Cemetery Rules and Regulations

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Original Rules Adopted in 1928


The following set of regulations were originally adopted in 1928 and are still the governing rules. A modified version will soon be submitted to council for approval. The updated version will be posted as soon as it has been approved.

1. Experience has shown that the adoption and enforcement of the rules herein are necessary to secure peace and good order within the Cemetery, to protect the interest of the lot and grave owners and to preserve the beauty of the grounds. All persons are required to obey the rules and are requested to report any infractions of them on the part of others. Copies, corrected to date, may be obtained at any time, on application at the Park Office.

2. The Cemetery will be in charge of a Superintendent who can be consulted upon all matters of interest to lot owners.

3. The record showing lot owners and grave owners in the Riverside Cemeteries are in keeping with the most advanced ideas of Cemetery management, and all are in triplicate, to guard against the confusion that would arise in case only one set were kept and it should be destroyed. Complete and accurate information upon all matters is thus to be had at either the City office or Cemetery, an advantage that we believe will be greatly appreciated by lot owners.

4. The different divisions of the ground are divided into sections. Sections are sub-divided that lots of all sizes and shapes may be obtained. The prices are moderate, varying according to the location and size.

5. No grave will be opened on a previously sold lot, on the order of an unknown person, until he produces a deed, or shows conclusively in some manner, that he is duly authorized to place such an order.

6. Removal of bodies shall only be made at such times and seasons, as may be approved by the Superintendent, and all expense for such services must be arranged for in advance.

7. Buckets, water cans, or tools must not be left on lots or in adjoining shrubbery. Vases, bottles, shells, rock or bricks will not be permitted on graves.

8. The Parks Department will consider it a favor if any error, neglect, carelessness or incivility on the part of employees or those doing private work is promptly reported at the office.

9. Funeral designs and floral pieces will be removed as soon as they become unsightly. Employees will not attempt to find them after their removal.

10. The Superintendent may take such action as may be deemed necessary, to protect the property of lot and grave owners or that of the Cemetery from injury, to preserve peace and good order, or to prevent injury to the lots, graves, grounds and buildings.

11. Lot owners or men employed by lot owners shall have the right, with the approval of or under the supervision of the Superintendent, to cultivate flowers on any grave or lot provided the lot owner or men employed properly cares for same. When in the opinion of the Cemetery, such flowers are not properly cared for; the Cemetery may remove the same without notice. No trees, shrubs, plants or flowers growing within the lot or border shall be cut down, trimmed, destroyed or taken away without consent having first been obtained from the sexton on the Cemetery grounds.

12. If any trees or shrubs, situated in any lot, shall by means of their roots, branches or otherwise, become detrimental to the adjacent lots or avenues, or dangerous or inconvenient to passengers, or interfere with the scheme of development, the Department shall have the right to enter the said lot and remove said trees or shrubs, or such parts thereof as are detrimental, dangerous, inconvenient or interfering.

13. No grave shall be mounded over three inches in height above the grade of the lot. Graves will be graded flush with the surface of the lot except on special request, when a three-inch mound will be allowed.

14. No person other than the owner shall walk or lie down on the grass in any of the improved lots, nor walk over, sit on or pluck flowers from any grave.

15. No metallic objects may be place upon the lot except urns of bronze or iron or war veteran flag holders not more than three feet in height.

16. No burial will be made without a proper burial permit.

17. The interment of two bodies in one grave will not be allowed, except in case of mother and infant, or two children buried at the same time.

18. The use of the Chapel may be obtained at any time for services.

19. The Cemetery reserves the right to refuse the deposit in the vault of any bodies, which is in an offensive condition or during the prevalence of an epidemic.

20. Ordinary single graves may be secured in sections designed for that purpose and will receive the same general care as any other part of the Cemetery.

21. In those sections there can be no choice of location, as grave spaces will be used in regular order.

22. When a body is removed from a single grave either to a lot or from the Cemetery, the vacated space reverts back to the Cemetery and is applied on the expenses of the removal.

23. The decoration of lots or graves with boxes, toys, shells, images, wire screens, arbors, trellises, tripods and objects of similar description is prohibited as being inconsistent with modern usage and the desired appearance of the grounds.

24. Glass fruit jars or, tin cans placed on graves as flower holders will be removed.

25. No grave shall be defined by fence, railing, coping or enclosure of any description.

26. All persons are prohibited from cutting or picking flowers, and from trimming, injuring, planting or removing plants, trees, shrubs and flowers.

27. Single graves must be paid for in advance of their use, unless vouched for by the undertaker and Ok’d by the Superintendent; said undertaker agreeing to take care of same on or before the first of each month.

28. Ordinary single graves cannot be purchased to remain vacant for future use.

29. No flowers or plants shall be removed from the Cemetery without a permit from the Superintendent. The observance of this rule renders it easier to detect thefts and pilfering.

30. No interment of any body other than that of a human being will be permitted.

31. For Sanitary reasons, graves will not be reopened for inspection except for official investigation.

32. As soon as flowers, wreaths, emblems, etc., used at funerals, or placed upon graves at other times, become unsightly and faded, they will be removed and no responsibility for their protection or maintenance will be assumed. Employees will decline to attempt to find them after being removed.

33. No disinterment of a body will be made without the assent in writing of all next kin of the person whose body is to be removed.

34. Foundations are built two inches less in both width and breadth than the monument base.

35. Grave markers must be in one piece; no markers will be allowed to be set in a socket or in dowels. Markers embracing two or more graves will not be permitted.

36. The setting of all stonework is subject to the control and supervision of the Superintendent or one of his assistants and contractors must make known their business before work is commenced.

37. Contractors and workmen engaged in such work will be held responsible for any damage done. With the exception of grave markers, material for any such work will not be accepted unless accompanied by workman to erect same.

38. The right is reserved to refuse to permit stonework to be done until the ground is thoroughly settled and in good condition.

39. Rolling stones across sections shall only be done with the consent of and under the supervision of the Superintendent or one of his assistants. The turf must always be well protected by planks.

40. When monumental work of any kind has been completed, the lot and grounds must be restored to the same condition as before work was commenced; such restoration to be at the expense of the contractor.

41. Number post and corner post in single spaces must not be moved or covered by monument or curbs or any other improvements.

42. Monuments must be set inside of lot or single grave space.

43. The Cemetery gates are opened at 8 A. M. and closed at sunset.

44. No children will be permitted unless accompanied by some person who will be responsible for their conduct. They must not be allowed to romp around, climb on monumental work nor run over lots and graves.

45. Picking flowers, whether cultivated or wild, breaking or injuring any tree or shrub, marring any stone work or in any way defacing any object or structure in the Cemetery will subject the offender to severe penalty.

46. Automobiles must proceed at a moderate rate and must be kept under complete control. They must be brought to a full stop when meeting a funeral and must not pass a funeral going in the same direction.

47. Deposit rubbish, paper, dried flowers, grass, etc., in wastebaskets, which are kept at various places on the sections for such purpose.

48. No employee of the Cemetery is permitted to accept any fee, tip or gratuity.

49. It is of most importance that there should be a strict observance of all properties due the Cemetery whether embraced in these regulations or not.

50. All persons are reminded that these grounds are dedicated to the burial of the dead and that the provisions and penalties of the law will be strictly enforced in all cases of want or injury, disturbance and disregard of property.

51. Barnyard fertilizer that contains sticks, Johnson grass stems or other rough, unsightly things must not be brought into the Cemetery.

52. Grass, weeds or sod must not be piled in walks or in lots.

53. Ditches must be set inside of lot or single grave space.

54. Men that are employed to work on lots in Riverside Cemetery must be careful in the use of water that is furnished by the Department so as not to have water running in streets and drives.

55. Anyone doing work in Cemetery except lot, grave owners and regular employees must have a permit that is issued by the Superintendent of Parks and violation of these rules and regulations will revoke the permit.

56. No concrete work will be permitted unless approved by Superintendent of Parks.

Passed By City Council Jan. 30, 1928 Ordinance book page 373