Every cemetery in the United States has its own set of rules governing headstones and monuments. Understanding these requirements before you order prevents delays, additional costs, and the frustration of having to modify a design after it has been produced. Here is what our sixty years of experience has taught us about navigating cemetery regulations.
Common Cemetery Regulations
While specific rules vary by cemetery, most regulate the following:
- Headstone dimensions: Maximum height, width, and base thickness. Upright monuments typically have maximums of 42" height and 36" width for single plots.
- Setback requirements: How far the headstone must be from the edge of the lot or the curbing.
- Foundation requirements: Most cemeteries require a poured concrete foundation. Some require their own crew to pour it; others accept licensed contractors.
- Material standards: Natural granite is accepted virtually everywhere. Some cemeteries have additional requirements for granite density and frost resistance.
- Approved finishes: Polished, honed, rock-pitched, or sandblasted. Some sections restrict the finish type for visual uniformity.
The Approval Process
Most cemeteries require written approval of the headstone design before installation. The process typically involves submitting a scaled drawing showing dimensions and design, a materials specification (granite type, color, finish), proof of lot ownership, and payment of the foundation/installation fee. At Memory Headstones, we handle this entire process on your behalf at no extra cost. We submit the documentation, follow up with the cemetery office, and do not begin production until we have written approval.
Your Legal Rights
Under the FTC Funeral Rule, you are not required to purchase a headstone from the cemetery. Cemeteries may charge a reasonable installation or setting fee, but they cannot refuse a monument simply because it was purchased elsewhere, charge an unreasonable handling fee as a deterrent, or require you to use their approved vendor for the headstone itself.
Tips for a Smooth Process
Contact the cemetery early. Request their regulations in writing. Provide them to your monument company before design begins. Ask about wait times for foundation installation. Confirm whether the cemetery charges a setting fee and what it covers.
Sources: FTC Funeral Rule (16 CFR Part 453), NFDA (National Funeral Directors Association), California Cemetery and Funeral Bureau