September 22, 2023 Regulations Halifax Cemetery

Rules and Regulations for Active Halifax Cemeteries as of September 22, 2023

Season of Operation runs from May 1 through December 1, and after December 1 as weather permits. Current fees are listed in the fee schedule (see Appendix).

Active Cemetery. An active cemetery is one currently accepting burials.

Requirements For Burial. A burial requires a death certificate and a burial transit permit or a certificate of cremation to be filed at the Halifax Town Hall.

Funeral Directors shall be required to present the burial permit as required by Vermont State law to the Cemetery commissioners or their designee prior to any interment.

Cornerstones Required. Granite corner markers shall be purchased by the person buying the plot, at the time the plot is purchased, and the upper surface shall not exceed 6″ square and shall be at least 6” deep. Cornerstones will be set flush with the grade. The cemetery workers will install the four corner markers provided by the lot owner.

Grave Plot Size. Grave plots will be 4’x10′ to accommodate the remains of the human dead in a grave, a mausoleum, a columbarium, a vault, or other receptacle or 6 cremains with 1 marker (max. width 26”). Up to 6 inurned cremains may be buried on top of a casket by the plot owners, providing the urns are at least 6 inches above the top of the casket and at least 10 inches below the surface. The deed must specify that urns are permitted on top of a casket. Cremains not in urns may be added to the soil above a casket or urns by the plot owners. See illustration.

Cemetery Deed. A cemetery deed is a contract between the Town of Halifax Cemetery Commissioners and the holder of the deed that grants the right to interment in a specified Halifax cemetery lot and is contingent upon adherence to current Town of Halifax cemetery commission rules and regulations.

Monuments. All new stones shall be made of granite or bronze markers excepting historical replacements. Markers of any kind provided by the National Cemetery Administration are allowed.

Green Burials. Green burials are permissible in any duly purchased cemetery plot. A headstone shall mark the plot in the usual manner, and cornerstones are required. Green burials are also permitted on private land owned by the next of kin [18 V.S.A. Ch. 121 § 5319(a)], so long as a site map showing the locations of all graves is filed with the Halifax Town Clerk. Vermont law requires that graves be dug to a minimum of 3 1/2 feet below the ground’s surface (cremains excepted).

Perpetual Care. Perpetual care refers specifically to the maintenance of cemetery lawns and access roads. Perpetual care is paid for by cemetery fees collected, town funds voted in at Town Meeting, and donations. Perpetual care does not include stone repair or resetting.

Veterans Flags. Flags will be put on the graves of veterans in time for Memorial Day. Since cremation certificates do not contain information about military service, please be sure to give this information to the Cemetery Commission or the Town Clerk.

Payment Purchase or Transfer of Plots. All plots can be purchased through the Town Clerk in the Town of Halifax for a fee per single plot.

Transfer/Use of Plots to Third Parties. Transfer (or sale) of plots or parts of plots to a third person shall be reported to the Cemetery Commission for recording before the third person shall be allowed to use same. In the case of multiple owners, all must agree to the transfer and a written notice signed by all parties filed with the Town Clerk prior to transfer.

Reversion of Graves to Cemetery. Whenever a vacant grave or plot has not been used and becomes abandoned for any reason for at least 20 years, and the cemetery commissioners have tried to ascertain the intentions of the owner(s), the plot shall revert to the cemetery in accordance with Vermont law [18 VSA § 5533-5536].

Damage. Any damage done to driveways within the cemetery by any vehicle drawing monuments or any other materials shall be repaired by the contractor, or the expense of repairs shall be charged to the owner of the plots responsible for the work. Owners and drivers of motor vehicles shall be responsible for any damage done by them to trees, shrubs, or plots, and for damages to any monument or other structure done by them or by their employees.

Authority to Increase Fees. When necessary, in order that the cemetery be self-sustaining, the Cemetery Commission may increase the prices of plots in the cemetery. Similarly, the Cemetery Commission may change the price of burial fees and afix new prices thereto.

Visitor Regulations

Permanent tree or shrub plantings are prohibited in Halifax cemeteries.
Planting flowers (annuals or perennials) in beds within plots is allowed and such shall be contained within 14″ of the front face of the base of the monument and not exceeding the width of the base of the monument.
Floral Arrangements. No limit is placed on the number of floral arrangements allowed to remain at the grave site after a burial. Floral designs and cut flowers shall be removed from plots by the owner or as part of perpetual maintenance as the arrangements become unsightly.
Above-Ground Structures. No vault or other above-ground structure shall be built or erected.
Enclosures. No enclosure of any cemetery plot by a fence, chain, or curbing shall be allowed.
Gardeners, plot owners, or others employed by them to plant flowers shall remove all trash and leftover materials once the project is complete. No on-site receptacles for said removal are provided, and disposing of this material on or near the cemetery grounds is prohibited.
Glass and other breakable containers are prohibited on the grounds of the cemetery.
Plastic and other artificial flowers are discouraged. Absolutely no artificial flowers are to be inserted directly into the ground in the cemeteries. If they are, they will be removed and discarded. This is to prevent pieces of artificial flowers from scattering around the cemetery. Artificial flowers need to be in durable containers and need to be picked up before the snow falls.
Objects interfering with the maintenance of the cemetery grounds will be removed by the workers. Christmas trees are not allowed.
Plastic wreaths or other objects made of plastic are not allowed. The placement of photographs, ribbons, or other mementos is discouraged.
Natural wreaths are allowed and will be removed after the holiday season.
Jack-o’-lanterns, gourds, and other fall decorations must be removed before the cemetery closes for the season (December 1).
Cemetery Commissioners reserve the right to remove any gravesite decorations that become unsightly.

Anything placed on any plot in violation of these regulations may be removed by the Commissioners or their designees and disposed of.

Appendix: Fee Schedule

Cost of Plots. $225 for residents, $425 for non-resident landowners, and $625 for non-residents with a family connection to Halifax, Vermont.
Cost of Cornerstones. Market value; cost is borne by the plot purchaser.
Cost of Urn Burials. Each urn added shall incur a charge of $200 at the time it is buried.
Dumping will be subject to a civil fine of $200.