diff --git a/app/assets/images/view-only.png b/app/assets/images/view-only.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a4cc262f
Binary files /dev/null and b/app/assets/images/view-only.png differ
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/request_access.scss.erb b/app/assets/stylesheets/request_access.scss.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..19ae2792
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/request_access.scss.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+.viewOnly {
+  float: left;
+  margin-left: 16px;
+  display: none;
+  height: 32px;
+  border: 1px solid #BDBDBD;
+  border-radius: 2px;
+  background-color: #424242;
+  color: #FFF;
+  font-size: 14px;
+  line-height: 32px;
+
+  &.isViewOnly {
+    display: block;
+  }
+
+  .eyeball {
+    background: url('<%= asset_path('view-only.png') %>') no-repeat 4px 0;
+    padding-left: 40px;
+    border-right: #747474;
+    padding-right: 10px;
+    display: inline-block;
+  }
+
+  .requestNotice {
+    display: none;
+    padding: 0 8px;
+  }
+
+  .requestAccess {
+    background-color: #a354cd;
+    &:hover {
+      background-color: #9150bc;
+    }
+    cursor: pointer;
+  }
+
+  .requestPending {
+    background-color: #4fc059;
+  }
+
+  .requestNotAccepted {
+    background-color: #c04f4f;
+  }
+
+  &.sendRequest .requestAccess {
+    display: inline-block;
+  }
+  &.sentRequest .requestPending {
+    display: inline-block;
+  }
+  &.requestDenied .requestNotAccepted {
+    display: inline-block;
+  }
+}
+
+.request_access {
+  position: absolute;
+  width: 90%;
+  margin: 0 5%;
+
+  .monkey {
+    width: 250px;
+    height: 250px;
+    border: 6px solid #424242;
+    border-radius: 125px;
+    background: url(https://s3.amazonaws.com/metamaps-assets/site/monkeyselfie.jpg) no-repeat;
+    background-position: 50% 20%;
+    background-size: 100%;
+    margin: 80px auto 20px auto;
+  }
+
+  .explainer_text {
+    padding: 0 20% 0 20%;
+    font-size: 24px;
+    line-height: 30px;
+    margin-bottom: 20px;
+    text-align: center;
+  }
+
+  .make_request {
+    background-color: #a354cd;
+    display: block;
+    width: 220px;
+    height: 14px;
+    padding: 16px 0;
+    margin-bottom: 16px;
+    text-align: center;
+    border-radius: 2px;
+    font-size: 14px;
+    box-shadow: 0px 1px 1.5px rgba(0,0,0,0.12), 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.24);
+    margin: 0 auto 20px auto;
+    text-decoration: none;
+    color: #FFFFFF !important;
+    cursor: pointer;
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/app/controllers/access_controller.rb b/app/controllers/access_controller.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..302e9385
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/controllers/access_controller.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+class AccessController < ApplicationController
+  before_action :require_user, only: [:access, :access_request, :approve_access, :approve_access_post,
+                                      :deny_access, :deny_access_post, :request_access]
+  before_action :set_map, only: [:access, :access_request, :approve_access, :approve_access_post,
+                                 :deny_access, :deny_access_post, :request_access]
+  after_action :verify_authorized
+
+
+  # GET maps/:id/request_access
+  def request_access
+    @map = nil
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.html do
+        render 'maps/request_access'
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  # POST maps/:id/access_request
+  def access_request
+    request = AccessRequest.create(user: current_user, map: @map)
+    # what about push notification to map owner?
+    MapMailer.access_request_email(request, @map).deliver_later
+
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.json do
+        head :ok
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  # POST maps/:id/access
+  def access
+    user_ids = params[:access] || []
+
+    @map.add_new_collaborators(user_ids).each do |user_id|
+      # add_new_collaborators returns array of added users,
+      # who we then send an email to
+      MapMailer.invite_to_edit_email(@map, current_user, User.find(user_id)).deliver_later
+    end
+    @map.remove_old_collaborators(user_ids)
+
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.json do
+        head :ok
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  # GET maps/:id/approve_access/:request_id
+  def approve_access
+    request = AccessRequest.find(params[:request_id])
+    request.approve()
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.html { redirect_to map_path(@map), notice: 'Request was approved' }
+    end
+  end
+
+  # GET maps/:id/deny_access/:request_id
+  def deny_access
+    request = AccessRequest.find(params[:request_id])
+    request.deny()
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.html { redirect_to map_path(@map), notice: 'Request was turned down' }
+    end
+  end
+
+  # POST maps/:id/approve_access/:request_id
+  def approve_access_post
+    request = AccessRequest.find(params[:request_id])
+    request.approve()
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.json do
+        head :ok
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  # POST maps/:id/deny_access/:request_id
+  def deny_access_post
+    request = AccessRequest.find(params[:request_id])
+    request.deny()
+    respond_to do |format|
+      format.json do
+        head :ok
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  private
+
+  def set_map
+    @map = Map.find(params[:id])
+    authorize @map
+  end
+
+end
diff --git a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
index eddf510d..6138fa31 100644
--- a/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/application_controller.rb
@@ -22,21 +22,26 @@ class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
   helper_method :admin?
 
   def after_sign_in_path_for(resource)
-    sign_in_url = url_for(action: 'new', controller: 'sessions', only_path: false)
+    sign_in_url = new_user_session_url
+    sign_up_url = new_user_registration_url
+    stored = stored_location_for(User) 
 
-    if request.referer == sign_in_url
+    if stored
+      stored
+    elsif request.referer.include?(sign_in_url) || request.referer.include?(sign_up_url)
       super
-    elsif params[:uv_login] == '1'
-      'http://support.metamaps.cc/login_success?sso=' + current_sso_token
     else
-      stored_location_for(resource) || request.referer || root_path
+      request.referer || root_path
     end
   end
 
   def handle_unauthorized
-    if authenticated?
+    if authenticated? and params[:controller] == 'maps' and params[:action] == 'show'
+      redirect_to request_access_map_path(params[:id])
+    elsif authenticated?
       redirect_to root_path, notice: "You don't have permission to see that page."
     else
+      store_location_for(resource, request.fullpath)
       redirect_to new_user_session_path, notice: 'Try signing in to do that.'
     end
   end
diff --git a/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb b/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb
index cdbbd900..7044d424 100644
--- a/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb
@@ -1,8 +1,7 @@
 # frozen_string_literal: true
 class MapsController < ApplicationController
-  before_action :require_user, only: [:create, :update, :destroy, :access, :events]
-  before_action :set_map, only: [:show, :update, :destroy, :access, :contains,
-                                 :events, :export]
+  before_action :require_user, only: [:create, :update, :destroy, :events]
+  before_action :set_map, only: [:show, :update, :destroy, :contains, :events, :export]
   after_action :verify_authorized
 
   # GET maps/:id
@@ -16,6 +15,7 @@ class MapsController < ApplicationController
         @allmappings = policy_scope(@map.mappings)
         @allmessages = @map.messages.sort_by(&:created_at)
         @allstars = @map.stars
+        @allrequests = @map.access_requests
       end
       format.json { render json: @map }
       format.csv { redirect_to action: :export, format: :csv }
@@ -80,24 +80,6 @@ class MapsController < ApplicationController
     end
   end
 
-  # POST maps/:id/access
-  def access
-    user_ids = params[:access] || []
-
-    @map.add_new_collaborators(user_ids).each do |user_id|
-      # add_new_collaborators returns array of added users,
-      # who we then send an email to
-      MapMailer.invite_to_edit_email(@map, current_user, User.find(user_id)).deliver_later
-    end
-    @map.remove_old_collaborators(user_ids)
-
-    respond_to do |format|
-      format.json do
-        render json: { message: 'Successfully altered edit permissions' }
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
   # GET maps/:id/contains
   def contains
     respond_to do |format|
diff --git a/app/controllers/users/registrations_controller.rb b/app/controllers/users/registrations_controller.rb
index 21cd9666..e472152e 100644
--- a/app/controllers/users/registrations_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/users/registrations_controller.rb
@@ -2,19 +2,22 @@
 class Users::RegistrationsController < Devise::RegistrationsController
   before_action :configure_sign_up_params, only: [:create]
   before_action :configure_account_update_params, only: [:update]
+  after_action :store_location, only: [:new]
 
   protected
 
-  def after_sign_up_path_for(resource)
-    signed_in_root_path(resource)
-  end
-
   def after_update_path_for(resource)
     signed_in_root_path(resource)
   end
 
   private
 
+  def store_location
+    if params[:redirect_to]
+      store_location_for(User, params[:redirect_to])    
+    end
+  end
+
   def configure_sign_up_params
     devise_parameter_sanitizer.permit(:sign_up, keys: [:name, :joinedwithcode])
   end
diff --git a/app/mailers/map_mailer.rb b/app/mailers/map_mailer.rb
index e70d0b82..f6865ecd 100644
--- a/app/mailers/map_mailer.rb
+++ b/app/mailers/map_mailer.rb
@@ -2,10 +2,17 @@
 class MapMailer < ApplicationMailer
   default from: 'team@metamaps.cc'
 
+  def access_request_email(request, map)
+    @request = request
+    @map = map
+    subject = @map.name + ' - request to edit'
+    mail(to: @map.user.email, subject: subject)
+  end
+
   def invite_to_edit_email(map, inviter, invitee)
     @inviter = inviter
     @map = map
-    subject = @map.name + ' - Invitation to edit'
+    subject = @map.name + ' - invitation to edit'
     mail(to: invitee.email, subject: subject)
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/access_request.rb b/app/models/access_request.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..185a04f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/models/access_request.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+class AccessRequest < ApplicationRecord
+  belongs_to :user
+  belongs_to :map
+
+  def approve
+    self.approved = true
+    self.answered = true
+    self.save
+    UserMap.create(user: self.user, map: self.map)
+    MapMailer.invite_to_edit_email(self.map, self.map.user, self.user).deliver_later
+  end
+
+  def deny
+    self.approved = false
+    self.answered = true
+    self.save
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/models/map.rb b/app/models/map.rb
index a8e9c866..cdd6b333 100644
--- a/app/models/map.rb
+++ b/app/models/map.rb
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ class Map < ApplicationRecord
   has_many :messages, as: :resource, dependent: :destroy
   has_many :stars
 
+  has_many :access_requests, dependent: :destroy
   has_many :user_maps, dependent: :destroy
   has_many :collaborators, through: :user_maps, source: :user
 
@@ -102,7 +103,8 @@ class Map < ApplicationRecord
       mappers: contributors,
       collaborators: editors,
       messages: messages.sort_by(&:created_at),
-      stars: stars
+      stars: stars,
+      requests: access_requests
     }
   end
 
@@ -122,6 +124,7 @@ class Map < ApplicationRecord
     removed = current_collaborators.map(&:id).map do |old_user_id|
       next nil if user_ids.include?(old_user_id)
       user_maps.where(user_id: old_user_id).find_each(&:destroy)
+      access_requests.where(user_id: old_user_id).find_each(&:destroy)
       old_user_id
     end
     removed.compact
diff --git a/app/policies/map_policy.rb b/app/policies/map_policy.rb
index 9999a055..f670f59e 100644
--- a/app/policies/map_policy.rb
+++ b/app/policies/map_policy.rb
@@ -37,10 +37,36 @@ class MapPolicy < ApplicationPolicy
   end
 
   def access?
-    # note that this is to edit who can access the map
+    # this is for the map creator to bulk change who can access the map
     user.present? && record.user == user
   end
 
+  def request_access?
+    # this is to access the page where you can request access to a map
+    user.present?
+  end
+
+  def access_request?
+    # this is to actually request access
+    user.present?
+  end
+
+  def approve_access?
+    record.user == user
+  end
+
+  def deny_access?
+    approve_access?
+  end
+
+  def approve_access_post?
+    approve_access?
+  end
+
+  def deny_access_post?
+    approve_access?
+  end
+
   def contains?
     show?
   end
diff --git a/app/views/layouts/_upperelements.html.erb b/app/views/layouts/_upperelements.html.erb
index c2344643..1d26ced9 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/_upperelements.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/layouts/_upperelements.html.erb
@@ -14,6 +14,23 @@
     <div class="sidebarSearchIcon"></div>
     <div class="clearfloat"></div>
   </div> <!-- end sidebarSearch -->
+
+  <% request = current_user && @map && @allrequests.find{|a| a.user == current_user}
+     className = (@map and not policy(@map).update?) ? 'isViewOnly ' : '' 
+     if @map
+       className += 'sendRequest' if not request
+       className += 'sentRequest' if request and not request.answered
+       className += 'requestDenied' if request and request.answered and not request.approved
+     end %>
+
+  <div class="viewOnly <%= className %>">
+    <div class="eyeball">View Only</div>
+    <% if current_user %>
+      <div class="requestAccess requestNotice">Request Access</div>
+      <div class="requestPending requestNotice">Request Pending</div>
+      <div class="requestNotAccepted requestNotice">Request Not Accepted</div>
+    <% end %>
+  </div>
   <div class="clearfloat"></div>
 </div><!-- end upperLeftUI -->
 
diff --git a/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.html.erb b/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0445c6da
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html>
+  <head>
+    <meta content='text/html; charset=UTF-8' http-equiv='Content-Type' />
+  </head>
+  <body style="font-family: sans-serif; width: 100%; padding: 24px 16px 16px 16px; background-color: #f5f5f5; text-align: center;">
+
+  <div style="padding: 16px; background: white; text-align: left;">
+    <% button_style = "background-color:#4fc059;border-radius:2px;color:white;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;min-height:29px;line-height:29px;min-width:54px;outline:0px;padding:0 8px;text-align:center;text-decoration:none" %>
+
+    <p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><%= @request.user.name %></span> is requesting access to <span style="font-weight: bold">collaboratively edit</span> the following metamap:</p>
+
+    <p><%= @map.name %></p>
+
+    <p><%= link_to "Grant", approve_access_map_url(id: @map.id, request_id: @request.id), target: "_blank", style: "font-size: 18px; text-decoration: none; color: #4fc059;" %>
+    <p><%= link_to "Deny", deny_access_map_url(id: @map.id, request_id: @request.id), target: "_blank", style: "font-size: 18px; text-decoration: none; color: #DB5D5D;" %></p>
+
+    <%= link_to 'Open in Metamaps', map_url(@map), target: "_blank", style: button_style %> 
+
+    <p style="font-size: 12px;">Make sense with Metamaps</p>
+  </div>
+  </body>
+</html>
diff --git a/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.text.erb b/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.text.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0c5b07dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.text.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+<%= @request.user.name %> has requested to collaboratively edit the following metamap:
+
+<%= @map.name %> [<%= map_url(@map) %>]
+
+Approve Request [<%= approve_access_map_url(id: @map.id, request_id: @request.id) %>]
+Deny Request [<%= deny_access_map_url(id: @map.id, request_id: @request.id) %>]
+
+Make sense with Metamaps
+
+
diff --git a/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.html.erb b/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.html.erb
index 1a8b80c2..73067c48 100644
--- a/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.html.erb
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   <div style="padding: 16px; background: white; text-align: left;">
     <% button_style = "background-color:#4fc059;border-radius:2px;color:white;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;min-height:29px;line-height:29px;min-width:54px;outline:0px;padding:0 8px;text-align:center;text-decoration:none" %>
 
-    <p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><%= @inviter.name %></span> has invited you to <span style="font-weight: bold">collaboratively edit</span> the following metamap:</p>
+    <p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><%= @inviter.name %></span> has invited you to <span style="font-weight: bold">collaboratively edit</span> the following map:</p>
     <p><%= link_to @map.name, map_url(@map), target: "_blank", style: "font-size: 18px; text-decoration: none; color: #4fc059;" %></p>
     <% if @map.desc %>
       <p style="font-size: 12px;"><%= @map.desc %></p>
diff --git a/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.text.erb b/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.text.erb
index 62bd2c90..80eecfed 100644
--- a/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.text.erb
+++ b/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.text.erb
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-<%= @inviter.name %> has invited you to collaboratively edit the following metamap:
+<%= @inviter.name %> has invited you to collaboratively edit the following map:
 
 <%= @map.name %> [<%= map_url(@map) %>]
 
diff --git a/app/views/maps/request_access.html.erb b/app/views/maps/request_access.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cf8aadb4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/maps/request_access.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+<%#
+# @file
+# Code to request access to a map
+# /maps/:id/request_access
+#%>
+
+<% content_for :title, 'Request Access | Metamaps' %>
+<% content_for :mobile_title, 'Request Access'  %>
+
+<div id="yield">
+  <div class='request_access'>
+    <div class='monkey'></div>
+    <div class='explainer_text'>
+      Hmmm. This map is private, but you can request to edit it from the map creator.
+    </div>
+    <div class='make_request'>REQUEST ACCESS</div>
+  </div>
+</div>
+
+<script>
+$(document).ready(function() {
+  $('.make_request').click(function() {
+    var that = $(this)
+    that.off('click')
+    that.text('requesting...')
+    $.ajax({
+      url: '/maps/<%= params[:id] %>/access_request',
+      type: 'POST',
+      contentType: 'application/json',
+      statusCode: {
+        200: function () { that.text('Request Sent'); setTimeout(function () {window.location.href = '/'}, 2000) },
+        400: function () { that.text('An error occurred') }
+      }
+    })
+  })
+})
+</script>
diff --git a/config/environments/development.rb b/config/environments/development.rb
index 5449e5e8..38741a18 100644
--- a/config/environments/development.rb
+++ b/config/environments/development.rb
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ Rails.application.configure do
   # Print deprecation notices to the Rails logger
   config.active_support.deprecation = :log
 
-  config.action_mailer.preview_path = '/vagrant/spec/mailers/previews'
+  config.action_mailer.preview_path = "#{Rails.root}/spec/mailers/previews"
 
   # Expands the lines which load the assets
   config.assets.debug = false
diff --git a/config/routes.rb b/config/routes.rb
index 79db8599..e20f600f 100644
--- a/config/routes.rb
+++ b/config/routes.rb
@@ -19,9 +19,17 @@ Metamaps::Application.routes.draw do
       get :export
       post 'events/:event', action: :events
       get :contains
-      post :access, default: { format: :json }
-      post :star, to: 'stars#create', defaults: { format: :json }
-      post :unstar, to: 'stars#destroy', defaults: { format: :json }
+
+      get :request_access, to: 'access#request_access'
+      get 'approve_access/:request_id', to: 'access#approve_access', as: :approve_access
+      get 'deny_access/:request_id', to: 'access#deny_access', as: :deny_access
+      post :access_request, to: 'access#access_request', default: { format: :json }
+      post 'approve_access/:request_id', to: 'access#approve_access_post', default: { format: :json }
+      post 'deny_access/:request_id', to: 'access#deny_access_post', default: { format: :json }
+      post :access, to: 'access#access', default: { format: :json }
+
+      post :star, to: 'stars#create', default: { format: :json }
+      post :unstar, to: 'stars#destroy', default: { format: :json }
     end
   end
 
@@ -54,6 +62,19 @@ Metamaps::Application.routes.draw do
     end
   end
 
+  devise_for :users, skip: :sessions, controllers: {
+    registrations: 'users/registrations',
+    passwords: 'users/passwords',
+    sessions: 'devise/sessions'
+  }
+
+  devise_scope :user do
+    get 'login' => 'devise/sessions#new', :as => :new_user_session
+    post 'login' => 'devise/sessions#create', :as => :user_session
+    get 'logout' => 'devise/sessions#destroy', :as => :destroy_user_session
+    get 'join' => 'devise/registrations#new', :as => :new_user_registration_path
+  end
+
   resources :users, except: [:index, :destroy] do
     member do
       get :details
@@ -84,19 +105,6 @@ Metamaps::Application.routes.draw do
     match '*path', to: 'v2/restful#catch_404', via: :all
   end
 
-  devise_for :users, skip: :sessions, controllers: {
-    registrations: 'users/registrations',
-    passwords: 'users/passwords',
-    sessions: 'devise/sessions'
-  }
-
-  devise_scope :user do
-    get 'login' => 'devise/sessions#new', :as => :new_user_session
-    post 'login' => 'devise/sessions#create', :as => :user_session
-    get 'logout' => 'devise/sessions#destroy', :as => :destroy_user_session
-    get 'join' => 'devise/registrations#new', :as => :new_user_registration_path
-  end
-
   namespace :hacks do
     get 'load_url_title'
   end
diff --git a/db/migrate/20161013162214_create_access_requests.rb b/db/migrate/20161013162214_create_access_requests.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..248ad005
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20161013162214_create_access_requests.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+class CreateAccessRequests < ActiveRecord::Migration[5.0]
+  def change
+    create_table :access_requests do |t|
+      t.references :user, foreign_key: true
+      t.boolean :approved, default: false
+      t.boolean :answered, default: false
+      t.references :map, foreign_key: true
+
+      t.timestamps
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index 0bfa7f1a..9807c3e0 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -10,11 +10,22 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended that you check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20160928022635) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20161013162214) do
 
   # These are extensions that must be enabled in order to support this database
   enable_extension "plpgsql"
 
+  create_table "access_requests", force: :cascade do |t|
+    t.integer  "user_id"
+    t.boolean  "approved"
+    t.boolean  "answered"
+    t.integer  "map_id"
+    t.datetime "created_at", null: false
+    t.datetime "updated_at", null: false
+    t.index ["map_id"], name: "index_access_requests_on_map_id", using: :btree
+    t.index ["user_id"], name: "index_access_requests_on_user_id", using: :btree
+  end
+
   create_table "delayed_jobs", force: :cascade do |t|
     t.integer  "priority",   default: 0, null: false
     t.integer  "attempts",   default: 0, null: false
@@ -268,5 +279,7 @@ ActiveRecord::Schema.define(version: 20160928022635) do
     t.index ["hookable_type", "hookable_id"], name: "index_webhooks_on_hookable_type_and_hookable_id", using: :btree
   end
 
+  add_foreign_key "access_requests", "maps"
+  add_foreign_key "access_requests", "users"
   add_foreign_key "tokens", "users"
 end
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/Map/index.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/Map/index.js
index 48be9def..e5f50633 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/Map/index.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/Map/index.js
@@ -60,8 +60,28 @@ const Map = {
     InfoBox.init()
     CheatSheet.init()
 
+    $('.viewOnly .requestAccess').click(self.requestAccess)
+
     $(document).on(Map.events.editedByActiveMapper, self.editedByActiveMapper)
   },
+  requestAccess: function () {
+    $('.viewOnly').removeClass('sendRequest').addClass('sentRequest')
+    const mapId = Active.Map.id
+    $.post({
+      url: `/maps/${mapId}/access_request`
+    })
+    GlobalUI.notifyUser('Map creator will be notified of your request') 
+  },
+  setAccessRequest: function (requests, activeMapper) {
+    let className = 'isViewOnly '
+    if (activeMapper) {
+      const request = _.find(requests, r => r.user_id === activeMapper.id)
+      if (!request) className += 'sendRequest' 
+      else if (request && !request.answered) className += 'sentRequest' 
+      else if (request && request.answered && !request.approved) className += 'requestDenied'
+    }
+    $('.viewOnly').removeClass('sendRequest sentRequest requestDenied').addClass(className)
+  },
   launch: function (id) {
     var bb = Metamaps.Backbone
     var start = function (data) {
@@ -84,6 +104,9 @@ const Map = {
       if (map.authorizeToEdit(mapper)) {
         $('.wrapper').addClass('canEditMap')
       }
+      else {
+        Map.setAccessRequest(data.requests, mapper)
+      }
 
       // add class to .wrapper for specifying if the map can
       // be collaborated on
@@ -139,6 +162,7 @@ const Map = {
       Filter.close()
       InfoBox.close()
       Realtime.endActiveMap()
+      $('.viewOnly').removeClass('isViewOnly')
     }
   },
   updateStar: function () {
diff --git a/spec/mailers/previews/map_mailer_preview.rb b/spec/mailers/previews/map_mailer_preview.rb
index 96d07c07..17ea7671 100644
--- a/spec/mailers/previews/map_mailer_preview.rb
+++ b/spec/mailers/previews/map_mailer_preview.rb
@@ -4,4 +4,9 @@ class MapMailerPreview < ActionMailer::Preview
   def invite_to_edit_email
     MapMailer.invite_to_edit_email(Map.first, User.first, User.second)
   end
+
+  def access_request_email
+    request = AccessRequest.first
+    MapMailer.access_request_email(request, request.map)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/models/access_request_spec.rb b/spec/models/access_request_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4119eaa6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/models/access_request_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+require 'rails_helper'
+
+RSpec.describe AccessRequest, type: :model do
+  pending "add some examples to (or delete) #{__FILE__}"
+end