Cemeteries on private property; registration by localities.

This legislation requires localities in Virginia to establish and maintain a registry of cemeteries located on private property within their jurisdictions. Under the new requirements, property owners who discover a previously unknown cemetery on their land must report it to the local government, which will then formally record the site. The primary intent of this bill is to preserve historical burial sites from inadvertent destruction during land development or construction projects. By creating a standardized system for mapping and protecting these locations, the law ensures that cemeteries are identified and respected. For Arlington residents, this move provides a clearer framework for land use and historic preservation, ensuring that local heritage remains protected even as private property changes hands or undergoes renovation.