    the type with a unique ID suffixed to it.
@@ -309,6 +314,10 @@ var rectangleAnnotation = function (args) {
 };
 inherit(rectangleAnnotation, annotation);
 
+var rectangleRequiredFeatures = {};
+rectangleRequiredFeatures[polygonFeature.capabilities.feature] = true;
+registerAnnotation('rectangle', rectangleAnnotation, rectangleRequiredFeatures);
+
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 /**
  * Polygon annotation class
@@ -504,6 +513,11 @@ var polygonAnnotation = function (args) {
 };
 inherit(polygonAnnotation, annotation);
 
+var polygonRequiredFeatures = {};
+polygonRequiredFeatures[polygonFeature.capabilities.feature] = true;
+polygonRequiredFeatures[lineFeature.capabilities.basic] = [annotationState.create];
+registerAnnotation('polygon', polygonAnnotation, polygonRequiredFeatures);
+
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 /**
  * Point annotation class
@@ -598,6 +612,10 @@ var pointAnnotation = function (args) {
 };
 inherit(pointAnnotation, annotation);
 
+var pointRequiredFeatures = {};
+pointRequiredFeatures[pointFeature.capabilities.feature] = true;
+registerAnnotation('point', pointAnnotation, pointRequiredFeatures);
+
 module.exports = {
   state: annotationState,
   annotation: annotation,
diff --git a/src/layer.js b/src/layer.js
index 4f0d962114..c8f22c4197 100644
--- a/src/layer.js
+++ b/src/layer.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ var sceneObject = require('./sceneObject');
 var feature = require('./feature');
 var checkRenderer = require('./registry').checkRenderer;
 var rendererForFeatures = require('./registry').rendererForFeatures;
+var rendererForAnnotations = require('./registry').rendererForAnnotations;
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 /**
@@ -45,7 +46,9 @@ var layer = function (arg) {
       m_canvas = null,
       m_renderer = null,
       m_initialized = false,
-      m_rendererName = arg.renderer === undefined ? rendererForFeatures(arg.features) : arg.renderer,
+      m_rendererName = arg.renderer !== undefined ? arg.renderer : (
+        arg.annotations ? rendererForAnnotations(arg.annotations) :
+        rendererForFeatures(arg.features)),
       m_dataTime = timestamp(),
       m_updateTime = timestamp(),
       m_sticky = arg.sticky === undefined ? true : arg.sticky,
diff --git a/src/lineFeature.js b/src/lineFeature.js
index 0d352daf80..008a6bb91a 100644
--- a/src/lineFeature.js
+++ b/src/lineFeature.js
@@ -260,6 +260,8 @@ lineFeature.create = function (layer, spec) {
 };
 
 lineFeature.capabilities = {
+  /* core feature name -- support in any manner */
+  feature: 'line',
   /* support for solid-colored, constant-width lines */
   basic: 'line.basic',
   /* support for lines that vary in width and color */
diff --git a/src/pointFeature.js b/src/pointFeature.js
index c92b8c097b..c065c59546 100644
--- a/src/pointFeature.js
+++ b/src/pointFeature.js
@@ -435,5 +435,10 @@ pointFeature.create = function (layer, renderer, spec) {
   return feature.create(layer, spec);
 };
 
+pointFeature.capabilities = {
+  /* core feature name -- support in any manner */
+  feature: 'point'
+};
+
 inherit(pointFeature, feature);
 module.exports = pointFeature;
diff --git a/src/polygonFeature.js b/src/polygonFeature.js
index c89f3aa630..d9f6ba53dd 100644
--- a/src/polygonFeature.js
+++ b/src/polygonFeature.js
@@ -406,5 +406,10 @@ polygonFeature.create = function (layer, spec) {
   return feature.create(layer, spec);
 };
 
+polygonFeature.capabilities = {
+  /* core feature name -- support in any manner */
+  feature: 'polygon'
+};
+
 inherit(polygonFeature, feature);
 module.exports = polygonFeature;
diff --git a/src/registry.js b/src/registry.js
index 0310552f10..72a4f55c52 100644
--- a/src/registry.js
+++ b/src/registry.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ var features = {};
 var featureCapabilities = {};
 var fileReaders = {};
 var rendererLayerAdjustments = {};
+var annotations = {};
 var util = {};
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ util.createRenderer = function (name, layer, canvas, options) {
  * that would support those features.
  *
  * @params {string|null} name name of the desired renderer
- * @params {boolean} noFallack if true, don't recommend a fallback
+ * @params {boolean} noFallback if true, don't recommend a fallback
  * @return {string|null|false} the name of the renderer that should be used
  *      or false if no valid renderer can be determined.
  */
@@ -168,6 +169,8 @@ util.rendererForFeatures = function (featureList) {
  *      and image quads that support full transformations.  The capabailities
  *      should be defined in the base feature in a capabilities object so that
  *      they can be referenced by that rather than an explicit string.
+ * @returns {object} if this feature replaces an existing one, this was the
+ *      feature that was replaced.  In this case, a warning is issued.
  */
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 util.registerFeature = function (category, name, func, capabilities) {
@@ -176,9 +179,13 @@ util.registerFeature = function (category, name, func, capabilities) {
     featureCapabilities[category] = {};
   }
 
-  // TODO Add warning if the name already exists
+  var old = features[category][name];
+  if (old) {
+    console.warn('The ' + category + '.' + name + ' feature is already registered');
+  }
   features[category][name] = func;
   featureCapabilities[category][name] = capabilities;
+  return old;
 };
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -207,6 +214,9 @@ util.createFeature = function (name, layer, renderer, arg) {
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 /**
  * Register a layer adjustment.
+ *
+ * @returns {object} if this layer adjustment replaces an existing one, this
+ *      was the value that was replaced.  In this case, a warning is issued.
  */
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 util.registerLayerAdjustment = function (category, name, func) {
@@ -214,8 +224,12 @@ util.registerLayerAdjustment = function (category, name, func) {
     rendererLayerAdjustments[category] = {};
   }
 
-  // TODO Add warning if the name already exists
+  var old = rendererLayerAdjustments[category][name];
+  if (old) {
+    console.warn('The ' + category + '.' + name + ' layer adjustment is already registered');
+  }
   rendererLayerAdjustments[category][name] = func;
+  return old;
 };
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -276,6 +290,9 @@ util.createLayer = function (name, map, arg) {
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 /**
  * Register a new widget type
+ *
+ * @returns {object} if this widget replaces an existing one, this was the
+ *      value that was replaced.  In this case, a warning is issued.
  */
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 util.registerWidget = function (category, name, func) {
@@ -283,8 +300,12 @@ util.registerWidget = function (category, name, func) {
     widgets[category] = {};
   }
 
-  // TODO Add warning if the name already exists
+  var old = widgets[category][name];
+  if (old) {
+    console.warn('The ' + category + '.' + name + ' widget is already registered');
+  }
   widgets[category][name] = func;
+  return old;
 };
 
 //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
@@ -308,4 +329,97 @@ util.createWidget = function (name, layer, arg) {
   throw new Error('Cannot create unknown widget ' + name);
 };
 
+//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+/**
+ * Register a new annotation type
+ *
+ * @param {string} name The annotation name
+ * @param {function} func A function to call to create the annotation.
+ * @param {object|undefined} features A map of features that are used by this
+ *      annotation.  Each key is a feature that is used.  If the value is true,
+ *      the that feature is always needed.  If a list, then it is the set of
+ *      annotation states for which that feature is required.  These can be
+ *      used to pick an pparopriate renderer when creating an annotation layer.
+ * @returns {object} if this annotation replaces an existing one, this was the
+ *      value that was replaced.  In this case, a warning is issued.
+ */
+//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+util.registerAnnotation = function (name, func, features) {
+  var old = annotations[name];
+  if (old) {
+    console.warn('The ' + name + ' annotation is already registered');
+  }
+  annotations[name] = {func: func, features: features || {}};
+  return old;
+};
+
+//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+/**
+ * Get a list of registered annotation types.
+ *
+ * @return {array} a list of registered annotations.
+ */
+//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+util.listAnnotations = function () {
+  return Object.keys(annotations);
+};
+
+//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+/**
+ * Get a list of required features for a set of annotations.
+ *
+ * @param {array|object|undefined} annotationList A list of annotations that
+ *   will be used.  Instead of a list, if this is an object, the keys are the
+ *   annotation names, and the values are each a list of modes that will be
+ *   used with that annotation.  For example, ['polygon', 'rectangle'] lists
+ *   features required to show those annotations in any mode,  whereas
+ *   {polygon: [annotationState.done], rectangle: [annotationState.done]} only
+ *   lists features thatre are needed to show the completed annotations.
+ * @return {array} a list of features needed for the specified annotations.
+ *   There may be duplicates in the list.
+ */
+//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+util.featuresForAnnotations = function (annotationList) {
+  var features = [];
+
+  var annList = Array.isArray(annotationList) ? annotationList : Object.keys(annotationList);
+  annList.forEach(function (ann) {
+    if (!annotations[ann]) {
+      return;
+    }
+    Object.keys(annotations[ann].features).forEach(function (feature) {
+      if (Array.isArray(annotationList) || annotationList[ann] === true ||
+          !Array.isArray(annotations[ann].features[feature])) {
+        features.push(feature);
+      } else {
+        annotationList[ann].forEach(function (state) {
+          if ($.inArray(state, annotations[ann].features[feature]) >= 0) {
+            features.push(feature);
+          }
+        });
+      }
+    });
+  });
+  return features;
+};
+
+//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+/**
+ * Check if there is a renderer that is supported and supports a list of
+ * annotations.  If not, display a warning.  This generates a list of required
+ * features, then picks the first renderer that supports all of thse features.
+ *
+ * @param {array|object|undefined} annotationList A list of annotations that
+ *   will be used with this renderer.  Instead of a list, if this is an object,
+ *   the keys are the annotation names, and the values are each a list of modes
+ *   that will be used with that annotation.  See featuresForAnnotations for
+ *   more details.
+ * @return {string|null|false} the name of the renderer that should be used or
+ *   false if no valid renderer can be determined.
+ */
+//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+util.rendererForAnnotations = function (annotationList) {
+  return util.rendererForFeatures(util.featuresForAnnotations(annotationList));
+};
+
 module.exports = util;
diff --git a/tests/cases/annotation.js b/tests/cases/annotation.js
index d040a6e742..496c1395f8 100644
--- a/tests/cases/annotation.js
+++ b/tests/cases/annotation.js
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ describe('geo.annotation', function () {
       expect(ann.geojson()).toBe('not implemented');
       map = create_map();
       layer = map.createLayer('annotation', {
-        features: ['polygon', 'line', 'point']
+        annotations: geo.listAnnotations()
       });
       ann = geo.annotation.annotation('test2', {
         layer: layer,
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ describe('geo.annotation', function () {
     it('mouseClick', function () {
       var map = create_map();
       var layer = map.createLayer('annotation', {
-        features: ['polygon', 'line']
+        annotations: ['polygon']
       });
       var ann = geo.annotation.polygonAnnotation({layer: layer});
       var time = new Date().getTime();
@@ -303,4 +303,55 @@ describe('geo.annotation', function () {
       expect(ann.state()).toBe(geo.annotation.state.done);
     });
   });
+
+  describe('annotation registry', function () {
+    it('listAnnotations', function () {
+      var list = geo.listAnnotations();
+      expect($.inArray('rectangle', list) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('polygon', list) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('point', list) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('unknown', list) >= 0).toBe(false);
+    });
+    it('registerAnnotation', function () {
+      var func = function () {};
+      expect($.inArray('newshape', geo.listAnnotations()) >= 0).toBe(false);
+      expect(geo.registerAnnotation('newshape', func)).toBe(undefined);
+      expect($.inArray('newshape', geo.listAnnotations()) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect(geo.registerAnnotation('newshape', func).func).toBe(func);
+      expect($.inArray('newshape', geo.listAnnotations()) >= 0).toBe(true);
+    });
+    it('featuresForAnnotations', function () {
+      var features = geo.featuresForAnnotations(['polygon']);
+      expect($.inArray('polygon', features) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('line.basic', features) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('point', features) >= 0).toBe(false);
+      features = geo.featuresForAnnotations({polygon: true});
+      expect($.inArray('polygon', features) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('line.basic', features) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('point', features) >= 0).toBe(false);
+      features = geo.featuresForAnnotations({polygon: [geo.annotation.state.done]});
+      expect($.inArray('polygon', features) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('line.basic', features) >= 0).toBe(false);
+      expect($.inArray('point', features) >= 0).toBe(false);
+      features = geo.featuresForAnnotations({polygon: [geo.annotation.state.done, geo.annotation.state.create]});
+      expect($.inArray('polygon', features) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('line.basic', features) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('point', features) >= 0).toBe(false);
+      features = geo.featuresForAnnotations(['polygon', 'point']);
+      expect($.inArray('polygon', features) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('line.basic', features) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('point', features) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      features = geo.featuresForAnnotations(['polygon', 'unknown']);
+      expect($.inArray('polygon', features) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('line.basic', features) >= 0).toBe(true);
+      expect($.inArray('point', features) >= 0).toBe(false);
+    });
+    it('rendererForAnnotations', function () {
+      expect(geo.rendererForAnnotations(['polygon'])).toBe('vgl');
+      expect(geo.rendererForAnnotations(['point'])).toBe('vgl');
+      geo.gl.vglRenderer.supported = function () { return false; };
+      expect(geo.rendererForAnnotations(['polygon'])).toBe(false);
+      expect(geo.rendererForAnnotations(['point'])).toBe('d3');
+    });
+  });
 });