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
index 59c82dd7..19ae2792 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/request_access.scss.erb
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/request_access.scss.erb
@@ -1,3 +1,58 @@
+.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;
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/maps_controller.rb b/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb
index f166d4ee..7044d424 100644
--- a/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/maps_controller.rb
@@ -1,9 +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, :request_access, :update, :destroy, :access, :contains,
-                                 :events, :export, :access_request, :approve_access, :deny_access, :approve_access_post,
-                                 :deny_access_post]
+  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
@@ -17,17 +15,13 @@ 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 }
     end
   end
 
-  # GET maps/:id/request_access
-  def request_access
-    @map = nil
-  end
-
   # GET maps/new
   def new
     @map = Map.new(name: 'Untitled Map', permission: 'public', arranged: true)
@@ -86,37 +80,6 @@ class MapsController < ApplicationController
     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/contains
   def contains
     respond_to do |format|
@@ -152,48 +115,6 @@ class MapsController < ApplicationController
     end
   end
 
-  # GET maps/:id/approve_access/:request_id
-  def approve_access
-    request = AccessRequest.find_by_id(params[:request_id])
-    request.approve() if request
-    respond_to do |format|
-      format.html { redirect_to map_path(@map), notice: request ? 'Request was approved' : 'No request there to approve' }
-    end
-  end
-
-  # GET maps/:id/deny_access/:request_id
-  def deny_access
-    request = AccessRequest.find_by_id(params[:request_id])
-    request.deny() if request
-    respond_to do |format|
-      format.html { redirect_to map_path(@map), notice: request ? 'Request was turned down' : 'No request there to deny' }
-    end
-  end
-
-  # POST maps/:id/approve_access/:request_id
-  def approve_access_post
-    request = AccessRequest.find_by_id(params[:request_id])
-    request.approve() if request
-    respond_to do |format|
-      format.json do
-        head :bad_request unless request
-        head :ok
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
-  # POST maps/:id/deny_access/:request_id
-  def deny_access_post
-    request = AccessRequest.find_by_id(params[:request_id])
-    request.deny() if request
-    respond_to do |format|
-      format.json do
-        head :bad_request unless request
-        head :ok
-      end
-    end
-  end
-
   private
 
   def set_map
diff --git a/app/models/access_request.rb b/app/models/access_request.rb
index bbe3d562..185a04f0 100644
--- a/app/models/access_request.rb
+++ b/app/models/access_request.rb
@@ -7,13 +7,12 @@ class AccessRequest < ApplicationRecord
     self.answered = true
     self.save
     UserMap.create(user: self.user, map: self.map)
-    # send an email and push notification here?
+    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
-    # send an email and push notification here?
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/map.rb b/app/models/map.rb
index 53ffd7af..cdd6b333 100644
--- a/app/models/map.rb
+++ b/app/models/map.rb
@@ -103,7 +103,8 @@ class Map < ApplicationRecord
       mappers: contributors,
       collaborators: editors,
       messages: messages.sort_by(&:created_at),
-      stars: stars
+      stars: stars,
+      requests: access_requests
     }
   end
 
@@ -123,6 +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/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/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
index fe036c37..cf8aadb4 100644
--- a/app/views/maps/request_access.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/maps/request_access.html.erb
@@ -7,12 +7,14 @@
 <% content_for :title, 'Request Access | Metamaps' %>
 <% content_for :mobile_title, 'Request Access'  %>
 
-<div class='request_access'>
-  <div class='monkey'></div>
-  <div class='explainer_text'>
-    Oops! This map is private, but you can request<br> to edit it from the map creator.
+<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 class='make_request'>REQUEST ACCESS</div>
 </div>
 
 <script>
@@ -26,8 +28,8 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
       type: 'POST',
       contentType: 'application/json',
       statusCode: {
-        200: function () { that.text('Request Sent!'); setTimeout(function () {window.location.href = '/'}, 2000) },
-        500: function () { that.text('An error occurred') }
+        200: function () { that.text('Request Sent'); setTimeout(function () {window.location.href = '/'}, 2000) },
+        400: function () { that.text('An error occurred') }
       }
     })
   })
diff --git a/config/routes.rb b/config/routes.rb
index b6f06ae9..e20f600f 100644
--- a/config/routes.rb
+++ b/config/routes.rb
@@ -16,16 +16,18 @@ Metamaps::Application.routes.draw do
 
   resources :maps, except: [:index, :edit] do
     member do
-      get :request_access
-      get 'approve_access/:request_id', action: :approve_access, as: :approve_access
-      get 'deny_access/:request_id', action: :deny_access, as: :deny_access
       get :export
       post 'events/:event', action: :events
       get :contains
-      post :access_request, default: { format: :json }
-      post 'approve_access/:request_id', action: :approve_access_post, default: { format: :json }
-      post 'deny_access/:request_id', action: :deny_access_post, default: { format: :json }
-      post :access, default: { 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
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 () {