diff --git a/doc/source/ext/resources.py b/doc/source/ext/resources.py
index 50db470afb..76d821b391 100644
--- a/doc/source/ext/resources.py
+++ b/doc/source/ext/resources.py
@@ -289,6 +289,8 @@ resources:
             default = nodes.literal('', json.dumps(prop.default))
             para.append(default)
             definition.append(para)
+        elif prop_key == 'description' and prop.update_allowed:
+            para = nodes.line('', _('Defaults to the resource description'))
 
         for constraint in prop.constraints:
             para = nodes.line('', str(constraint))
diff --git a/heat/engine/properties.py b/heat/engine/properties.py
index 14d688fa1c..3e3cf5a437 100644
--- a/heat/engine/properties.py
+++ b/heat/engine/properties.py
@@ -377,7 +377,8 @@ class Property(object):
 class Properties(collections.Mapping):
 
     def __init__(self, schema, data, resolver=lambda d: d, parent_name=None,
-                 context=None, section=None, translation=None):
+                 context=None, section=None, translation=None,
+                 rsrc_description=None):
         self.props = dict((k, Property(s, k, context, path=parent_name))
                           for k, s in schema.items())
         self.resolve = resolver
@@ -387,6 +388,7 @@ class Properties(collections.Mapping):
         self.context = context
         self.translation = (trans.Translation(properties=self)
                             if translation is None else translation)
+        self.rsrc_description = rsrc_description or None
 
     def update_translation(self, rules, client_resolve=True,
                            ignore_resolve_error=False):
@@ -507,6 +509,10 @@ class Properties(collections.Mapping):
                                   translation=self.translation)
         elif prop.required():
             raise ValueError(_('Property %s not assigned') % key)
+        elif key == 'description' and prop.schema.update_allowed:
+            return self.rsrc_description
+        else:
+            return None
 
     def __getitem__(self, key):
         return self._get_property_value(key)
diff --git a/heat/engine/rsrc_defn.py b/heat/engine/rsrc_defn.py
index 6de61c3732..2933631e9b 100644
--- a/heat/engine/rsrc_defn.py
+++ b/heat/engine/rsrc_defn.py
@@ -306,7 +306,8 @@ class ResourceDefinition(object):
         """
         props = properties.Properties(schema, self._properties or {},
                                       function.resolve, context=context,
-                                      section=PROPERTIES)
+                                      section=PROPERTIES,
+                                      rsrc_description=self.description)
         props.update_translation(self._rules, self._client_resolve)
         return props
 
diff --git a/heat/tests/test_properties.py b/heat/tests/test_properties.py
index cf5dd14ece..166856617b 100644
--- a/heat/tests/test_properties.py
+++ b/heat/tests/test_properties.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ from heat.engine import parameters
 from heat.engine import plugin_manager
 from heat.engine import properties
 from heat.engine import resources
+from heat.engine import rsrc_defn
 from heat.engine import support
 from heat.engine import translation
 from heat.tests import common
@@ -1651,6 +1652,30 @@ class PropertiesTest(common.HeatTestCase):
         props_b = properties.Properties(schema, {'foo': 1})
         self.assertTrue(props_a != props_b)
 
+    def test_description_substitution(self):
+        schema = {
+            'description': properties.Schema('String',
+                                             update_allowed=True),
+            'not_description': properties.Schema('String',
+                                                 update_allowed=True),
+        }
+        blank_rsrc = rsrc_defn.ResourceDefinition('foo', 'FooResource', {},
+                                                  description='Foo resource')
+        bar_rsrc = rsrc_defn.ResourceDefinition('foo', 'FooResource',
+                                                {'description': 'bar'},
+                                                description='Foo resource')
+
+        blank_props = blank_rsrc.properties(schema)
+        self.assertEqual('Foo resource', blank_props['description'])
+        self.assertEqual(None, blank_props['not_description'])
+
+        replace_schema = {'description': properties.Schema('String')}
+        empty_props = blank_rsrc.properties(replace_schema)
+        self.assertEqual(None, empty_props['description'])
+
+        bar_props = bar_rsrc.properties(schema)
+        self.assertEqual('bar', bar_props['description'])
+
 
 class PropertiesValidationTest(common.HeatTestCase):
     def test_required(self):