Rules & Regulations

Belmont Cemetery
121 Grove Street
Belmont, MA 02478

Rules and Regulations adopted by the Board of Cemetery Commissioners

Revised: November 20, 2002

Interments

Rules and regulations of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners of the Town of Belmont, Massachusetts, are made for the protection of grave and lot owners in conformity with the Town by-laws and Statutes of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Vaults or liner boxes are required for all earth burials.

Graves and Lots are not sold for future use.

Graves and Lots are sold to residents of Belmont only and are not transferable to non-residents.

The first interment must be a member of the immediate family of the purchaser, and a resident of the Town of Belmont (see residency requirements).

Business hours are 8 am to 11 am, Monday through Friday. Phones are monitored until 3:30 pm Monday through Friday. The cemetery is open for visitations from dawn to dusk only.

Interments are not made on Sunday or on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Patriots Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

There will be an extra charge for all funerals on Saturdays, holidays, and processions arriving after 1:30 pm weekdays.

The Cemetery Manager may refuse to make an interment until a more expedient time if too many funerals are scheduled to arrive at the same hour or when the weather is too prohibitive.

Monuments & Markers

Monuments and markers may be erected subject to the approval of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners or its designee. Only granite and bronze will be allowed.

Signed orders with designs and specifications must be submitted to the Board of Cemetery Commissioners. No statues or objectionable designs will be permitted.

Grave /lot and section numbers must be on the base of the stone.

All monuments must be uniform size:

• Single Grave: 2-0 x 1-0 x 3-0 high
• Two Grave: 3-0 x 1-0 x 3-0 high

Flat Markers:

• Single Grave: 2-0 x 1-0 or 2-0 x 1-2
• Two Grave: 3-0 x 1-2

Government Markers:

• Only one Government Marker is allowed on each Veteran's grave in the Veterans' sections.

The Cemetery Division is not responsible for any damage to monuments or markers.

The Cemetery Division shall set all foundations. Foundations will not be set between November 20th and until the frost is out of the ground in the spring.

Orders for foundations for Memorial Day must be submitted before the first of May.

All work in the cemetery must be done during working hours.

Rules

No bushes or shrubs are to be planted or replaced.

Flowerbeds must conform to size and will be placed not more than 12 inches from the face of the monument only.

No enclosure of any nature, as fence, ditches, curbs, boxes or urns, is allowed. Vigil lights are not permitted. Potted plants, baskets and flowers will be permitted at Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Memorial Day or any other day to commemorate a special occasion including, but not restricted to a birthday or anniversary. Wreaths or sprays of natural evergreens are allowed during the Christmas season.

All decorations will be removed ten days after the specific holiday or as soon as they become faded or unsightly.

No artificial flowers/decorations are permitted.

The cemetery will not be responsible for any flowers, decorations, holders or other devices or receptacles placed on graves.

Visitors are forbidden to walk across cemetery lots unless on their way to visit a grave.

Motor vehicles must not be operated within the cemetery at a rate of speed that is greater than reasonable and proper, because the roadways are winding and used by pedestrians.

The following is forbidden within the cemetery:

• No dogs allowed, leashed or unleashed
• The drinking of alcoholic beverages is prohibited
• Ball playing, roller-skating, sledding
• The riding of bicycles, mini-bikes, go-carts and skateboards
• The display and/or sale of goods, wares and merchandise
• Instructing persons in the use and operation of a motor vehicle
• For any unauthorized person or persons to be loitering within the cemetery after regular working hours

Any person found in violation of the above subsections shall be deemed a trespasser and subject to prosecution therefore.

Disinterments

For all disinterments, a Funeral Director must be engaged to ensure compliance with relevant Massachusetts' laws. Removals are prohibited between May 15th and October 15th.

Non-Resident Charge

There will be a non-resident fee assessed for decedents who have not lived in Belmont or owned property in the town for the three years immediately prior to death. Verification will be determined from records available at the Town Clerk's office and/or the Board of Assessors.

Veterans' Graves

There are a limited number of graves available for Veterans. The Veteran must be the first burial and, at the time of death, the spouse must indicate a desire to be cremated and buried with his/her spouse. No other individual may be buried in that grave.

Welfare Graves

Welfare graves (for cremation remains only) may be made available to Belmont residents at the Belmont Cemetery on Grove Street at the discretion of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners.

Further Information

The foregoing rules and regulations and prices are made by the Board of Cemetery Commissioners and are subject to change without notice.

Exceptions to these rules may be made by a majority vote of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners.

Highland Meadow Cemetery is located at 700 Concord Avenue, Belmont though the office for all Belmont Town-owned cemeteries is located at 121 Grove Street, Belmont. The office is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 11 am; the staff monitors voicemail and email throughout the day. Individual appointments with staff are welcomed. Office hours are subject to change without notice. Please refer to the current schedule of fees for Highland Meadow Cemetery, as voted by the Board of Cemetery Commissioners.

Interments

Interments are not performed Sunday or Town holidays, including: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Presidents' Day, Patriots Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

There will be an additional charge for all interments performed all Saturdays and for funeral processions arriving at the cemetery after 1:30 pm weekdays.

The Cemetery Manager may require that an interment be rescheduled if a conflict exists or if a severe weather event is anticipated.

Monuments & Markers

Markers may be installed after lot purchase and Cemetery approval of design, material and size submission.

Only flat markers of granite or bronze are permitted at Highland Meadow Cemetery. Markers may be installed, flush with surrounding ground, subject to the prior approval of the Cemetery Manager and/or Board of Cemetery Commissioners.

Signed orders for markers must be submitted to the Cemetery Manager in writing showing: a dimensional sketch of the flat marker, material to be used, size of lettering, detailed design,). No statues are permitted. The Cemetery has the right to require modification to any design prior to its approval.

Flat marker sizes:

• On a single lot: 30 inches (long) by 15 inches (wide) by 6 inches (deep)
• On a double lot: 42 inches (long) by 15 inches (wide) by 6 inches (deep)
• On a cremation lot: 24 inches (long) by 12 inches (wide) by 6 inches (deep)

Only one U.S. Government -issued Veteran Marker is allowed on a single lot but it may contain the names of several decedents.

The Town of Belmont is not responsible for damage to monuments or markers.

The Cemetery staff shall set all foundations for markers; no foundations will be set between November 20th and spring thaw or at the discretion of the Cemetery Manager. Orders for foundations for Memorial Day must be submitted before the May 1st.

All inscription and marker work in the cemetery must be performed during posted business hours. Prior to commencing work, the company performing the work must contact the Cemetery office staff and receive written approval. The following information must be provided in order to obtain approval: 

1. The name of the Inscriber
2. The name of the decedent
3. The cemetery lot location
4. Proposed date and time of work

The Cemetery Manager or a Town representative will confirm approval if proposed work and timing is acceptable. No work may commence without advance Cemetery approval. Monument/inscription companies must contact the Belmont Cemetery office at 617-993-2711 upon arrival to perform the approved work.

Rules

Highland Meadow Cemetery is open for visitations from dawn to dusk.

Pedestrians are requested to use designate paths and roadways. Motor vehicles operating within the cemetery must proceed slowly and yield to all pedestrians.

No planting is permitted in Highland Meadow Cemetery; only decorations consisting of natural plant material are permitted. No artificial flowers or decorative accessories of any kind are permitted and will be promptly removed and discarded by the Cemetery staff. The flag of the United States is permitted to be placed on lots, limited to 17 inches by 11 inches as determined by the Cemetery Commissioners, holders as provided by the Belmont Veterans' Agent.

No enclosures of any kind are permitted, including, but not limited to, fences, rocks, borders, ditches, curbs, boxes or urns. Vigil lights and candles are not permitted.

Potted plants, baskets and flowers will be permitted at Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Memorial Day or other days to commemorate a special occasion including but not restricted to, a birthday or anniversary. The size of container such as a pot or basket must not exceed 8" diameter, as measured at the bottom of the container. Wreaths or sprays of natural plant material evergreens, not exceeding 12 inches frame diameter are permitted during the Christmas/ Hanukkah season.

The Cemetery and the Town of Belmont is not responsible for any flowers, decorations, holders, devices or receptacles placed on a grave.

Decorations will be removed ten days after the specific commemoration or when they become unsightly, as determined by the Cemetery staff.

The following are strictly prohibited in Highland Meadow Cemetery, enforcement subject to the Bylaws of the Town of Belmont:

• Dogs
• Active sports and ball playing, sledding, bike riding, mini-bikes, go-carts and skate boards
• Display and/or sale of goods, wares and merchandise
• Instructing persons in the use and operation of a motor vehicle
• Loitering within the cemetery outside of visiting hours.
• Drinking of alcoholic beverages

Disinterments

For all disinterments, a Funeral Director must be engaged to ensure compliance with relevant Massachusetts General Laws. Disinterments are prohibited between May 15th and October 15th.

Non-Resident Charge

An additional Non-Resident Fee is charged for a Decedent whose Residence Address on the death certificate does not display a Belmont address. The Non-Resident Fee will be waived if the decedent last resided in Belmont within three years of the date of death, and the former Belmont resident moved directly to a nursing home outside of Belmont from his/her Belmont residence. Documentation verifying residency must be submitted prior to interment:

• Documentation of admission to nursing home showing prior Belmont address and date of admission to nursing home;
• Clear documentation identifying facility as a nursing home, not a retirement community.

Designated Veteran Graves

A designated Veterans' Section is available at the Belmont Cemetery for Belmont resident decedents who were Veterans. Lots are not available pre-need. There is not a separate Veterans' section at Highland Meadow.

The foregoing rules and regulations and prices are made by the Board of Cemetery Commissioners and are subject to change without notice. Exceptions to these rules may be made by majority vote of the Board of Cemetery Commissioners.

Availability of Lots

Lots at Highland Meadow Cemetery are available for purchase by Belmont residents and Belmont property owners/taxpayers. Lots are available in advance or at time of need, subject to vote by the Board of Cemetery Commissioners.

Prices of Lots & Services

As revised August, 2012

Lot Prices

The Orchard Zone

• Single Lot (1 or 2 casket interments) $8,000
• Cremation Lot (up to 4 cremated remains) $2,600

The Woodland Zone

• Single Lot (1 or 2 casket interments) $6,000
• Cremation Lot (up to 4 cremated remains) $2,000

The Meadow Zone

• Single Lot (1 or 2 casket interments) $4,000
• Cremation Lot (up to 4 cremated remains) $1,300

Lot Opening Service Fees

Service Prices Payable Prior to Committal

• Regular or deep opening: $1,200
• Infant opening: no charge
• Cremation opening: $ 375

Additional Applicable Fees

Saturday fee ( includes Friday after Thanksgiving)

• Casket interment: $500
• Cremation interment: $300
• Non-resident fee: $375
• Late notification fee, Friday afternoon for Saturday/Monday: $325
• (In addition to opening fee)

Foundation Fee

• Cremation Lot $ 120
• Single Lot $ 187
• Double Lot (centered over two adjacent lots) $ 262
• Disinterment Fee $1,600