Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-510 — Burial or cremation of animals or fowls which have died
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 3: Miscellaneous Offenses in General, Code of Virginia.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-510
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.
When the owner of any animal or grown fowl which has died knows of such death, such owner shall forthwith have its body cremated or buried or request such service from an officer or other person designated for the purpose. If the owner fails to do so, any judge of a general district court, after notice to the owner if he can be ascertained, shall cause any such dead animal or fowl to be cremated or buried by an officer or other person designated for the purpose. Such officer or other person shall be entitled to recover of the owner of every such animal or fowl that is cremated or buried the actual cost of the cremation or burial and a reasonable fee to be recovered in the same manner as officers' fees are recovered, free from all exemptions in favor of such owner. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.
Nothing in this section shall be deemed to require the burial or cremation of the whole or portions of any animal or fowl which is to be used for food or in any commercial manner.
This section shall not apply to any county until the governing body thereof shall adopt the same.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is burial or cremation of animals or fowls which have died a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
Burial or cremation of animals or fowls which have died is a class 4 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-510.
Which Virginia statute covers burial or cremation of animals or fowls which have died?
Burial or cremation of animals or fowls which have died is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-510 (Burial or cremation of animals or fowls which have died).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.