diff --git a/heat/engine/identifier.py b/heat/engine/identifier.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..948a989a1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heat/engine/identifier.py
@@ -0,0 +1,115 @@
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+#
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#    under the License.
+
+import re
+import urllib
+import collections
+
+
+class HeatIdentifier(collections.Mapping):
+
+    FIELDS = (
+        TENANT, STACK_NAME, STACK_ID, PATH
+    ) = (
+        'tenant', 'stack_name', 'stack_id', 'path'
+    )
+    path_re = re.compile(r'stacks/([^/]+)/([^/]+)(.*)')
+
+    def __init__(self, tenant, stack_name, stack_id, path=''):
+        '''
+        Initialise a HeatIdentifier from a Tenant ID, Stack name, Stack ID
+        and optional path. If a path is supplied and it does not begin with
+        "/", a "/" will be prepended.
+        '''
+        if path and not path.startswith('/'):
+            path = '/' + path
+
+        self.identity = {
+            self.TENANT: tenant,
+            self.STACK_NAME: stack_name,
+            self.STACK_ID: str(stack_id),
+            self.PATH: path,
+        }
+
+    @classmethod
+    def from_arn(cls, arn):
+        '''
+        Return a new HeatIdentifier generated by parsing the supplied ARN.
+        '''
+        fields = arn.split(':')
+        if len(fields) < 6 or fields[0].lower() != 'arn':
+            raise ValueError('"%s" is not a valid ARN' % arn)
+
+        id_fragment = ':'.join(fields[5:])
+        path = cls.path_re.match(id_fragment)
+
+        if fields[1] != 'openstack' or fields[2] != 'heat' or not path:
+            raise ValueError('"%s" is not a valid Heat ARN' % arn)
+
+        return cls(urllib.unquote(fields[4]),
+                   urllib.unquote(path.group(1)),
+                   urllib.unquote(path.group(2)),
+                   urllib.unquote(path.group(3)))
+
+    def arn(self):
+        '''
+        Return an ARN of the form:
+            arn:openstack:heat::<tenant>:stacks/<stack_name>/<stack_id><path>
+        '''
+        return 'arn:openstack:heat::%s:%s' % (urllib.quote(self.tenant, ''),
+                                              self._tenant_path())
+
+    def url_path(self):
+        '''
+        Return a URL-encoded path segment of a URL in the form:
+            /<tenant>/stacks/<stack_name>/<stack_id><path>
+        '''
+        return '/%s/%s' % (urllib.quote(self.tenant, ''), self._tenant_path())
+
+    def _tenant_path(self):
+        '''
+        Return a URL-encoded path segment of a URL within a particular tenant,
+        in the form:
+            stacks/<stack_name>/<stack_id><path>
+        '''
+        return 'stacks/%s/%s%s' % (urllib.quote(self.stack_name, ''),
+                                   urllib.quote(self.stack_id, ''),
+                                   urllib.quote(self.path))
+
+    def __getattr__(self, attr):
+        '''
+        Return one of the components of the identity when accessed as an
+        attribute.
+        '''
+        if attr not in self.FIELDS:
+            raise AttributeError('Unknown attribute "%s"' % attr)
+
+        return self.identity[attr]
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        '''Return one of the components of the identity.'''
+        if key not in self.FIELDS:
+            raise KeyError('Unknown attribute "%s"' % key)
+
+        return self.identity[key]
+
+    def __len__(self):
+        '''Return the number of components in an identity.'''
+        return len(self.FIELDS)
+
+    def __contains__(self, key):
+        return key in self.FIELDS
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        return iter(self.FIELDS)
diff --git a/heat/engine/parser.py b/heat/engine/parser.py
index 9f0c3013c9..b3142d6a73 100644
--- a/heat/engine/parser.py
+++ b/heat/engine/parser.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import copy
 from heat.common import exception
 from heat.engine import checkeddict
 from heat.engine import dependencies
+from heat.engine import identifier
 from heat.engine import resources
 from heat.db import api as db_api
 
@@ -321,6 +322,13 @@ class Stack(object):
 
         return self.id
 
+    def identifier(self):
+        '''
+        Return an identifier for this stack.
+        '''
+        return identifier.HeatIdentifier(self.context.tenant,
+                                         self.name, self.id)
+
     def __iter__(self):
         '''
         Return an iterator over this template's resources in the order that
diff --git a/heat/tests/test_identifier.py b/heat/tests/test_identifier.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..07ae958c39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heat/tests/test_identifier.py
@@ -0,0 +1,228 @@
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#    under the License.
+
+
+import nose
+import unittest
+from nose.plugins.attrib import attr
+import mox
+import json
+
+from heat.engine import identifier
+
+
+@attr(tag=['unit', 'identifier'])
+@attr(speed='fast')
+class IdentifierTest(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def test_attrs(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.tenant, 't')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.stack_name, 's')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.stack_id, 'i')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.path, '/p')
+
+    def test_path_default(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.path, '')
+
+    def test_items(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        self.assertEqual(hi['tenant'], 't')
+        self.assertEqual(hi['stack_name'], 's')
+        self.assertEqual(hi['stack_id'], 'i')
+        self.assertEqual(hi['path'], '/p')
+
+    def test_invalid_attr(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        hi.identity['foo'] = 'bar'
+        self.assertRaises(AttributeError, getattr, hi, 'foo')
+
+    def test_invalid_item(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        hi.identity['foo'] = 'bar'
+        self.assertRaises(KeyError, lambda o, k: o[k], hi, 'foo')
+
+    def test_arn(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.arn(), 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/s/i/p')
+
+    def test_arn_id_int(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 42, 'p')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.arn(), 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/s/42/p')
+
+    def test_arn_parse(self):
+        arn = 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/s/i/p'
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn(arn)
+        self.assertEqual(hi.tenant, 't')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.stack_name, 's')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.stack_id, 'i')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.path, '/p')
+
+    def test_arn_parse_path_default(self):
+        arn = 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/s/i'
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn(arn)
+        self.assertEqual(hi.tenant, 't')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.stack_name, 's')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.stack_id, 'i')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.path, '')
+
+    def test_arn_parse_upper(self):
+        arn = 'ARN:openstack:heat::t:stacks/s/i/p'
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn(arn)
+        self.assertEqual(hi.stack_name, 's')
+
+    def test_arn_parse_arn_invalid(self):
+        arn = 'urn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/s/i'
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn, arn)
+
+    def test_arn_parse_os_invalid(self):
+        arn = 'arn:aws:heat::t:stacks/s/i'
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn, arn)
+
+    def test_arn_parse_heat_invalid(self):
+        arn = 'arn:openstack:cool::t:stacks/s/i'
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn, arn)
+
+    def test_arn_parse_stacks_invalid(self):
+        arn = 'arn:openstack:heat::t:sticks/s/i'
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn, arn)
+
+    def test_arn_parse_missing_field(self):
+        arn = 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/s'
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn, arn)
+
+    def test_arn_parse_empty_field(self):
+        arn = 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks//i'
+        self.assertRaises(ValueError, identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn, arn)
+
+    def test_arn_round_trip(self):
+        hii = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        hio = identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn(hii.arn())
+        self.assertEqual(hio.tenant, hii.tenant)
+        self.assertEqual(hio.stack_name, hii.stack_name)
+        self.assertEqual(hio.stack_id, hii.stack_id)
+        self.assertEqual(hio.path, hii.path)
+
+    def test_arn_parse_round_trip(self):
+        arn = 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/s/i/p'
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn(arn)
+        self.assertEqual(hi.arn(), arn)
+
+    def test_dict_round_trip(self):
+        hii = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        hio = identifier.HeatIdentifier(**dict(hii))
+        self.assertEqual(hio.tenant, hii.tenant)
+        self.assertEqual(hio.stack_name, hii.stack_name)
+        self.assertEqual(hio.stack_id, hii.stack_id)
+        self.assertEqual(hio.path, hii.path)
+
+    def test_url_path(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.url_path(), '/t/stacks/s/i/p')
+
+    def test_url_path_default(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.url_path(), '/t/stacks/s/i')
+
+    def test_tenant_escape(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier(':/', 's', 'i')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.tenant, ':/')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.url_path(), '/%3A%2F/stacks/s/i')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.arn(), 'arn:openstack:heat::%3A%2F:stacks/s/i')
+
+    def test_name_escape(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', ':/', 'i')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.stack_name, ':/')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.url_path(), '/t/stacks/%3A%2F/i')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.arn(), 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/%3A%2F/i')
+
+    def test_id_escape(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', ':/')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.stack_id, ':/')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.url_path(), '/t/stacks/s/%3A%2F')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.arn(), 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/s/%3A%2F')
+
+    def test_path_escape(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', ':/')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.path, '/:/')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.url_path(), '/t/stacks/s/i/%3A/')
+        self.assertEqual(hi.arn(), 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/s/i/%3A/')
+
+    def test_tenant_decode(self):
+        arn = 'arn:openstack:heat::%3A%2F:stacks/s/i'
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn(arn)
+        self.assertEqual(hi.tenant, ':/')
+
+    def test_name_decode(self):
+        arn = 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/%3A%2F/i'
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn(arn)
+        self.assertEqual(hi.stack_name, ':/')
+
+    def test_id_decode(self):
+        arn = 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/s/%3A%2F'
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn(arn)
+        self.assertEqual(hi.stack_id, ':/')
+
+    def test_path_decode(self):
+        arn = 'arn:openstack:heat::t:stacks/s/i/%3A%2F'
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn(arn)
+        self.assertEqual(hi.path, '/:/')
+
+    def test_arn_escape_decode_round_trip(self):
+        hii = identifier.HeatIdentifier(':/', ':/', ':/', ':/')
+        hio = identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn(hii.arn())
+        self.assertEqual(hio.tenant, hii.tenant)
+        self.assertEqual(hio.stack_name, hii.stack_name)
+        self.assertEqual(hio.stack_id, hii.stack_id)
+        self.assertEqual(hio.path, hii.path)
+
+    def test_arn_decode_escape_round_trip(self):
+        arn = 'arn:openstack:heat::%3A%2F:stacks/%3A%2F/%3A%2F/%3A/'
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier.from_arn(arn)
+        self.assertEqual(hi.arn(), arn)
+
+    def test_equal(self):
+        hi1 = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        hi2 = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        self.assertTrue(hi1 == hi2)
+
+    def test_equal_dict(self):
+        hi = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        self.assertTrue(hi == dict(hi))
+        self.assertTrue(dict(hi) == hi)
+
+    def test_not_equal(self):
+        hi1 = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        hi2 = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'q')
+        self.assertFalse(hi1 == hi2)
+        self.assertFalse(hi2 == hi1)
+
+    def test_not_equal_dict(self):
+        hi1 = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'p')
+        hi2 = identifier.HeatIdentifier('t', 's', 'i', 'q')
+        self.assertFalse(hi1 == dict(hi2))
+        self.assertFalse(dict(hi1) == hi2)
+        self.assertFalse(hi1 == {'tenant': 't',
+                                 'stack_name': 's',
+                                 'stack_id': 'i'})
+        self.assertFalse({'tenant': 't',
+                          'stack_name': 's',
+                          'stack_id': 'i'} == hi1)
+
+
+# allows testing of the test directly, shown below
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    sys.argv.append(__file__)
+    nose.main()
diff --git a/heat/tests/test_parser.py b/heat/tests/test_parser.py
index ab25cdb853..fb4b73f8c6 100644
--- a/heat/tests/test_parser.py
+++ b/heat/tests/test_parser.py
@@ -356,6 +356,16 @@ class StackTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertRaises(exception.NotFound, parser.Stack.load,
                           None, -1)
 
+    def test_identifier(self):
+        stack = parser.Stack(self.ctx, 'identifier_test',
+                             parser.Template({}))
+        stack.store()
+        identifier = stack.identifier()
+        self.assertEqual(identifier.tenant, self.ctx.tenant)
+        self.assertEqual(identifier.stack_name, 'identifier_test')
+        self.assertTrue(identifier.stack_id)
+        self.assertFalse(identifier.path)
+
     def test_created_time(self):
         stack = parser.Stack(self.ctx, 'creation_time_test',
                              parser.Template({}))