Cemetery Rules & Regulations

The Wappingers Rural Cemetery Board of Trustees expects all lot owners to adhere to the following rules and regulations.  Violators are subject to removal of items and/or persons when applicable.

​

1. THE CEMETERY belongs to the lot owners, who are entitled to a voice in its management and control.  It is a non-profit enterprise, organized to provide a resting place for the dead.  Its lands are exempt from any taxation.  It cannot be sold upon execution for debt against the lot owners.​

2. A LOT OWNERS' meeting is held once per calendar year.  A notice as to where and when will appear in the Southern Dutchess News and on this website.  The purpose of the meeting is for the election of Officers and Trustees.

3. A PORTION of the purchase price of plots will be deposited in the Permanent Maintenance as required by the Cemetery Law of the State of New York.

4. NO INTERMENT shall be permitted in any lot until all charges due to the Cemetery for labor, services, materials, and/or annual care shall have been paid.  No foundations for monuments and markers shall be done until back charges due to the Cemetery are paid.

5. DIAGRAM cards will be kept at the office of the Association which will accurately show the dimensions of each plot, and the precise location of each grave therein.

6. IF ANY monument, stone, shrub, tree, ornament, or inscription in or upon any lot or grave shall be determined by the Board of Trustees to be offensive or improper, the Board of Trustees shall have the right to remove such offensive object(s).

7. THE PLANTING for rural adornment will be kept strictly under control of the Association.  No trees, shrubs, or ornaments shall be placed on plots without consent of the Board of Trustees.

8. ALL PERSONS are prohibited from picking any flower, leaf, or plant (either wild or cultivated), or mutilating any tree, shrub, or plant.

9. WHERE potted plants are permitted, they will be allowed to remain only so long as they are in good condition an do not interfere with any regular maintenance work.

10. ALL PERSONS are prohibited from writing upon, scratching, defacing, or injuring any monument, fence, or other structure in or belonging to the Cemetery.

11. ALL WORK done on the grounds shall be subject to the control and direction of the Superintendent of the Cemetery.  All monuments and structures shall be subject to the approval as to suitability and location by the Trustees.

12. THE SPEED LIMIT for automobiles shall be fifteen (15) miles per hour.

13. THE OFFICERS of the cemetery shall cause the removal of all persons who violate the Rules of the Cemetery.

14. THE CEMETERY COOPERATION will not be responsible to lot owners for a loss by theft, damage, vandalism, or otherwise. A homeowners' Insurance Policy covers such loss or damage.

15. UPON SELECTION of a niche in a Columbarium of the Wappingers Falls Cemetery, Inc., the purchaser will be given a copy of the agreement of Purchase designating the location of the niche purchased.  The purchase cost is listed on the Cemetery Price List.

16. FULL payment for columbarium niches must be made prior to placing remains in the Columbarium.  Upon completion of payment, each purchaser will receive a Certificate of Ownership.

17. THE COST of lettering on the front of the niche is listed on the Cemetery Price List. It shall include the family name, one (1) or two (2) given names, and year of birth and of death with a religious symbol between the dates.  This must be done with the approval of the Board of Trustees in conjunction with the monument dealer selected by the Board of Trustees.

18. Inurnments must be made by employees of Wappingers Falls Cemetery, Inc. and require an urn be made of rigid material (wood, plastic, metal, or marble).  The urn shall not exceed eleven (11) inches in height and eleven (11) inches in width.  The cost of inurnment is listed on the Cemetery Price List.  Only two (2) cremains may be placed in the niche.

19. POTTED flowers may be placed at the base of the Columbarium.  They will removed when Cemetery staff deems appropriate (see clause #9 above).

20. ANYONE wishing to purchase space for additional inscriptions may do so.  These inscriptions will be placed on either the front, back, or ends of benches that are around the Columbarium.  The cost of the space is listed on the Cemetery Price List.  In addition to the space, the cost of the inscription will be assessed and must be approved by the Board of Trustees.

21. PET burials are prohibited.

22. ITEMS that are prohibited on lots or niches are as follows:

    • Plant Urns​

    • Artificial & Silk Flowers

    • Candles

    • Statues or Ornaments

    • Toys

    • Paving Materials

    • Fencing

    • Glass Containers

    • Balloons

    • Pinwheels

    • Any items attached to monuments

    • Embellishments of any kind

    • Benches or other furniture

23. PROHIBITED items will be removed immediately and without notice to the owner.

24. THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS may be changed or amended by the Board of Trustees at any time with the approval of the New York State Board or Department having supervision thereof.

​

Any questions regarding the rules and regulations should be directed to the Board of Trustees.