Virginia Code 54.1-2312.01: Special interments; definitions; regulations by Board
A. A cemetery company may have a section in the cemetery devoted to the interment of human remains and the pets of such deceased humans, provided:
Terms Used In Virginia Code 54.1-2312.01
- Board: means the Cemetery Board. See Virginia Code 54.1-2310
- Cemetery: means any land or structure used or intended to be used for the interment of human remains. See Virginia Code 54.1-2310
- Cemetery company: means any person engaged in the business of (i) selling or offering for sale any grave or entombment right in a cemetery and representing to the public that the entire cemetery, a single grave, or entombment right therein will be perpetually cared for; (ii) selling property or services, vaults, grave liners, urns, memorials, markers, and monuments used in connection with interring or disposing of the remains or commemorating the memory of a deceased human being, where delivery of the property or performance of the service may be delayed more than 120 days after receipt of the initial payment on account of such sale; or (iii) maintaining a facility used for the interment or disposal of the remains and required to maintain perpetual care or preneed trust funds in accordance with this chapter. See Virginia Code 54.1-2310
- Grave: means a below-ground right of interment. See Virginia Code 54.1-2310
- Interment: means all forms of final disposal of human remains including, but not limited to, earth burial, mausoleum entombment and niche or columbarium inurnment. See Virginia Code 54.1-2310
- Process: includes subpoenas, the summons and complaint in a civil action, and process in statutory actions. See Virginia Code 1-237
- Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.
1. The section of the cemetery property dedicated for this purpose is segregated entirely from the remainder of the cemetery devoted to the interment of human remains;
2. No uncremated pet is interred in the same grave, crypt, or niche as the remains of a human; and
3. The section of the cemetery is clearly marked and advertised as such by the cemetery company.
B. A cemetery company may have a section in the cemetery devoted to the interment of pets, provided:
1. The section of the cemetery property dedicated for this purpose is segregated entirely from the remainder of the cemetery devoted to the interment of human remains; and
2. The section of the cemetery is clearly marked and advertised as such by the cemetery company.
C. As used in the section, “pet” means the same as that term is defined in § 57-39.20.
D. The Board shall adopt such regulations as the Board deems appropriate and necessary to implement the provisions of this section. Regulations of the Board shall be in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.).