RULES & REGULATIONS

ADOPTED JUNE 1, 1999

  • 1) All grave sites sold are held subject to the laws of the State of New York, the regulations of the New York State Division of Cemeteries and the rules and regulations of the Cemetery of the Highlands, Inc. No grave shall be used for purposes other than as a place of burial for the dead.
  • 2) Concrete vaults or concrete grave liners will be required for interments in all graves purchased on or after June 1, 1999, in accordance with the provisions of New York State Cemetery Board Directive 201.6.
  • 3) The interment of cremated remains will be permitted only in appropriate receptacles such as metal, plastic or concrete.
  • 4) Grave site owners shall not allow interments to be made in their grave site(s) for remuneration, nor shall any transfer or assignment of any new grave site(s), or any interest therein, be valid without the prior written consent of the Board of Trustees and such consent endorsed upon such transfer or assignment.
  • 5) No disinterment shall be allowed except by the prior written consent of the Board of Trustees and upon the written order of the owner(s) of the grave site(s). In every case, disinterment can be made only by a duly authorized representative of the cemetery Trustees or with duly authorized civil or police authorities.
  • 6) The owner(s) of each grave site(s) will have the right to erect any stone, monument, sepulchral or other memorial structure thereon. Headstones shall not exceed two feet in height above ground, unless placed upon a cut stone base, resting on a solid masonry foundation. No vault shall be built entirely or partly above ground without prior written permission of the Trustees or of a duly authorized representative of the Board of Trustees. All monuments or parts of vaults above ground shall be of marble, granite, or other cut stone. Flat grave markers, including veteran’s grave markers, must be placed on a concrete foundation so constructed that the surface of such marker will remain flush with the ground. Flat markers will be allowed above ground if they are placed on a cut stone base at least 6 inches thick. Any monuments, stones or markers installed in the cemetery in Section: O-West and any future new sections must be inscribed with the section, plot/row, and grave number in the bottom right hand corner on the back of said monument, stone or marker.
  • 7) The cemetery reserves, and shall have the right to correct any errors that may be made by it either in making interments, disinterment’s or removals, or in the inscriptions, transfer, or conveyance and may substitute and convey in lieu thereof other interment rights of equal value and similar locations as far as possible, or as may be selected by the cemetery or, in the sole discretion of the cemetery, by refunding the amount of money paid on account of said purchase. In the event such error shall involve the interment of the remains of any person in such property, the cemetery reserves and shall have the right to remove and transfer such remains so interred to such other property of equal value and similar location as may be substituted and conveyed in lieu thereof. The cemetery shall also have the right to correct any errors made by placing an improper description, including an incorrect name and date, either on the memorial or on the container for cremated remains.
  • 8) All trees or shrubs in the cemetery, the roots or branches of which go into or interfere with the use and quiet enjoyment of one or more grave sites shall be removed by the Board of Trustees or a duly authorized representative thereof, who have the right to enter upon the grave site(s) affected and remove such trees or shrubs or any part thereof as determined to be damaging to one or more grave sites or interferes with the maintenance or use of other grave sites, after due notice to the lot owner.
  • 9) All stones, monuments, sepulchral, mausoleums, statues or any other above ground fixed memorial, or descriptions to be placed in or upon any grave site(s), shall be clearly spiritual and reverent and conform generally to the existing memorials in the cemetery. The Board of Trustees shall have the absolute right to remove any inscription which in the opinion of the Board is not reverent, spiritual, or is offensive in any way to the owner(s) of grave site(s) in the cemetery, their families, friends and other visitors.
  • 10) No sign indicating that any grave site, vault or other receptacle for the dead is for sale will be permitted in the cemetery.
  • 11) The Trustees from time to time may lie out or alter the avenues or walks and make such rules and regulations for the care of the grounds as they may deem requisite and proper, to secure and promote the general welfare of the cemetery.
  • 12) The owner(s) of grave site(s) and their families will be allowed access to the grounds only during hours of daylight. Persons found within the cemetery grounds during hours of darkness will be arrested and prosecuted as trespassers. This rule is prompted by vandalism in the cemetery.
  • 13) No trees or shrubs may be planted by the plot owner. Planting of flowers will be allowed along the base of a monument in a cut out bed not to exceed 10 inches from the base of the stone. Artificial flowers or floral pieces are not encouraged. Chairs, benches, copings or enclosures of any kind, and glass vases or jars of any sort, are not allowed and will be confiscated by the cemetery without notice. Seasonal decorations are permitted but shall be removed by the grave site owners within 60 days thereafter or sooner if the Board of Trustees deems them to be unsightly. Should grave site owners fail to do so; the cemetery will remove the decorations and bill the owners of the grave sites for the cost of such removal.
  • 14) All foundations for markers and monuments shall be built by qualified persons designated by the Board of Trustees, at the expense of the owner(s) of the grave site(s).
  • 15) The right to burial in any grave site will be denied for the following reasons:
    • - Failure to pay for such grave site(s) in full.
    • - Failure to pay grave opening fees.
  • 16) No monument or grave marker will be permitted on a grave site(s), where the purchase price of such grave site(s) has not been fully paid. The Trustees will permit the monument or marker to be erected only after the purchase price of such grave site(s) has been paid in full.
  • 17) When a monument, stone or marker has been placed on a grave site, should the monument, stone or marker have to be moved in order for a burial to be made, the owner of the grave site shall assume all liability for any damage done to such monument, stone or marker. The Board of Trustees will make every reasonable effort to obtain the services of qualified persons and urge that they use due care in moving such monument, stone or marker, but the Trustees assume no responsibility for any damage done by the removing and resetting of such monument, stone or marker.
  • 18) Stones, markers or monuments of any kind, size or description, bearing a monument dealers logo, decal or inscription of any kind or nature, are absolutely prohibited in the cemetery.
  • 19) Pets of any kind are strictly prohibited on cemetery grounds at any time.