<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85441</law_id><section_number>57-39.24</section_number><catch_line>Removal of restriction on land</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>57-39.21</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="57">Religious and Charitable Matters; Cemeteries</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="3">Cemeteries</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="8">Pet Cemeteries</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> After a declaration has been filed pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Duty to file declaration of land use restriction" href="/57-39.21/">57-39.21</a>, the restriction may be removed in accordance with this section by <span class="dictionary">order</span> of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> for the locality where the land is located in a proceeding brought by the <span class="dictionary">pet cemetery</span> owner or his heirs or assigns. <a id="paragraph-306082" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/57-39.24/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> may remove the restriction on the land upon proof satisfactory to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> that either of the following has occurred: <a id="paragraph-306083" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/57-39.24/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> No <span class="dictionary">interments</span> have been made in the land from which the restriction is sought to be removed; or <a id="paragraph-306084" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/57-39.24/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> If, after notice sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of a person who owns a <span class="dictionary">burial right</span> in a <span class="dictionary">pet cemetery</span>, the owner of the <span class="dictionary">pet cemetery</span> has received from such persons written authorization, acknowledged before a notary public, to remove the restriction from the land. If no response is received by the cemetery owner after thirty days from the date of the notice, consent to remove the restriction from the land shall be presumed. Any person granting this authorization who wishes to have a pet that is already interred in the <span class="dictionary">pet cemetery</span> removed and reinterred elsewhere shall so state on the authorization, and the <span class="dictionary">pet cemetery</span> owner shall provide proof of this removal and reinterment. A <span class="dictionary">pet cemetery</span> owner need not obtain the authorization described in this subdivision from a person who has purchased a <span class="dictionary">burial right</span> in the <span class="dictionary">pet cemetery</span> but who has not yet used that right for the <span class="dictionary">interment</span> of a pet, if the owner refunds to the purchaser or his heirs or assigns all moneys taken for the <span class="dictionary">burial right</span>, plus interest accrued in six-month increments, at a rate equal to the Federal Reserve Board discount rate as of January 1 of each year, beginning January 1, 1996. <a id="paragraph-306085" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/57-39.24/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A holder of a <span class="dictionary">lien</span> on the restricted land may <span class="dictionary">object</span> to the removal of the restriction, and the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall consider any such objection before issuing an <span class="dictionary">order</span> to remove the restriction. <a id="paragraph-306086" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/57-39.24/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> An <span class="dictionary">order</span> issued by the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> removing a restriction pursuant to this section shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the <span class="dictionary">circuit</span> <span class="dictionary">court</span> for the locality where the land is located. The clerk shall record the <span class="dictionary">order</span> in the deed book. <a id="paragraph-306087" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/57-39.24/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1996, c. 957.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
