Old Lyme Cemetery Association Rules & Regulations
Updated March 15, 2023
The Old Lyme Cemetery Association oversees eight burial places in the town. The cemeteries are open daily from 7:30 am to dusk and welcome visitors for walks and quiet contemplation. The Rules & Regulations maintain an atmosphere of serenity and decorum in Old Lyme’s cemeteries and explain the obligations of both the Association and the lot owners. A PDF of the rules and regulations may be downloaded here.
REGULATIONS FOR GRAVESITES & CEMETERY LOTS
- Assure that headstones, monuments, and plantings remain in harmony with the predominant materials present in the cemetery.
- Benches or monuments not part of a headstone may be permitted but only with prior written approval of the Board of Directors.
- Artificial stone, soapstone, blue marble, rose quartz, slate, and decorative gravel are not permitted for gravestones or monuments, at gravesites, or on cemetery lots.
- Fencing or enclosing structures and materials are not permitted at gravesites or on cemetery lots.
- Planting trees or shrubs is not permitted.
- Annuals may be planted at the front of a gravestone or monument, extending not more than 12″ from its base.
- Natural cut flowers, flower boxes, potted plants, and winter wreaths may be placed at the front of a gravestone or monument but must be removed when no longer fresh.
- Artificial flowers may be placed only at the front of a gravestone or monument and only between November 15 and April 15.
- Wooden, metal, or plastic stakes are not permitted on gravesites or cemetery lots.
- Glass jars, urns, statues, figurines, decorative tiles, hanging baskets, banners, pennants, ribbons, balloons, chimes, pinwheels, photographs, insignia, food, drink, eternal flames, solar lights, votive candles, and similar decorations/adornments are not permitted on gravesites or cemetery lots.
- Flags other than the American flag and the Old Lyme Fire Department flag are not permitted in the cemeteries.
- Any plants, decorations, or materials deemed unsightly or not in keeping with the above regulations will be removed by the Sexton.
REGULATIONS FOR CEMETERY USE & CEMETERY LOT PURCHASE
- The Old Lyme Cemetery Association reserves the right to make, alter, and regulate the roads and paths; to control the grading and planting; to prevent or remove any erection, enclosure, or decoration that is in their opinion prejudicial to the grounds or to neighboring lots; and to remove or prune any trees, flowers, or shrubbery that they may consider injurious or unsightly.
- Lots will be prepared and kept in order, and the grass cut, under the direction of the Board of Directors of the Old Lyme Cemetery Association.
- A charge for the care of each lot is included in the cost of the lot. Such care includes cutting the grass and filling such depressions as may occur over graves only.
- No interment in any lot will be allowed unless all past charges thereon are paid, except at the direction of the Board of Directors of the Association.
- No transfer or assignment of any lot or lots, or any interest therein, shall be valid without the written consent of the Board of Directors of the Association, or unless the same shall be recorded by the Secretary.
- Purchase of burial lots is restricted to residential property owners of the Town of Old Lyme. Exceptions to this restriction may be made by the Board of Directors. Lots shall not be used for any purpose other than as a place for the burial of the human dead. Only agents authorized by the Board of Directors may inter human remains or cremains.
- Owners of unused lots wishing to dispose of them shall be required to sell them to the Old Lyme Cemetery Association only, and the original purchase price will be paid for same.
- All persons putting up monuments and stones requiring foundations shall erect the same in a manner approved by the Board of Directors, first submitting to said Directors, or to the Sexton, a description or specification of such monuments or stones and securing their approval thereof. One upright monument or stone per lot is permitted.
- All memorial stones that are to be prone on the earth must be of granite six inches or more thick. Such stones may not be over four feet wide and seven feet long. If more than one slab will be placed on a lot, said slabs must not be more than three feet wide.
- It is the duty of plot owners to notify the Board of Directors of any changes of address.
- The Old Lyme Cemetery Association reserves, and shall have, the right to correct any errors that may be made by it either in making interments, disinterments, or removals, or in the description, transfer, or conveyance of any interment property. In correcting any such error, the Association may cancel such conveyance and substitute in lieu thereof other interment property of equal value and similar location as far as possible, or as may be selected by the Board of Directors; or, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, the Association may refund 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 Association reserves and shall have the right to remove or transfer such remains so interred to such other property of equal value and similar location as may be substituted and conveyed, to correct the error.
- The instrument of conveyance and these Rules and Regulations and any amendments thereto constitute the sole agreement between the Old Lyme Cemetery Association and the plot owner.
For information or assistance please contact Sexton Leonard Jones at 860-304-9521 or use the contact form below.
