Registration and Protection of Historic Cemeteries

Regulation Authority:

Title 23 Chapter 18-11.2 of the General Laws of Rhode Island

Purpose and Reason:

This regulation will establish standards for cities and towns to register and regulate historic cemeteries in the absence of a local ordinance. As a result of comments received, the following changes were made that were not originally part of the proposed text. Section 5(d) now describes the process for the local building official to issue a permit to allow excavation or construction within twenty-five (25) feet of a historic cemetery when the boundaries of the cemetery are adequately documented and there is no reason to believe additional graves exist outside the recorded cemetery, and the proposed construction or excavation activity will not damage or destructively alter the historic cemetery. Section 5(e), 5(f), and 5(g) now describe the process for the city or town council to allow the alteration or removal of a historic cemetery or excavation or construction within twenty-five (25) feet of a historic cemetery.