Title 16 — ConservationRelease 119-73not60
§81h Civil and Criminal Jurisdiction; Legislative Authority of State Over Park
Title 16 › Chapter 1— NATIONAL PARKS, MILITARY PARKS, MONUMENTS, AND SEASHORES › Subchapter IX— COLONIAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK › § 81h
Summary
Virginia and its local governments keep their power to handle crimes and civil matters inside the national park. The park will not take away residents’ citizenship rights or reduce Virginia’s law-making power over park areas unless the State agrees. Rules under section 81g and the cited Act do not apply to public property in Williamsburg, except U.S. government property.
Full Legal Text
Title 16, §81h
Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Nothing in this subchapter shall be held to deprive the State of Virginia, or any political subdivision thereof, of its civil and criminal jurisdiction in and over the areas included in said national park, nor shall this subchapter in any way impair or affect the rights of citizenship of any resident therein; and save and except as the consent of the State of Virginia may be hereafter given, the legislative authority of said State in and over all areas included within said national park shall not be diminished or affected by the creation of said national park, nor by the terms and provisions of this subchapter: Provided, That any rules and regulations authorized in section 81g of this title, and in the Act therein referred to,11 See References in Text note below. shall not apply to any property of a public nature in the city of Williamsburg, other than property of the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Act referred to in section 81g of this title, referred to in text, is act Aug. 25, 1916, ch. 408, 39 Stat. 535, known as the National Park Service Organic Act. See
References in Text
note set out under section 81g of this title. Codification Section was formerly classified to section 443e of this title.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Act June 5, 1936, changed “Colonial National Monument” to “Colonial National Historical Park”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
16 U.S.C. § 81h
Title 16 — Conservation
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60