diff --git a/js/id/graph/relation.js b/js/id/graph/relation.js
index 989ade40c..dc298ecbd 100644
--- a/js/id/graph/relation.js
+++ b/js/id/graph/relation.js
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ iD.Relation = iD.Entity.extend({
         }
     },
 
+    isRestriction: function() {
+        return !!(this.tags.type && this.tags.type.match(/^restriction:?/));
+    },
+
     // Returns an array [A0, ... An], each Ai being an array of node arrays [Nds0, ... Ndsm],
     // where Nds0 is an outer ring and subsequent Ndsi's (if any i > 0) being inner rings.
     //
diff --git a/test/spec/graph/relation.js b/test/spec/graph/relation.js
index b6961a092..f8b49a213 100644
--- a/test/spec/graph/relation.js
+++ b/test/spec/graph/relation.js
@@ -89,6 +89,21 @@ describe('iD.Relation', function () {
         });
     });
 
+    describe("#isRestriction", function () {
+        it("returns true for 'restriction' type", function () {
+            expect(iD.Relation({tags: {type: 'restriction'}}).isRestriction()).to.be.true;
+        });
+
+        it("returns true for 'restriction:type' types", function () {
+            expect(iD.Relation({tags: {type: 'restriction:bus'}}).isRestriction()).to.be.true;
+        });
+
+        it("returns false otherwise", function () {
+            expect(iD.Relation().isRestriction()).to.be.false;
+            expect(iD.Relation({tags: {type: 'multipolygon'}}).isRestriction()).to.be.false;
+        });
+    });
+
     describe("#multipolygon", function () {
         specify("single polygon consisting of a single way", function () {
             var a = iD.Node(),