Brunswick County Moves to Protect Overlooked Burial Sites as Growth Reshapes the Landscape

New ordinance establishes county safeguards for cemeteries while additional land-use protections remain under consideration

By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC — Across Brunswick County, some burial grounds sit behind churches and beside rural roads. Others are hidden by trees, tucked within large tracts of land, or known only to descendants and longtime residents.

As development continues to transform portions of the county, local officials have adopted a cemetery protection ordinance aimed at helping ensure those sites are not disturbed or forgotten during future land-clearing and construction activities.

The ordinance represents a formal step toward protecting places that often receive little public attention but remain important to the county’s history and heritage.

While many cemeteries are clearly marked and maintained, smaller family plots and historic burial locations can be less visible, particularly on undeveloped land.

The county’s action follows a broader discussion about how burial sites should be identified, documented, and preserved as population growth brings new residential and commercial projects to the area.

Earlier this year, county leaders approved the creation of a cemetery committee focused on cemetery-related issues and preservation efforts.

County leaders have also discussed additional development standards that could provide further protection for cemetery properties in the future. Concepts publicly considered have included buffer requirements around cemeteries, restrictions on certain activities near burial sites, and clearer identification of protected areas during development planning.

Those discussions are expected to continue through the county’s land-use and development review processes. The adopted ordinance addresses cemetery protection directly, while future zoning or Unified Development Ordinance updates could add another layer of safeguards if county officials choose to pursue them.

For many residents, the issue extends beyond regulation. Historic cemeteries often serve as a connection to families, communities, and generations that helped shape Brunswick County long before today’s growth arrived.

Preserving those sites can also help protect local historical records and provide future generations with a tangible link to the county’s past.

With the ordinance now in place, Brunswick County has established its first countywide policy specifically focused on cemetery protection while continuing to evaluate whether additional development standards are needed in the years ahead.

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