Hillcrest Cemetery Rules

These regulations are designed to protect the interests of both user and the Town. Adherence to these rules and policies will be maintained for the general good in preserving the desirability and beauty of the present and future Hillcrest Cemetery. These rules may be changed by agreement of the Town Council as it is deemed necessary.

All improvements of any kind in the cemetery are under the control of the Town of Louisa and any type of work including, but not limited to: plantings, landscape care or columbarium work requires Town approval.

Pricing for all cemetery sales are approved annually by Town Council and are subject to change. Chapter 60 of the Town of Louisa code (Cemeteries) outlines all regulations. Below are additional rules and requirements of the cemetery:

• No trespassing after dark.
• No planting trees, flowers, or other growing vegetation.
• A permit is required prior to any burial or cremain interment in-ground or in the columbarium, and for tombstone/marker installation. Town staff must be notified 72 hours prior to interment to approve, open, and close.
• Interment is to be performed only by approved and bonded companies or individuals.
  • Approved is defined as: providing Town Management with qualifications and
    experience to perform interment.
  • Bonded is defined as: providing certificate of insurance in a minimum amount of
    $5,000 for damages caused during interment process.
  • 2 cremains (urns) per space allowed or 1 traditional burial and 1 cremain (urn) per
    space allowed.

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Columbarium

• Urn requirements:
  • Only 2 urns allowed in niche.
  • Cremains box sizes may vary; contact staff for approval of box size.
• Niches or cremation sites are for the sole use of human cremated remains. Other uses of cremation space is prohibited.
• “Sprinkling” or “scattering” of cremains on the cemetery grounds is prohibited.
• The columbarium is considered a burial marker and all placement of items on or near the site shall follow guidelines established in chapter 60 of Town code.
• Niches shall only be engraved by the approved contracted agent of the Town. No outside contractors are permitted.
• The Town will maintain the columbarium garden; no items shall be placed or planted in this area.

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Chapter 60. Cemeteries

§60-23. Removal of Flowers, Wreathes, Etc.
At such time as flowers, wreathes, emblems, etc., used at funerals or placed upon or on lots, grave sites or tombstones or markers, at other times, become unsightly and/or faded, as determined by the Town, and in no event, later than 30 days after the placement of the same upon or on said lots, grave sites, tombstones or markers, the same shall be removed. The Town assumes no responsibility for the protection or maintenance of such items placed upon or on said lots, grave sites, tombstones or markers. The Town reserves the right to remove at any time glass jars, tin cans, or any other item deemed unsightly by the Town from any lot, grave site, tombstone or marker.

§60-24. Damage to Lots or Structures.
The Town shall not be financially responsible or otherwise responsible for any damage to any cemetery lot, grave site, tombstone or marker, except where said damage is due to the intentional act or gross negligence of a Town employee. Further, the Town shall have no responsibility whatsoever, financial or otherwise, for damage to any objects or articles, including flowers, placed on any lot, grave site, tombstone or marker, nor for flowers or articles removed from any such lot, grave site, tombstone or marker, any person placing the same upon any such lot, grave site, tombstone or marker assuming any risk for damage to or loss thereof.

§60-25. Restrictions on Placement of Items on Lots.
The placement upon lots, grave sites, tombstones or markers, of any boxes, shells, toys, metal designs, ornaments, chairs, settees, vases, glass jars, tins or iron or earthenware jars or jugs and similar articles, is not permitted.

§60-26. Provisions Relating to Sale and Conveyance of Lots.
The following provisions shall apply to the sale of lots within the cemeteries and deeds of conveyance thereto:

A. All deeds of conveyance of Cemetery Lots from the Town, purchased from the Town, on or after the effective date of this ordinance, and subsequent deeds of conveyance of the lots herein described, shall contain the following provision:

NO TRANSFER OF BURIAL RIGHTS WHETHER BY WILL OR BY INTESTACY SHALL BE

EFFECTIVE UNTIL NOTED ON THE CEMETERY RECORDS AT THE TOWN OFFICE OF

THE TOWN OF LOUISA.

B. For any lot sold, transferred or conveyed by the Town after the effective date of this ordinance, the deed of conveyance to said lot shall reserve to the Town a right of first refusal to repurchase the lot, if the owner thereof determines to sell the same, at the same purchase price as said owner paid the Town, or the Town’s then current selling price for lots, whichever shall be greater. No deed of conveyance, or other instrument of conveyance, of any such lot by any owner shall be deemed effective to transfer ownership of said lot, unless and until the Town shall execute said deed waiving its right of first refusal therein reserved.

C. The provisions contained in this section shall not apply to lots standing in the name of owners, other than the Town, on the effective date of this ordinance, except where the Town should reacquire title to any such lot(s).

§60-27. Conformance of Workers to Specifications in the Construction of Vaults, Etc.
All workers employed by any party in the construction of vaults, erection of monuments, landmarks or any other works shall perform the work according to approved specifications, or as may be directed, by the Town. Any worker failing to conform to the applicable sections of this chapter in performing any such construction shall not be permitted thereafter to work in the cemeteries.

§60-28. Violations and penalties.
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, any person, firm or corporation committing an offense against any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable as provided in §1-12, General Penalty, of the Code of the Town of Louisa.