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Council gives first reading to Arlington Cemetery ordinance; staff aims to sell burial rights this fall
Summary
City staff presented the first reading of a new Arlington Cemetery ordinance that, following changes in state law, would let the city convey burial rights for roughly 1,100 unoccupied plots; staff plans implementation steps to make burial rights available in October.
The Arlington City Council on June 10 heard the first reading of a proposed Arlington Cemetery ordinance that would create a new chapter in the city code governing cemetery operations, interments and sale of burial rights.
Sarah Stubblefield, strategic initiatives manager, told the council the cemetery, located at Mitchell and Mary Street, was donated to the city in 1883 and deeded to the city in 1995. She said changes in state law allow the city to move forward with sale of burial rights. "With the approval of House Bill 2371 by the 88th Texas Legislature in 2023, staff began the process of preparing records and site assessment," Stubblefield said.
Stubblefield described records work and a ground‑penetrating radar assessment conducted in June 2024 and said staff identified about 1,100 unoccupied plots that could be made available for sale. The proposed ordinance includes sections on operations, oversight, maintenance, interments, sale and conveyance of plots, fees and related procedures.
If the ordinance is adopted in subsequent readings, Stubblefield told the council staff would continue implementation actions this summer to make burial rights available to the public in October. Those items include completing an abandonment and appeals process, procuring a cemetery operator and building internal records management systems.
Councilmember Bridal moved to approve the first reading; Councilmember Pham seconded the motion and the council advanced the ordinance to the next reading. Staff did not request immediate sale authority on June 10; rather the first reading initiates the ordinance process and an implementation timetable.
