Rules & Regulations

The mission of Oakland Cemetery is to provide a dignified resting place for the deceased as well as a place of beauty and contemplation for the living.

  1. 1. All lots and graves in Oakland Cemetery are sold in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the State of New York and shall not be used for any purpose other than as a burial place for dead human beings.
  2. 2. Oakland Cemetery must receive notification 48 hours prior to any planned internment.
    • The lot owner or family member may be required to sign a burial authorization.
    • The full purchase price must be paid before burial will be allowed.
  3. 3. Lot owners are prohibited from allowing interments to be made in their lot or grave for compensation.
  4. 4. Interments in a lot or grave are restricted to those entitled to burial therein according to the terms of Section 1512 of the Not-For-Profit-Corporation Law of the State of New York.
    • Permission for burial of those not entitled to burial according to said Section must be filed with the Oakland Cemetery by the lot or grave owner prior to burial.
  5. 5. Except as provided for in Section 1513(c) of the Not-For-Profit law, no lot owner may transfer his or her lot or grave.
  6. 6. Subject to the provisions of the New York State Cemetery Board Directive 201.6 Oakland Cemetery now requires the use of an outer container in the form of a concrete grave liner or concrete burial vault at the time of interment in a new grave or lot or an existing grave or lot purchased after January 1, 1985 in which there are no previous burials.
  7. 7. Burials in graves or lots in which there is an existing interment without a liner or vault will be exempt from the requirement. Also exempt are interments of stillborn babies, infants and children 5'-0 maximum length caskets.
  8. 8. MUST READ THIS SECTION - Objects to commemorate the deceased must be limited in number and size on grave sites to accommodate all mourners and family sensitivities.
    • Any item of a personal nature that is placed loosely on the grave site is placed there at the owner's risk.
    • Oakland Cemetery assumes no responsibility for such items. However, if these items prevent cemetery
    • personnel from the proper maintenance and upkeep of the graves, they will be removed.
    • Two small objects less than 12 inches in height and within 8 inches of the headstone may be placed.
    • These could include cut flowers, artificial flowers, wreaths, pictures, small flags (9in x 12in max) or one
    • solar light.
    • Glass vases, glass containers or candle holders, balloons, toys and statues are not permitted in any
    • section of the cemetery.
    • Objects exceeding the limitations above as to size and placement will be removed in order to safely and
    • tastefully maintain the grounds for all visitors.
    • Holiday decorations will be removed after four (4) weeks. Flowers, wreaths, artificial flowers and other
    • decorations that become unsightly on the grounds will be removed.
    • Plantings will only be allowed on lots larger than 54 square feet.
    • All plantings are limited to bushes or shrubs which require prior approval with the lot owner and the
    • cemetery. No trees are permitted.
    • Plantings must be within 12 inches of the headstone and must be kept no higher than 3 feet.
    • Plants or plant roots that interfere with adjacent graves or headstones will be removed by the cemetery
    • staff.
    • No enclosure wall or iron railing may be erected without permission of the cemetery.
    • All fences or borders and stones or bricks are prohibited and will be removed.
  9. 9. Funerals must be at the cemetery by 2:30 PM Monday through Friday. Saturday burial: There is a fee for a Saturday burial. Any funeral still at the grave site after 12 noon will be charged an additional hourly overtime fee, to be paid by the owner of the grave or the person who authorized the burial. If the burial is in a new grave no deed will be issued until full payment is received by Oakland Cemetery. All funeral processions and vehicles will be under the control of the superintendent while in the cemetery.
  10. 10. No vault or mausoleum shall be built above ground without prior permission of the Cemetery and then only in such location as they may approve. No mausoleum will be approved for construction unless a sufficient endowment is set up to provide adequate income to maintain the structure.
  11. 11. All memorials must be of granite or bronze.
  12. 12. Handmade or non-professional monuments are not permitted.
  13. 13. All memorials must be approved by Oakland Cemetery prior to installation and all foundations will be installed by the cemetery based on weather conditions. Memorials are restricted as to size and type for each section of the property.
    • Contact the office for size and type restrictions.
  14. 14. Temporary metal markers purchased from the cemetery may not be expected to permanently identify a grave. These markers will be removed upon installation of a foundation or after six months.
  15. 15. Permission to deliver a monument into the cemetery will be denied until the foundation is installed and ready to receive the monument.
  16. 16. Disinterment will be allowed per the provisions of Section 1510(e) of the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York.
  17. Cremated remains will not be permitted to be scattered in any part of the cemetery.
  18. The interment of cremated remains will be permitted only in appropriate rigid receptacles such as wood, marble or metal. Up to 2 sets of cremains may be buried in a grave where a casket is buried.
  19. 17. No flower, picture or other object may be placed upon the front door of a columbarium niche unless provided and installed by Oakland Cemetery.
  20. 18. Internments on Sundays and Holidays will be governed by Cemetery Board Directives 201.8 and 201.12.
  21. 19. Grave and Lot owners shall be allowed access to the grounds every day, including Saturday, Sunday and Holidays during the hours posted at the entrance gate.
  22. 20. All lot and grave owners are required to notify the cemetery of any change of address. All notices necessary shall be sent to the last recorded address and such notice shall be deemed adequate and sufficient.
  23. 21. These Rules and Regulations may be amended by the Directors of Oakland Cemetery but no such amendment shall be effective until approved by the New York State Cemetery Board.
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