Rules & Regulations

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 P.M. 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” (L) x 15” (W) x 6” (D)

On a double lot:                      42” (L) x 15” (W) x 6” (D)

On a cremation lot:                 24” (L) x 12” (W) x 6” (D)                

                    Only one US 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 and (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 617-993-2710 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” X 11” 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 (10) 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 (3) 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 and SERVICES

As revised August, 2012

LOT PRICES:

The Orchard Zone

Single Lot (1 or 2 casket interments)                                                  $8,000.00

Cremation Lot (up to 4 cremated remains)                                         $2,600.00

The Woodland Zone

Single Lot (1 or 2 casket interments)                                                  $6,000.00

Cremation Lot (up to 4 cremated remains)                                         $2,000.00

The Meadow Zone

Single Lot (1 or 2 casket interments)                                                  $4,000.00

Cremation Lot (up to 4 cremated remains)                                         $1,300.00

LOT OPENING SERVICE FEES:

Service Prices Payable Prior to Committal

Regular or deep opening                                                                     $1,200.00

Infant opening – no charge

Cremation opening                                                                             $  375.00

ADDITIONAL APPLICABLE FEES:

Saturday fee ( includes Friday after Thanksgiving)                           

Casket interment                                                                     $  500.00

Cremation interment                                                               $  300.00

Non-Resident Fee                                                                               $  375.00

Late notification fee, Friday afternoon for Saturday/Monday                       $  325.00

(In addition to opening fee)

Foundation Fee:

Cremation Lot                                                                              $   120.00

Single Lot                                                                                     $   187.00

Double Lot (centered over two adjacent lots)                              $   262.00

Disinterment Fee                                                                          $1,600.00

Replacement of Lot Ownership Document – available at the Town Treasurer, Homer Building, 19 Moore Street

Genealogical research, requests accepted in writing only performed as time permits, standard labor and copy rates may apply per the Massachusetts Public Records Law, MGL  ch. 66, §10.

BOARD OF CEMETERY COMMISIONERS

POLICY ON WELFARE LOTS

JULY 1, 2001 (Updated October 8, 2014)

Current federal laws govern reimbursement for the purchase of Welfare Graves pertaining to Social Security and the Veterans Administration. The Board of Cemetery Commissioners will be so advised by the Funeral Director making interment arrangements. 

Belmont Cemetery requires written confirmation that the decedent will receive the Public Assistance Burial Allowance from the Burial Division, Department of Public Assistance,

http://www.fcaemass.org/indigentburial.shtml 

There is no designated section for Welfare Lots.  In the case of a Belmont decedent utilizing government programs not covered by reimbursement or those indigent resident decedents, a cremation grave may be provided in a cremation grave area, and applicable service charges will be determined by the Board of Cemetery Commissioners, in consultation with the Funeral Director.

Massachusetts General Law Chapter 114, §32 and §33 apply.