CEMETERY RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

ARTICLE 1. All lots in the town cemeteries either to be deeded or assign­ed shall be given by the Cemetery Commissioners or the Cemetery Superintendent, and signed by either of them and the price to be regulated by the said Commissioners.

 

ARTICLE2. The Commissioners or Cemetery Superintendent shall establish the grade of all lots and avenues, and shall direct generally all improvements within the grounds upon said lots, before as well as after interments; have been made, and no lot shall be filled or raised above the established grade, The Commissioners or Cemetery Superintendent shall have charge of plan­ting, sodding, surveying and improvements generally.

 

ARTICLE3. The Commissioners or Cemetery Superintendent reserve the right to exclude or remove from any lot any headstone, monument or other structure, trees, plants, or other object, which they shall consider injurious. No trees growing within any lot shall be removed or trimmed without the consent of the Commissioners or the Cemetery Superintendent.

 

ARTICLE 4. The land markers or corner stones indicating the boundaries of the lots shall be level with the surface of the ground, and the same shall not be altered or removed.

 

ARTICLE 5. When an interment is required, notice must be given to the Commissioners or Cemetery Superintendent at least 24 hours before inter­ment for opening the grave accompanied with a burial permit from the Board of Health or their agent, as required by law.

 

ARTICLE 6. Whenever a lot shall become vacant by the removal of the bodies thereon, the land shall revert back to the Town. The lots are not transferable without the consent in writing of the Commissioners.

 

ARTICLE7. No charges will be made for opening or closing the receiving tomb. All bodies must be removed from the same by May first of the same year, unless special permit of the Commissioners is attained in writing.

 

ARTICLE 8. All charges for services rendered by the Cemetery Depart­ment at the Cemetery including overtime for weekends and holidays, use of the lowering device and greens, opening for graves, construction of foundations for monuments, shall be regulated by the Commissioners.

 

ARTICLE 9. All granite or marble work must rest upon concrete founda­tions laid below ground with the depth of four feet and satisfactory to the Commissioners or Cemetery Superintendent. No work will be allowed to be set in the Spring until the ground has fully settled and is in the proper condi­tion to receive the necessary work.

 

ARTICLE 10. No tomb shall be constructed except in such parts of the grounds as shall be designated by the Commissioners or Cemetery Superintendent for that purpose, and no proprietor shall suffer the remains of any person to be deposited in a tomb so authorized for hire.

 

ARTICLE11. All persons are forbidden from gathering any flowers, either wild or cultivated, breaking any tree, shrub or plant, writing upon, defacing or injuring any monument, fence or structure or walking upon any of the lots or borders and discharging firearms in the cemeteries.

 

ARTICLE 12. Monuments may be erected subject to the approval of the Commissioners or the Cemetery Superintendent. No objectionable design will be allowed. The Commissioners or Cemetery Superintendent shall decide what monuments are objectionable.

 

ARTICLE 13. All building of foundations must be done by a monument company or authorized party with the approval of the Commissioners or Cemetery Superintendent.

 

ARTICLE 14. All graves must be five feet deep, with a concrete vault, or a vault that is approved by the Commissioners or Cemetery Superintendent.

 

ARTICLE 15. All lots sold in the Provincetown Cemeteries must be sold with perpetual care in addition to the price of the lot.

 

ARTICLE 16. Cement vases, urn boxes, or containers of any kind for grow­ing plants will not be allowed. Metal holders for cut flowers will be permitted with the approval of the Commissioners or Cemetery Superintendent.

 

ARTICLE17. The Cemetery Department is not responsible for any flowers or other decorations placed on the graves.

 

ARTICLE 18. Potted plants, baskets and flowers will be removed after Mothers Day and Memorial Day from five to ten days or as soon as the Cemetery Department or Commissioners deem necessary. Christmas wreaths, potted plants, etc. will be removed March 15th of the following year.

 

ARTICLE 19. All vehicles making use of the Town cemeteries are subject to local, state and federal motor vehicle laws. Any vehicle, motorized or non­motorized, including bicycles and mopeds, as well as any person carrying disposable food or beverage items and any unleashed dog will not be allow­ed on Town cemeteries.

 

ARTICLE 20. No interments will be made on New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day.

 

ARTICLE 21. The Cemetery Superintendent will be in full charge of funerals after they enter the Cemetery grounds.

 

ARTICLE 22. Cemetery Staff workers should be responsive in dress, behavior, and actions to the specific burial they oversee. This may be en­forced by Cemetery Superintendent and/or Cemetery Commissioners.

 

INTERMENTS

 

1. Lots and graves are sold to residents or former residents of Provincetown and are only transferable to their heirs by legal authorization and are sub­ject to approval by the Cemetery Commissioners and governing bodies of said Town.

 

2. Vault covers are to be placed in position by vault company employees only, unless otherwise authorized by the Cemetery Superintendent or Commissioners.

 

3. Working hours for cemetery employees are eight hours per day, Mon­day through Friday.

 

4. Checks are to be made payable to the "Town of Provincetown Cemetery Department."

 

5. These rules, regulations, prices and interment rights are made by the Cemetery Commissioners and are subject to change by publicizing notice.

 

6. Hearings will be held whenever proposals for changes are to be made.

 

 

Definition of Resident:

A resident is defined as any person who has been included in the most recent Provincetown Annual Census.  The Cemetery Commission therefore requires proof, in writing, of an individual’s residency in Provincetown of not less than one (1) year, in order to meet this definition.