Rules & Regulations
 

OUR RULES AND GUIDELINES

In order to protect and maintain the natural beauty, historic architecture and peaceful surroundings of Columbia Gardens Cemetery, we ask that all lot owners and visitors abide by these Rules & Guidelines. For a copy of our detailed list of Regulations, please visit our office during normal business hours.

Please click on a subject below to view our expanded rules.

Anyone in the Cemetery jogging, biking or walking during normal business hours must avoid areas where interment services are either in progress or about to begin.

Pets are not permitted in the Cemetery.

No alcohol or illegal drugs are permitted on the Cemetery grounds.

Vehicles shall be restricted to the roads and parking areas. Motorized non-licensed vehicles are not permitted in the cemetery.

While visiting the Cemetery, visitors should secure personal items at all times. The Cemetery shall take reasonable precaution to protect Owners, and the property rights of Owners, within the Cemetery, from loss or damage, but the Cemetery shall not be liable for damage or injury to any person or property in the Cemetery whether the damage be direct or collateral.

Discarding trash on any part of the grounds or in the building is unsightly. Please place trash in proper receptacles.

Unsightly arrangements, vases, photographs, plaques or any manufactured items of manmade or natural materials, left on Graves, Crypts, Niches or on the Cemetery property will be removed without notice at the discretion of the Cemetery.

The Cemetery reserves the right to request proper identification from anyone.

In order that the improvements and appearance of the Cemetery be kept in conformance with its purpose and philosophy, the Cemetery reserves and shall have the right to regulate the kind, size, design, quality and material of all Grave Markers, other Memorials and Foundations which are placed in the Cemetery.

Only one Upright Monument may be placed on any one or multiple Grave(s).

Memorials for Graves must be made of granite or bronze. Memorials may contain the name, dates of birth and death of the Deceased and appropriate inscriptions.

The Cemetery shall designate specific areas where flush memorials and upright memorials may be placed.

Specifications for Memorials and Foundations are available in our office. All Memorials and Foundations placed in the Cemetery must be in accordance with the specifications of the Cemetery then in effect. Certain portions of the Cemetery have been restricted to designated types of Memorials. Information concerning these Memorials, restrictions, or other embellishments is available from the Cemetery.

Flush Markers
All granite markers or bronze markers mounted on granite will be placed flush to the natural grade at the foot of the grave. For size requirements, please check with the Columbia Gardens Cemetery office in advance.

Companion Markers
For two side-by-side graves, the minimum size is 36 inches x 13 inches x 4 inches with the marker being centered between the two sites at the foot of the graves.

Upright Monuments
Upright monuments for a single grave may have a base no less than eighteen inches or greater than 36 inches in length (right to left).

Upright monuments for side-by-side graves may have a base no greater than 5 feet in length (right to left).

Foundations are required for all upright monuments and must be inspected by the cemetery.

Benches
Benches are allowed only in pre-approved locations and must be either granite, bronze or a combination of both. Size specifications for each site are available from the Columbia Gardens Cemetery office. Foundations are required for each bench and must be inspected by the cemetery.

Approvals of Monuments and Flush Markers
Monument and flush marker designs must be approved by Columbia Gardens Cemetery before installation. Monuments must be either granite, bronze or a combination of both. The type, material and style of Memorials will be subject to the specific requirement of each Cemetery Lot.

For Family Burial Estates, larger memorials may be approved by the Cemetery.

The name and inscription on each Memorial must correspond with the legal name of the Deceased Interred in that Grave(s) or only Memorialized on that Grave in cases where there is no Interment.

On lots where the monument privilege is on one side, inscriptions may only be placed on the side of the monument facing the interment rights of the person(s) being memorialized.

The family name may be incised on only one side of the Memorial over the graves of the Owner of the interment rights. The name of each individual will be inscribed only over the Grave, on panels, designated for the individual Buried or to be Buried in that site.

Memorials may be installed only on the Grave(s) or Lot(s) owned by the Deceased or family of the Deceased.

No Memorial shall be placed on or removed from the Cemetery without the prior written authorization of the Cemetery, and of both the Owner of the particular Lot and the Deceased’s next-of-kin, or their respective authorized representative(s).

In the event a Memorial, Foundation or other object is placed or constructed in the Cemetery without the prior authorization of the Cemetery and other appropriate persons as provided herein, the Cemetery reserves and shall have the right, at the Owner’s expense, to remove any unauthorized Memorial or other object.

If any Memorial, structure, or any inscription to be placed on same, or any embellishment whatsoever, shall be determined by the Cemetery, upon inspection, to be offensive or improper, the Cemetery reserves and shall have the right to (a) refuse to authorize the placement of such Memorial or object; or (b) if already in place, the Cemetery shall have the right, at the Owner’s expense, to remove, change or correct any such offensive or improper Memorial, object or inscription.

The Cemetery reserves, and shall have the right, to inspect the completed installation of any Memorial or Foundation performed by Contractor(s) and determine that the installation was performed completely and in accordance with the specifications and installation requirements of the Cemetery.

All charges and fees for Interment Rights, Memorials, Endowment Care, Memorial installation, inspection fee and other applicable charges and fees must be paid in full before any Memorial or Foundation may be placed on any Lot or grave within the Cemetery.

The Cemetery will not maintain Memorials and is not responsible for wear and tear, damage, deterioration or weathering. The Cemetery is not responsible for foundations it did not install. Should a monument or memorial set on a foundation not installed by the Cemetery, it will be the installer’s responsibility to correct the installation. Should any Memorial become unsightly, dilapidated or a nuisance, the Cemetery shall have the right, at its option, to repair, remove, or replace the Memorial.

The Cemetery shall not be responsible for any defects in material or workmanship, errors or omissions relating to Memorials or Foundations purchased from and/or installed by persons or entities other than the Cemetery.

The Cemetery shall have the sole discretion as to all matters regarding landscaping and plantings, including landscaping plan and care, pruning, revegetation of Graves, and removal of vegetation. Any unauthorized plantings will be removed.

Floral Displays from a funeral are permitted to be left behind after the Interment service at the Cemetery. The Cemetery reserves the right to remove all unsightly flowers, wreaths, or other natural decorations without notice.

Artificial flowers or arrangements, vases, flags, photographs or manufactured items shall be allowed on graves only one week before and one week after certain Holidays.

Artificial flowers are permitted from Thanksgiving to March 15th. Fresh flowers are permitted at all times. We reserve the right to remove flowers and plants for maintenance purposes.